Arsenal (9) v Blackpool (2):Arsenal include captain Cesc Fabregas, striker Robin van Persie, midfielder Alex Song and defender Johan Djourou in the squad but central defender Laurent Koscielny is suspended and midfielder Denilson is still out with an abdominal injury.
Israeli defender Dekel Keinan could be in line to make his Blackpool debut but goalkeeper Paul Rachubka is sidelined after having an operation on his knee, as is striker Jason Euell.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Arsenal L D L W D; Blackpool L W W D W
Top scorers: Arsenal n/a; Marlon Harewood (Blackpool) 2
Match odds: H 1-7 A 18-1 D 13-2
Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).
Birmingham (7) v Blackburn (6)
New signing Matt Derbyshire will make his Birmingham debut against his former side after moving from Olympiacos on a season-long loan. Nikola Zigic is also pushing for a start up front after impressing off the bench in the draw at Sunderland last week while Kevin Phillips (thigh) is the only definite absentee.
David Dunn is set to miss out for Blackburn against his former side due to a groin problem. The same applies to Vince Grella (calf), but Rovers boss Sam Allardyce hopes to have both players back for next week’s Carling Cup encounter with Norwich.
Last season: Blackburn 2 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 2 Blackburn 1
Last five league matches: Birmingham D L W L D; Blackburn L D W W W
Top scorers: Scott Dann, Matt Derbyshire & Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham) 1; Nikola Kalinic (Blackburn) 1
Match odds: H 5-4 A 23-10 D 11-5
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Everton (16) v Wolves (5)
Everton captain Phil Neville is a slight doubt with a foot injury but boss David Moyes hopes he will be fit. Striker Victor Anichebe is unlikely to play after an injection in the knee to ease bone bruising.
Wolves forward Steven Fletcher has a bruised foot, and manager Mick McCarthy will assess his fitness today.
Defender Jelle Van Damme is described by McCarthy as a “serious doubt” after twisting his ankle, Steven Mouyokolo may also miss the match with a damaged hamstring, while Dave Edwards is out with a groin injury. However, last season’s top scorer Kevin Doyle is set to return from a calf injury.
Last season: Wolves 0 Everton 0, Everton 1 Wolves 1
Last five league matches: Everton W W D W L; Wolves D D L W W
Top scorers: Everton n/a; Steven Fletcher & David Jones (Wolves) 1
Match odds: H 1-2 A 6-1 D 3-1
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Stoke (15) v Tottenham (14)
Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones could make a swift return to action after recovering from an ankle injury. Liam Lawrence remains sidelined with a groin strain, while new forward Jon Walters could make his debut having arrived from Ipswich this week.
Peter Crouch is Tottenham’s only fit striker, with Jermain Defoe (groin), Robbie Keane (knee) and Roman Pavyluchenko (ankle) all out. Giovani dos Santos (hamstring) also picked up an injury on the artificial pitch at Young Boys on Tuesday night and Luka Modric has failed to recover from his groin strain.
Last season: Stoke 1 Tottenham 2, Tottenham 0 Stoke 1
Last five league matches: Stoke L D W L L; Tottenham L W W L D
Top scorers: Abdoulaye Faye (Stoke) 1; Tottenham n/a
Match odds: H 5-2 A 23-20 D 11-5
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
West Brom (20) v Sunderland (8)
New signing Peter Odemwingie could make his West Brom debut only 24 hours after his move from Lokomotiv Moscow was confirmed. The Baggies will be without striker Ishmael Miller (thigh) and defender Joe Mattock (ankle), who are ruled out for up to a month after picking up injuries in training this week.
Sunderland defender John Mensah is expected to miss out with a hamstring injury. New captain Lee Cattermole is suspended following his sending-off against the Blues, while Michael Turner completes his two-match ban, although midfielder Jack Colback returns from his disciplinary lay-off.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom W W D D L; Sunderland W W L L D
Top scorers: West Brom n/a; Darren Bent (Sunderland) 1
Match odds: H 7-5 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
West Ham (18) v Bolton (11)
West Ham will be without injured midfield pair Thomas Hitzlsperger and Valon Behrami. Manager Avram Grant must consider whether to hand Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne their first starts, while overweight striker Benni McCarthy is getting closer to consideration after losing one kilogram in the last week.
Bolton enter tomorrow’s match with a fully fit squad. The squad was given a clean bill of health after Saturday’s goalless draw with Fulham.
Last season: West Ham 1 Bolton 2, Bolton 3 West Ham 1
Last five league matches: West Ham L W L D L; Bolton W D L W D
Top scorers: n/a
Match odds: H 5-4 A 23-10 D 11-5
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).
Wigan (19) v Chelsea (1)
Charles N’Zogbia could return to the Wigan side after he was omitted against Blackpool by manager Roberto Martinez, who questioned the player’s attitude amid speculation over his future. Forward Victor Moses (calf) is out and club captain Gary Caldwell remains sidelined after double hip surgery in the summer.
Chelsea’s new signing Ramires has trained with the squad but will not be involved. Chelsea have Branislav Ivanovic fit for the trip to the DW Stadium and Frank Lampard has recovered completely from an ankle knock. Jeffrey Bruma was due to undergo a hernia operation today while Kakuta has a back injury.
Last season: Chelsea 8 Wigan 0, Wigan 3 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Wigan W L D L L; Chelsea L W W W W
Top scorers: Wigan n/a; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 3
Match odds: H 12-1 A 2-9 D 5-1
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Sunday, August 22nd
Fulham (12) v Man Utd (4)
Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer remains a doubt because of the back problem which prevented him playing against Bolton last weekend. Long-term injury victims Philippe Senderos (Achilles), Andrew Johnson (knee) and Diomansy Kamara (foot) are out.
Alex Ferguson expects defender Rio Ferdinand to be return by the end of September but midfielder Anderson (cruciate) is much nearer a comeback after returning to training yesterday. The United boss also feels an extra week’s training will prove beneficial for the likes of Michael Owen and Michael Carrick.
Last season: Man Utd 3 Fulham 0, Fulham 3 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches: Fulham L W L L D; Man Utd W W W W W
Top scorers: Fulham n/a; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 2
Match odds: H 5-1 A 4-7 D 11-4
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Newcastle (17) v Aston Villa (3)
Magpies boss Chris Hughton hopes both Peter Lovenkrands and Danny Guthrie will be available after groin and knee injuries respectively. Sol Campbell is still working his way towards match fitness, while Danny Simpson and Leon Best (both ankle), Steven Taylor (shoulder) and Dan Gosling (knee) remain sidelined.
Villa are set to hand a debut to midfielder Stephen Ireland while caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald is set to make sweeping changes to the side that started against Rapid Vienna. Central defender Richard Dunne returns from suspension, goalkeeper Brad Friedel, midfielder Stiliyan Petrov, full-back Luke Young and winger Ashley Young are also set to figure, while striker John Carew should be fit after a knee injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Newcastle W W D W L; Aston Villa W W L L W
Top scorers: Newcastle n/a; Stewart Downing & Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa) 1
Match odds: H 11-5 A 13-10 D 11-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Monday, August 23rd
Man City (13) v Liverpool (10)
England midfielder James Milner is set to make his City debut but manager Roberto Mancini will monitor the fitness of striker Mario Balotelli, who picked up a knock against Timisoara in the Europa League. Summer signings Aleksander Kolarov (ankle) and Jerome Boateng (knee) are again ruled out through injury.
Joe Cole is suspended but Javier Mascherano could return after a calf injury. Daniel Agger is less likely to feature after suffering concussion but captain Steven Gerrard will return after being rested for the Europa League tie against Trabzonspor and Fernando Torres is pushing for his first start of the season.
Last season: Man City 0 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 2 Man City 2
Last five league matches: Man City D W L D D; Liverpool W W L D D
Top scorers: James Milner (Man City) 1; David Ngog (Liverpool) 1
Match odds: H 11-8 A 21-10 D 21-10
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).