Premiership team news and statistics

Arsenal (1) v Aston Villa (11)

Arsenal (1) v Aston Villa (11)

Arsenal are without goalkeeper David Seaman, who has a groin injury, so Rami Shaaban again deputises. Ashley Cole faces a fitness test on an ankle injury and although Oleg Luzhny and Kolo Toure are fit and available and Dennis Bergkamp is set to return after being rested in midweek, Martin Keown may not start despite recovering from hamstring trouble and Lauren, Kanu and Ray Parlour are still ruled out.

Gareth Barry will lose his ever present tag for Aston Villa because he has to serve a one-match ban. Central defender Ronny Johnsen is optimistic of being fit after a thigh strain.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 2
Last five league matches: Arsenal L W W W L, Aston Villa D D W D W
Top scorers: Arsenal - Thierry Henry 13; Aston Villa - Dion Dublin 5
Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).

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Birmingham (13) v Tottenham (7)

Midfielder Damien Johnson is pushing for a recall to Birmingham's starting line-up after a six-week absence with a hamstring injury but Darryl Powell is doubtful with a knee injury and striker Geoff Horsfield serves the second game of a three-match ban.

Gus Poyet has recovered from the facial injury he suffered against Leeds and is included for Tottenham. Mauricio Taricco (groin) came through 45 minutes of a reserve game in midweek but is not yet match fit.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Birmingham L W L D W, Tottenham L D L L W
Top scorers: Birmingham - Stern John 6; Tottenham - Teddy Sheringham 5
Match odds: H 8-5 A 7-5 D 21-10
Referee: E Wolstenholme (Lancashire).

Blackburn (9) v Fulham (12)

Brad Friedel returns to the Blackburn squad after a one-match absence following a knee operation. Tugay is available again after suspension but defender Martin Taylor is ruled out with a hamstring problem.

Fulham have Sylvain Legwinski returning from a back problem but Barry Hayles is resting due to pain around his neck vertebrae. He will consult a specialist in a fortnight to discover if he needs surgery. Fellow frontman Louis Saha is going to France to step up his recovery from a hamstring operation.

Last season: Blackburn 3 Fulham 0, Fulham 2 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Blackburn W D D L L, Fulham L L L D W
Top scorers: Blackburn - David Dunn, David Thompson 4; Fulham - Junichi Inamoto, Steve Marlet 6
Match odds: H Evs A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Chelsea (4) v Sunderland (17)

Boudewijn Zenden and Albert Ferrer are still injured so Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri's only tough selection decision is whether to recall Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who could replace Jesper Gronkjaer or Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Sunderland have no new injury problems and manager Howard Wilkinson could name an unchanged team for the first time since taking over. Jason McAteer has suffered a setback on his return to full-time training after a groin problem, while David Bellion could replace Michael Proctor on the right wing.

Last season: Chelsea 4 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 0 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches: Chelsea W D W W D, Sunderland D D W D L
Top scorers: Chelsea - Gianfranco Zola 9; Sunderland - Tore Andre Flo 5
Match odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 13-5
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

Man City (16) v Bolton (18)

City welcome back three defenders. Steve Howey and Sylvain Distin have recovered from injury, while Gerard Wiekens is back from flu. Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe also returns after suspension.

Bolton are short of options in defence with Bruno N'Gotty suspended and Mike Whitlow and Gudni Bergsson injured. Midfielders Gareth Farrelly and Per Frandsen are also missing, while striker Dean Holdsworth has joined First Division Coventry on loan.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man City W W W L L, Bolton D L D W D
Top scorers: Man City - Nicolas Anelka 8; Bolton - Youri Djorkaeff 4
Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).

West Brom (19) v Middlesbrough (6)

Defender Phil Gilchrist (ankle) and midfielder Adam Chambers (back) are again struggling to be fit for West Brom.

Middlesbrough could be unchanged, with Tony Vidmar continuing at full-back in the absence of the suspended Franck Queudrue. Welsh international goalkeeper Mark Crossley has joined Stoke on loan and 20-year-old Brad Jones will act as cover for Australian international Mark Schwarzer.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom L L D D L, Middlesbrough D L W L W
Top scorers: West Brom - Jason Roberts 3; Middlesbrough - Massimo Maccarone 4
Match odds: H 2-1 A 6-5 D 2-1
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).

Leeds (14) v Charlton (15)

Teddy Lucic and James Milner, ineligible for the UEFA Cup draw in Malaga, are added to the squad and Terry Venables will assess the fitness of Mark Viduka (foot) and Danny Mills (ankle). Venables, though, will still be without Dominic Matteo, Olivier Dacourt, Lucas Radebe, Nick Barmby, David Batty, Robbie Fowler and Seth Johnson.

Captain Richard Rufus serves a one-match ban after picking up five bookings but Gary Rowett (thigh), Claus Jensen (calf) and Jonatan Johansson (hamstring) could all return after injury.

Last season: Leeds 0 Charlton 0, Charlton 0 Leeds 2
Last five league matches: Leeds D L W L L, Charlton L D L W W
Top scorers: Leeds - Harry Kewell 7, Alan Smith 7; Charlton - Jason Euell 3
Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).

Liverpool (2) v Man Utd (5)

Liverpool will be without French international Bruno Cheyrou for at least a fortnight following the groin injury which forced him off after just 10 minutes of their UEFA Cup victory against Vitesse Arnhem last night.

Laurent Blanc, who limped out of the 5-3 win over Newcastle with a calf strain, is a doubtful starter for United despite having intensive treatment this week. United are already without Rio Ferdinand, David Beckham, Roy Keane, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville. If Blanc wins his fitness battle Phil Neville is favourite to stand down with John O'Shea moving from the centre to replace him at right-back.

Last season: Man Utd 0 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 3 Man Utd 1
Last five league matches: Liverpool W W L D L, Man Utd D W L D W
Top scorers: Liverpool - Michael Owen 12; Man Utd - Ruud van Nistelrooy 16
Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Newcastle (8) v Everton (3)

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer and midfielder Hugo Viana have shaken off dead legs and will play, while striker Shola Ameobi - who turned an ankle while warming down after the game - should also be fit. Central defender Titus Bramble is back in training after a hamstring injury and is expected to join the rest of the first-team squad from Monday.

Everton are hoping Mark Pembridge will be back from the calf problem which forced him to miss last week's victory over West Brom. Duncan Ferguson is still kept out by a back injury and misses the return to his former club.

Last season: Newcastle 6 Everton 2, Everton 1 Newcastle 3
Last five league matches: Newcastle W W L W L, Everton W W W W W
Top scorers: Newcastle - Alan Shearer 10; Everton - Kevin Campbell 8
Match odds: H 10-11 A 12-5 D 9-4
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).