Saturday, February 7th
Aston Villa (11) v Leeds (20)
Villa boss David O'Leary will be forced to make two changes as midfielder Gavin McCann, full-back Mark Delaney and Peter Whittingham suspended. Ulises de la Cruz is likely to replace Delaney with fit again Lee Hendrie replacing McCann. Top scorer Juan Pablo Angel is in contention after recovering from a leg injury.
Striker Mark Viduka returns to Leeds' starting line-up following a three-week absence for compassionate leave. Defender Stephen Caldwell - who has joined on loan until the end of the season from Newcastle - may play, while Lucas Radebe (hamstring) and David Batty (ankle) are available.
Last season: Leeds 3 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 0 Leeds 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W L L W; Leeds L L L L L
Top scorers:Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 16; Alan Smith, Mark Viduka (Leeds) 5
Match odds: H 4-9 A 5-1 D 11-4
Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).
Bolton (8) v Liverpool (5)
French forward Youri Djorkaeff is set to return to the Bolton team following a hamstring injury. Defender Simon Charlton is also available after a groin strain. Stelios Giannakopoulos remains doubtful with an ankle injury while Steve Howey is likely to miss out again as he tries to shake off a hamstring problem.
Liverpool are close to having Milan Baros and Florent Sinama-Pongolle back after successful midweek reserve run-outs but it is unlikely either will get closer than the substitutes' bench. Gerard Houllier is unlikely to change the side which drew with Everton, with Emile Heskey (hamstring) the only player now not in full training. Vladimir Smicer and Chris Kirkland having returned this week.
Last season:Liverpool 2 Bolton 0, Bolton 2 Liverpool 3
Last five league matches:Bolton D L W W W; Liverpool W W L D D
Top scorers:Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 9; Harry Kewell, Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9
Match odds:H 15-8 A 6-5 D 21-10
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Everton (14) v Man Utd (2)
Everton have doubts over Alan Stubbs and Duncan Ferguson. Striker Ferguson is struggling with neck, foot and groin problems, while defender Stubbs has a heel injury.
Ryan Giggs (back) and Gary Neville (thigh) are set to return for United. Brazilian midfielder Kleberson is also in contention for a place but the game is likely to come too soon for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who like Kleberson turned out for the second string on Thursday after four months on the sidelines following knee surgery.
Last season:Everton 1 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 3 Everton 0
Last five league matches:Everton W D L L D; Man Utd W W D L W
Top scorers:Duncan Ferguson (Everton) 7; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 19
Match odds: H 9-2 A 4-7 D 23-10
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).
Middlesbrough (12) v Blackburn (16)
Middlesbrough will be without George Boateng (suspended), Ugo Ehiogu (groin injury) and Jonathan Greening (thigh injury). Stuart Parnaby is doubtful with an ankle injury, Colin Cooper has been added to the squad but Brazilian Ricardinho will not be rushed into his debut after his transfer window deadline day signing.
Jon Stead is set to make his debut for Blackburn. The 20-year-old will start on the bench but Rovers manager Graeme Souness, has hinted the striker will make an appearance at some point. Norwegian midfielder Martin Andresen is not in the squad as he has yet to get back to full fitness but Vratislav Gresko returns from suspension and Craig Short (hamstring) is back.
Last season:Blackburn 1 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches:Middlesbrough L W L D W; Blackburn W D L D L
Top scorers:Juninho (Middlesbrough) 6; Andy Cole (Blackburn) 7
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Newcastle (6) v Leicester (18)
Laurent Robert is out after suffering a reaction to his knee injury. Striker Craig Bellamy (knee) and midfielder Lee Bowyer (hip) are both included for Newcastle, although the latter is short of match fitness. Loan signing Michael Bridges could also figure, although Andy Griffin has been left out because of a slight Achilles problem.
Leicester striker Les Ferdinand is back in contention after postponing knee surgery until the end of the season. Another former Newcastle player in Nikos Dabizas will not be able to play at St James' Park as part of the agreement following his free transfer move to Leicester last month. Gerry Taggart is back in the squad after a spell at Stoke while new signing Steffen Freund is poised to make his debut in midfield.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Newcastle L W D W D; Leicester D D L D L
Top scorers:Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 17; Paul Dickov (Leicester) 10
Match odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 13-5
Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).
Southampton (10) v Fulham (7)
Swedish international Michael Svensson is available to return in place of Fitz Hall after suspension and striker James Beattie is pressing for a start after being named as a substitute against Manchester United last week. Claus Lundekvam and Neil McCann have failed to overcome hamstring problems, striker Agustin Delgado has a back problem while midfielder David Prutton is still suspended.
Midfielders Lee Clark (Achilles) and Sylvain Legwinski (ankle) are available for Fulham but striker Facundo Sava is doubtful with a calf strain. Jerome Bonnissel is still receiving treatment in France, Collins John (ankle) is out and Elvis Hammond may need further surgery on his fractured patella.
Last season: Fulham 2 Southampton 2, Southampton 4 Fulham 2
Last five league matches: Southampton L D L W L; Fulham L L W L W
Top scorers:James Beattie (Southampton) 11; Luis Boa Morte, Steed Malbranque (Fulham) 5
Match odds:H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
Tottenham (13) v Portsmouth (17)
Jermain Defoe will make his Tottenham debut following his £7million move from West Ham on transfer deadline day as Helder Postiga is out with a hamstring problem. Spurs hope to have Mauricio Taricco and Gary Doherty available after injury, but Darren Anderton is again ruled out.
New signing Lomano LuaLua is set to make his Pompey debut but is battling with Aiyegbeni Yakubu and Ivica Mornar to partner former Spurs striker Teddy Sheringham. Defender John Curtis must delay his debut because of a groin strain. Defenders Dejan Stefanovic and Richard Duffy and midfielder Kevin Harper are suspended.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Tottenham L W W W L; Portsmouth L L W L D
Top scorers:Frederic Kanoute (Tottenham) 12; Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Portsmouth) 8
Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).
Wolverhampton (19) v Arsenal (1)
Wolves boss Dave Jones is set to make last-minute decisions over the availability of midfielders Alex Rae (calf) and Silas (ankle). The suspension ruling out captain Paul Ince and the ankle injury afflicting Shaun Newton have also added to Jones' shortage of midfield personnel, while striker Nathan Blake continues to be sidelined by a neck problem.
Jose Reyes is doubtful as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger considers how best to replace Fredrik Ljungberg (rib injury) on the right flank. Reyes is recovering from an infection and has just returned from a trip to Seville to sort out business. Sylvain Wiltord, Jeremie Aliadiere and Kanu are out so either Reyes, Edu, who has an ankle injury, or Ray Parlour will fill in for Ljungberg.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Wolverhampton D L W D D; Arsenal W D W W W
Top scorers:Alex Rae (Wolverhampton) 8; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 21
Match odds: H 7-1 A 1-3 D 3-1
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
Sunday, February 8th
Chelsea (3) v Charlton (4)
Chelsea's John Terry and Joe Cole are suspended, Emmanuel Petit has more trouble with a knee injury, Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo are out long term and midfielder Geremi remains at the African Nations Cup with Cameroon. Scott Parker is banned from facing his old club under the terms of his recent transfer across London and winger Damien Duff (Achilles) is still out. Celestine Babayaro, despite not taking up Nigeria's invitation to return to the African tournament, is sidelined with a hamstring problem.
Charlton's Carlton Cole misses out as he cannot feature in the fixture due to a clause in his loan from the Blues to the Addicks. Left-winger Jerome Thomas, an Arsenal youth team player signed for £100,000 on Monday, will be on the bench but Jason Euell is a major doubt with a bruised foot.
Last season:Chelsea 4 Charlton 1, Charlton 2 Chelsea 3
Last five league matches: Chelsea W L W D W; Charlton W D W W L
Top scorers:Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 12; Jason Euell (Charlton) 6
Match odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 13-5
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
Man City (15) v Birmingham (9)
Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka is out after failing to recover from the groin injury he sustained in Wednesday's stunning FA Cup win at Tottenham. Anelka's absence is likely to see Jon Macken handed only his second Premiership start.
Birmingham newcomer Martin Taylor is included in the squad but the £1.5million capture from Blackburn must wait to see if he is in Steve Bruce's starting line-up with fellow defender also Matthew Upson back in contention. Striker Christophe Dugarry (knee) is also available.
Last season: Man City 1 Birmingham 0, Birmingham 0 Man City 2
Last five league matches:Man City D D L D L; Birmingham L L W D D
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 19; Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) 9
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).