Arsenal (3) v Fulham (17):Cesc Fabregas will be out for another fortnight with the hamstring injury he picked up against Braga in the Champions League. Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia suffered a setback to his elbow injury in training and also misses out against the Cottagers, but Samir Nasri and Sebastien Squillaci have recovered from knee injuries. Abou Diaby (ankle) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) are still not available.
Andrew Johnson is set to return to the Fulham squad having sat out last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Birmingham with a hamstring strain. Carlos Salcido is out after suffering a recurrence of an ankle problem at Birmingham, while Moussa Dembele (ankle), Bobby Zamora, Rafik Halliche (thigh), Fredrik Stoor (groin) and Philippe Senderos (Achilles) are also unavailable.
Last season:Arsenal 4 Fulham 0, Fulham 0 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches:Arsenal L W W L W; Fulham D L D L D
Top scorers (all competitions): Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal) 10; Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 6
Match odds: H 2-7 A 9-1 D 9-2
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Birmingham (14) v Tottenham (5)
Birmingham will be without Alexander Hleb for up to three weeks with a calf strain. The injury meant the midfielder missed the Carling Cup match against Aston Villa in midweek but manager Alex McLeish revealed it is more serious than originally thought. Craig Gardner could return to the starting line-up against Spurs in place of Lee Bowyer after coming off the bench on Wednesday.
Michael Dawson returns to the Tottenham squad for the first time since August after recovering from the ligament damage suffered on international duty three months ago. His return is a boost, with Younes Kaboul (hip) sidelined, while Rafael van der Vaart (hamstring) and Jermaine Jenas (calf) are also out, and captain Ledley King (groin), Jamie O’Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) are longer-term absentees.
Last season: Birmingham 1 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Birmingham 1
Last five league matches:Birmingham D L D W D; Tottenham L D W W W
Top scorers (all competitions):Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 4; Gareth Bale (Tottenham) 9
Match odds: H 12-5 A 23-20 D 23-10
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Blackburn (13) v Wolves (19)
Midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen makes a welcome return having missed last week’s 7-1 thrashing at Manchester United with a hamstring injury. On-loan Mame Biram Diouf is also free to return after being forbidden from playing against his parent club last weekend. Rovers, however, still have a considerable injury list with Nikola Kalinic (thigh), Steven Nzonzi, Martin Olsson (both hamstring), Vince Grella (Achilles) and Keith Andrews (groin) all out.
Wolves midfielder David Jones will miss out because of a foot injury suffered in last week’s win over Sunderland. Jones required stitches in the wound and will not feature at Ewood Park, while striker Steven Fletcher is also a doubt because of an illness. Defender Steven Mouyokolo is still struggling with a back problem which ruled him out of the Sunderland game. Christophe Berra is
available again after suspension but Dave Edwards (thigh) and Karl Henry (knee) remain sidelined, although Edwards is set to resume training next week.
Last season:Wolves 1 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 3 Wolves 1
Last five league matches:Blackburn W W L W L; Wolves L L L L W
Top scorers (all competitions):Mame Biram Diouf & Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) 4; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake & Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 4
Match odds:H 3-4 A 15-4 D 13-5
Referee:Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)
Blackpool (11) v Man Utd (1)
(has since been postponed due to unplayable pitch)
Blackpool could name an unchanged squad from last week’s draw at Bolton, with Ghana international Richard Kingson continuing to deputise in goal for the injured Matt Gilks. Midfielder Chris Basham is facing a lengthy lay-off having broken his leg in the reserves last week while striker Marlon Harewood (torn hamstring) is still out. Billy Clarke, Alex Baptiste and Louis Almond are long-term absentees.
Veteran Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes is doubtful because of a groin injury. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson could be tempted to name the team that hammered Blackburn 7-1 after making 10 changes in midweek when they lost to West Ham in the Carling Cup. Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher will both come into contention after recovering from their recent injuries.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackpool D L D W D; Man Utd W D D W W
Top scorers (all competitions):Marlon Harewood & Luke Varney (Blackpool) 5; Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 12
Match odds:H 7-1 A 4-11 D 4-1
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Chelsea (2) v Everton (16)
Chelsea have captain John Terry back after three weeks on the sidelines with a sciatic nerve problem in his right leg. Midfielder Frank Lampard is still not ready to return after three months out with a groin and hernia problem while Alex (knee) and Yury Zhirkov (calf) are also sidelined. Ghana midfielder Michael Essien is back after suspension and toe problems.
Everton defender Phil Jagielka is a doubt after the centre-back sustained a knock in last week’s defeat to West Brom and will be assessed before the game. Fellow defender Tony Hibbert will definitely miss out because of a cut ankle suffered against the Baggies. Captain Phil Neville has recovered from a sore knee and although midfielder Marouane Fellaini returns after suspension, Mikel Arteta begins a three-match ban for his sending-off last weekend.
Last season:Everton 2 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 3 Everton 3
Last five league matches:Chelsea L W L L D; Everton D D L D L
Top scorers (all competitions): Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 10; Tim Cahill (Everton) 8
Match odds: H 4-11 A 15-2 D 15-4
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)
Man City (4) v Bolton (6)
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is expected to return to the squad
following a migraine. Manager Roberto Mancini looks likely to shuffle his pack again following the Europa League victory over Salzburg, when he made eight changes from the side that drew with Stoke.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle will monitor the fitness of midfielder Stuart Holden. The American only returned to training on Thursday after sitting out the draw with Blackpool because of a thigh strain. His replacement Mark Davies could retain his place after scoring a superb equaliser last weekend.
Last season: Man City 2 Bolton 0, Bolton 3 Man City 3
Last five league matches:Man City W D D W D; Bolton W D W W D
Top scorers (all competitions):Carlos Tevez (Man City) 9; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 8
Match odds:H 11-20 A 5-1 D 3-1
Referee:Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
Wigan (18) v Stoke (8)
Wigan’s Victor Moses is likely to be out for three months after dislocating his shoulder in the Carling Cup loss to Arsenal on Tuesday. Hugo Rodallega is still suspended and Franco Di Santo (ankle) is rated 50-50, but manager Roberto Martinez is at least hopeful Mauro Boselli (knee) will be fit. Club captain Gary Caldwell (thigh) could be fit but fellow defender Emmerson Boyce (hamstring) is unlikely to feature despite making good progress.
Stoke will be without Marc Wilson, who picked up his fifth booking of the season on Saturday in the Potters’ 1-1 draw with Manchester City and will serve a one-match ban. Jermaine Pennant and Andy Wilkinson had to come off in the City game due to hamstring and knee problems respectively and will both undergo late fitness tests.
Last season:Wigan 1 Stoke 1, Stoke 2 Wigan 2
Last five league matches:Wigan L D W L L; Stoke L W W W D
Top scorers (all competitions): Charles N'Zogbia & Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 4; Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 6
Match odds:H 7-4 A 7-4 D 2-1
Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire)