Saturday

Aston Villa (9) v Derby (19)

Aston Villa's England under-21 international midfielder Lee Hendrie is pressing for a return to the starting line-up at the expense of Ian Taylor. French winger David Ginola is expected to regain his place in the side.

Giorgi Kinkladze and Rory Delap are set to return for Derby after missing the League Cup victory against West Brom because of a groin injury and Achilles problem respectively.

Last season: Aston Villa 2 Derby 0, Derby 0 Aston Villa 2

Last five league matches: Aston Villa D L W W D, Derby D D D L D

Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 2; Malcolm Christie, Branko Strupar (Derby) 4

Match odds: H 8-15 A 9-2 D 12-5

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)

Charlton (5) v Coventry (17)

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has no injury worries and is likely to revert to his preferred Premiership line-up after the midweek League Cup exit to Stoke. Martin Pringle, Mathias Svensson and Clive Mendonca have all started training but are still several weeks away.

Coventry are expected to field the same side that beat Preston 4-1 in the League Cup as the Sky Blues seek their third away victory of the season. That would mean Australian striker John Aloisi starting up-front again.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Charlton L D D W W, Coventry W L D L L

Top scorers: Jonatan Johansson (Charlton) 6; John Aloisi (Coventry) 3

Match odds: H 4-5 A 13-5 D 12-5

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville)

Everton (11) v Ipswich (12)

Francis Jeffers will be out for six weeks with ankle ligament damage after being carried off in the League Cup defeat at Bristol Rovers. Everton are also without Mark Pembridge, Abel Xavier, Richard Gough, Duncan Ferguson and Alessandro Pistone while David Unsworth is doubtful with a hamstring problem.

Ipswich have Marcus Stewart and Mark Venus back but reserve defender Wayne Brown has a groin strain and will miss the clash at Goodison Park.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Everton D L W L D, Ipswich W L L W D

Top scorers: Francis Jeffers (Everton) 7; Titus Bramble, David Johnson, Jim Magilton, Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 2

Match odds: H 8-11 A 3-1 D 12-5

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Leeds (10) v Tottenham (6)

Darren Anderton is back in a 20-man Tottenham squad after just one reserve run-out since tearing a groin muscle in the win over Everton early in the month. England under-21 defender Ledley King is in the squad for the first time since summer surgery on a damaged ankle and both he and Anderton could be on the bench. Luke Young (foot), Mauricio Taricco (groin), Chris Armstrong (groin) and Sol Campbell (shoulder) remain absent.

Leeds will give a late test to defender and skipper Lucas Radebe, but he is expected to retain his place in the starting line-up. Jonathan Woodgate is still a week away from full fitness after an ankle injury, so Danny Mills is certain to keep his place in the back four.

Last season: Leeds 1 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 1 Leeds 2

Last five league matches: Leeds W L D L D, Tottenham L W W L D

Top scorers: Lee Bowyer (Leeds) 6; Les Ferdinand, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Sergei Rebrov (Tottenham) 2

Match odds: H 5-6 A 5-2 D 12-5

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)

Man City (13) v Newcastle (7)

Tommy Wright will deputise for injured Manchester City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver against his old club. Alfie Haaland and Gerrard Wiekens face late fitness tests, but Paulo Wanchope and Spencer Prior have shaken off niggles to play.

Newcastle will be without striker Carl Cort (hamstring) and defender Alain Goma (broken nose). But striker Lomana Tresor Lua Lua returns after being cup-tied.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Man City L W L D D, Newcastle W W D L L

Top scorers: Paulo Wanchope (Man City) 6; Lumana Lua-Lua (Newcastle) 5

Match odds: H 6-4 A 7-5 D 9-4

Referee: P Taylor (Cheshunt)

Southampton (8) v Middlesbrough (15)

Defenders Dean Richards (Achilles) and Tahar El Khalej (calf) are both rated as doubtful for Southampton's home game against Middlesbrough. Manager Glenn Hoddle also has doubts over Moroccan midfielder Hassan Kachloul (ankle) while Jo Tessem has a foot problem. Midfielder Mark Draper is back in contention.

Central defensive veterans Gary Pallister and Steve Vickers are fit again for Boro while summer-signing Christian Karembeu also returns. Mark Crossley has recovered from injury and Robson has to decided whether to play the former Forest goalkeeper or Gary Walsh.

Last season: Southampton 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 3 Southampton 2

Last five league matches: Southampton D D L W W, Middlesbrough L D L D D

Top scorers: Marian Pahars (Southampton) 5; Alen Boksic, Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 3

Match odds: H 6-5 A 7-4 D 9-4

Referee: G Poll (Tring)

West Ham (18) v Bradford (20)

West Ham boss Harry Redknapp is hoping to have Rio Ferdinand and Trevor Sinclair back after both missed the midweek League Cup match against Walsall with groin injuries. Frank Lampard faces a check on an ankle injury but John Moncur is expected to return to the squad.

David Wetherall and Dan Petrescu return to Bradford's starting line-up, while Peter Beagrie is also back after a calf injury. Lee Sharpe is also fit having had stitches in the top of his foot but all the longer term casualties - Andy Myers, Andy O'Brien, David Hopkin and Ian Nolan - are ruled out until after the international break.

Last season: West Ham 5 Bradford 4, Bradford 0 West Ham 3

Last five league matches: West Ham D D L D W, Bradford D L D L L

Top scorers: Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 4; Benito Carbone, Dean Windass (Bradford) 3

Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2

Referee: M Dean (Hewsall)

Sunday

Arsenal (3) v Man Utd (1)

French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez hopes to be fit to play for United following his pulled back muscle injury. Arsene Wenger is likely to recall Gilles Grimandi to replace suspended fellow-Frenchman Patrick Vieira in midfield. Fredrik Ljungberg, who scored twice against Lazio and has been on target in the last three meetings with United, looks certain to keep his place.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 1 Man Utd 2

Last five league matches: Arsenal W D D W D, Man Utd D W W W D

Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 4; Andy Cole (Man Utd) 6

Match odds: H 13-8 A 6-4 D 19-10

Referee: G Barber (Tring)

Chelsea (16) v Liverpool (4)

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier rested Nick Barmby, Jamie Carragher, Stephane Henchoz and Christian Ziege from the starting line-up against Rapid Bucharest, and all four can expect to return. Robbie Fowler will continue his comeback up front alongside Michael Owen, while Patrik Berger could find himself on the bench.

Rigobert Song could also come back into the reckoning, while Emile Heskey is unlikely to be risked with the knee injury that still may require surgery and force him out of England's squad to play Germany next weekend.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Last five league matches: Chelsea D D D L D, Liverpool D W W D D

Top scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 4; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 8

Match odds: H 6-5 A 2-1 D 2-1

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury)

Sunderland (14) v Leicester (2)

Sunderland will revert to their strongest available side after manager Peter Reid rested 10 first-team players for the midweek League Cup tie at Luton. Darren Williams (calf) is expected to pass a late fitness test.

Leicester defender Phil Gilchrist is likely to miss out because of a stomach virus. But there is again no place for Stan Collymore.

Last season: Leicester 5 Sunderland 2, Sunderland 2 Leicester 0

Last five league matches: Sunderland L D L W D, Leicester D W W W D

Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 4; Ade Akinbiyi, Gerry Taggart (Leicester) 2

Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill