Arsenal (2) v Newcastle (8)
Sol Campbell has not trained since hurting his back in Sunday's win over Fulham and, with Martin Keown still out with a hamstring problem and Matthew Upson on loan at Reading, Arsenal look set to pair Latvian Igor Stepanovs and Greek Stathis Tavlaridis in defence. Right-back Lauren (ankle) and midfielder Ray Parlour (hamstring) are ruled out but skipper Patrick Vieira returns after suspension.
Newcastle hope to welcome back Andy O'Brien who has not played since he came off with a back injury in the Champions League game with Dynamo Kiev on October 29. Frenchman Laurent Robert is missing after fracturing his cheekbone in Wednesday's Worthington Cup exit at the hands of Everton while the game has come too early for striker Craig Bellamy.
Last season: Newcastle 0 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 1 Newcastle 3
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W L L W, Newcastle W W L W W
Top scorers: Thierry Henry 9 (Arsenal); Alan Shearer 9 (Newcastle).
Match odds: H 4-9 A 11-2 D 13-5
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).
Aston Villa (15) v Fulham (11)
Villa welcome back Olof Mellberg from an Achilles strain. The Swedish international missed Wednesday's Worthington Cup encounter at Oxford and has rested up for the past week. Midfielder Ian Taylor picked up a knock on his thigh in the 3-0 success but is expected to play against Jean Tigana's side. Darius Vassell is still ruled out because of a toe problem.
Fulham welcome back Steed Malbranque who has recovered from an ankle injury. Latvian frontman Andrejs Stolcers, who scored twice against the Shakers, could feature against Graham Taylor's men. Centre-back Zat Knight serves a one-match suspension for his red card against West Ham, while midfielder Sean Davis is out until December with his fractured toe.
Last season: Fulham 0 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 2 Fulham 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L D L D D, Fulham W D L L L
Top scorers: Dion Dublin 4 (Aston Villa); Junichi Inamoto 6 (Fulham)
Match odds: H 11-10 A 21-10 D 21-10
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).
Bolton (20) v West Brom (19)
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce will make no changes as Gudni Bergsson and Paul Warhurst are still ruled out through injury. Danny Dichio's return to the first-team fold after being given a second chance by West Brom manager Gary Megson could be delayed by a back problem, meaning Scott Dobie and Lee Hughes are again vying to play alongside Jason Roberts. Defender Phil Gilchrist is struggling to overcome a knock sustained just below the knee. Larus Sigurdsson or Ronnie Wallwork could deputise.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Bolton D L L D L, West Brom L L D L L
Top scorers: Youri Djorkaeff 3 (Bolton); Jason Roberts 3 (West Brom)
Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
Chelsea (4) v Birmingham (12)
Teenager Carlton Cole could start his first match of the season alongside Gianfranco Zola if boss Claudio Ranieri decides Eidur Gudjohnsen is not fit enough. The Icelander sustained an ankle injury at Tottenham and has only just returned to training. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who suffered a groin problem at White Hart Lane, faces another week on the sidelines.
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has defensive injury problems with Jeff Kenna (Achilles), Mat Sadler (calf) and Darren Purse (knee) all serious doubts. Robbie Savage and Aliou Cisse are poised to return in midfield after being rested for the Worthington Cup tie with Preston in midweek.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Chelsea L L W W D, Birmingham L W D L W
Top scorers: Gianfranco Zola 8 (Chelsea); Stern John 6 (Birmingham)
Match odds: H4-9 A 11-2 D 13-5
Referee: D Pugh (Merseyside).
Everton (6) v Charlton (16)
Everton's Tobias Linderoth could be out for a month after suffering a calf strain in the Worthington Cup win at Newcastle, Steve Watson or Gary Naysmith will deputise. Boss David Moyes still has doubts over Thomas Gravesen, who has missed the games against West Ham and Leeds after having fluid drained from his knee.
Charlton are missing Graham Stuart (knee) and Swedish striker Mathias Svensson, who injured an ankle in a reserve game last week. Paul Konchesky, having recovered from ankle trouble, will be hoping for a recall at Goodison Park.
Last season: Everton 0 Charlton 3, Charlton 1 Everton 2
Last five league matches: Everton W L W W W, Charlton L L W L D
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell 7 (Everton); Jason Euell 2 (Charlton), Claus Jensen 2 (Charlton).
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
Man City (14) v Man Utd (3)
Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan is without Sylvain Distin (hamstring) and Steve Howey (foot). Shaun Wright-Phillips may come in at wing-back, with Sun Jihai moving into a more central role, although Gerard Wiekens and Lucien Mettomo are also pushing for inclusion. Peter Schmeichel's knee has improved and he is available.
Alex Ferguson has no fresh injury worries. With Roy Keane (hip), Nicky Butt (ankle) and Wes Brown (ankle) all recovering from long-term injuries and stand-in skipper David Beckham serving a one-match ban, French trio Fabien Barthez, Laurent Blanc and Mikael Silvestre are all set to return, while Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastian Veron will almost certainly step up from bench duties against the Foxes. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs were also among those rested in midweek but will definitely start.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man City L L L W W, Man Utd W W D D W
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka 6 (Man City); Ruud van Nistelrooy 9 (Man Utd)
Match odds:H 11-4 A 5-6 D 11-5
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
Middlesbrough (9) v Liverpool (1)
Boro have to manage without their first-choice full-backs. Franck Queudrue is suspended and Robbie Stockdale has a heel problem. Alen Boksic and Gareth Southgate are available after suffering flu and Noel Whelan has overcome an Achilles problem.
Michael Owen is expected to be fit after shaking off a minor calf strain while Jamie Carragher's speedy recovery from a groin injury is another boost for Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier. Houllier is also set to recall Jerzy Dudek, Sami Hyypia, Danny Murphy and Dietmar Hamann, all of whom were rested for the midweek Worthington Cup win over Southampton.
Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 2, Liverpool 2 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W W L D L, Liverpool W W W W W
Top scorers: Massimo Maccarone 4 (Middlesbrough); Michael Owen 11 (Liverpool)
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Southampton (10) v Blackburn (7)
Southampton manager Gordon Strachan will wait for fitness tests on midfielders Anders Svensson and Fabrice Fernandes and striker Brett Ormerod after all missed Wednesday's 3-1 Worthington Cup defeat at Liverpool with a virus. Paul Telfer and Rory Delap stand by to continue in midfield but Ormerod is hopeful of returning in attack in place of Ecuador's Agustin Delgado.
Blackburn have captain Garry Flitcroft and defender Nils-Eric Johansson suspended, David Dunn is likely to fill in for Flitcroft while Lucas Neill should switch to left-back. With Henning Berg out injured, Craig Short and Martin Taylor are expected to fill the centre-back spots meaning a possible first Premiership appearance of the season for John Curtis at right-back.
Last season: Blackburn 2 Southampton 0, Southampton 1 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Southampton D W W W L, Blackburn W L W W D
Top scorers: Brett Ormerod 6 (Southampton); David Dunn 4 (Blackburn).
Match odds: H 13-10 A 17-10 D21-10
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Sunderland (18) v Tottenham (5)
Most of the Sunderland players who fought out an unlikely victory at Arsenal in midweek will be replaced, although striker Marcus Stewart staked his claim for a start with a double and keeper Michael Ingham will return to the bench. Jason McAteer (hernia), David Bellion (groin), Claudio Reyna (knee), Thomas Sorensen (elbow), Thomas Myhre (thigh), Nicolas Medina (knee) and Julio Arca (ankle) are still out, while veteran striker Niall Quinn is still struggling with a back problem.
Les Ferdinand misses out for Tottenham after straining a hamstring during Wednesday night's Worthington Cup defeat at Burnley. Manager Glenn Hoddle also has doubts over Matthew Etherington (ankle), Anthony Gardner (knee) and Stephen Clemence (thigh), who all suffered knocks in that game. Skipper Teddy Sheringham, Steffen Freund and Jamie Redknapp will return to the team after being rested, although Redknapp must first shake off a touch of flu, while Dean Richards may still be ruled out with an eye injury.
Last season: Tottenham 2 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 1 Tottenham 2
Last five league matches: Sunderland W L L D D, Tottenham L W W L D
Top scorers: Tore Andre Flo 4 (Sunderland); Teddy Sheringham 4 (Tottenham)
Match odds: H 9-5 A 5-4 D 21-10
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
West Ham (17) v Leeds (13)
Skipper Paolo di Canio is set to return to the Hammers attack, and boss Glenn Roeder is also hoping that England midfielder Trevor Sinclair will be able to play wearing a protective mask after surgery on a cheekbone fracture this week. Defender Tomas Repka is also set to return but Roeder will again be without French striker Freddie Kanoute, still recovering from his groin injury.
Danny Mills is out of the Leeds squad for what the club are describing as "personal reasons", while Alan Smith is suspended following his recent sending off at Middlesbrough. Dominic Matteo, Robbie Fowler, Seth Johnson and Olivier Dacourt remain sidelined through injury, with late fitness tests to be given to Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Eirik Bakke (ankle). Lucas Radebe should return after missing the Worthington Cup defeat to Sheffield United with a recurrence of his knee problem, while Nick Barmby has shaken off a bout of flu.
Last season: Leeds 3 West Ham 0, West Ham 0 Leeds 0
Last five league matches: West Ham L W W L L, Leeds L D L D L
Top scorers: Paolo di Canio 3 (West Ham); Harry Kewell 4 (Leeds), Mark Viduka 4 (Leeds)
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10
Referee: S Dunn (Avon).