Today

Arsenal (6) v Leeds (5)

Lee Dixon returns from injury but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is likely to stick with fellow Frenchman Gilles Grimandi. David Platt is still sidelined by a groin injury.

Leeds pair David Hopkin and Alfie Haaland may have to be content with a place on the bench after being named as substitutes in last week's FA Cup tie at home to Oxford. Defender David Robertson, meanwhile, completes a twomatch ban.

Last season: Arsenal 3-0 Leeds; Leeds 0-0 Arsenal.

Last five League matches: Arsenal L W L W D, Leeds D D W L D.

Top scorers: Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) 12; Rod Wallace (Leeds) 10.

Match odds: H 10-11; A 5-2; D 9-4.

Referee: G R Ashby (Worcester)

Aston Villa (10) v Leicester (9)

Riccardo Scimeca returns for Villa with Gareth Southgate sidelined by a twisted ankle. Julian Joachim stands by to replace Stan Collymore, who he replaced in the 2-2 FA Cup third round draw at Portsmouth.

Leicester boss Martin O'Neill is optimistic that Ian Marshall (groin) and Steve Walsh (hamstring) will both be fit. Muzzy Izzet is also expected to be given the green light despite suffering a toe injury in training.

Last season: Aston Villa 1-3 Leicester; Leicester 1-0 Aston Villa.

Last five League matches: Aston Villa W L D W D, Leicester D L L L D.

Top scorers: Dwight Yorke, Ian Taylor (Aston Villa) 6; Ian Marshall (Leicester) 8.

Match odds: H 4-5; A 3-1; D 9-4.

Referee: M A Riley (Leeds).

Bolton (17) v Southampton (13)

Mike Whitlow is ruled out by a knee injury and Bolton manager Colin Todd could recall Jimmy Phillips. Striker Dean Holdsworth, out for five weeks with a leg injury, is a doubtful starter.

Neil Moss is on standby to replace Wales international goalkeeper Paul Jones, who is doubtful with a groin injury. Carlton Palmer will continue in defence if Norwegian Claus Lundekvam fails to recover from a calf injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Bolton L D L D L; Southampton L W D D W.

Top scorers: Nathan Blake (Bolton) 9; Kevin Davies (Southampton) 11.

Match odds: H 6-5; A 15-8; D 9-4.

Referee: G S Willard (Worthing).

Chelsea (3) v Coventry (14)

Chelsea's flu bug threatens to keep out player-manager Ruud Gullit, Dan Petrescu, Italian trio Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Di Matteo and Gianluca Vialli and Frank Leboeuf. Frank Sinclair is ruled out through suspension while Andy Myers is sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan will make a late decision on whether or not to give Romanian international striker Viorel Moldovan his Premiership debut. Marcus Hall and George Boateng are suspended and John Salako and Roland Nilsson could return.

Last season: Chelsea 2-0 Coventry; Coventry 3-1 Chelsea.

Last five League matches: Chelsea W D W D L; Coventry L W L L W.

Top scorers: Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea) 14; Dion Dublin (Coventry) 10.

Match odds: H 8-13; A 4-1; D 12-5.

Referee: M D Reed (Birmingham).

Crystal Palace (15) v Everton (18)

Palace manager Steve Coppell could give Tommy Johnson, on loan from Celtic, his debut along with Marcus Bent, a £300,000 signing from Brentford.

Paul Warhurst and Neil Shipperley are ruled out by injury but Bruce Dyer, Jamie Smith and Italian duo Attilio Lombardo and Michele Padovano could return.

Everton will give French international striker Mickael Madar his Premiership debut. Slaven Bilic returns after a five-match suspension while Gary Speed is back as captain after recovering from an ankle injury and Craig Short and Terry Phelan also return from injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Crystal Palace D L D D D; Everton D D W L W.

Top scorers: Neil Shipperley (Palace) 6; Gary Speed (Everton) 6.

Match odds: H 6-5; A 15-8; D 9-4.

Referee: G P Barber (Pyrford).

Liverpool (4) v Wimbledon (12)

Liverpool are likely to be unchanged from their League Cup quarter-final win at Newcastle with goalkeeper Brad Friedel spending his fifth game on the bench.

Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear is set to give new £300,000 striker signing Carl Leaburn his debut.

Last season: Liverpool 1-1 Wimbledon; Wimbledon 2-1 Liverpool.

Last five League matches: Liverpool L W W W W; Wimbledon L W D D L.

Top scorers: Robbie Fowler (Liverpool) 12; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 6.

Match odds: H 4-7; A 9-2; D 12-5.

Referee: M J D Bodenham (East Looe).

Manchester Utd (1) v Tottenham (19)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has shrugged off a chest cold but may have to settle for a place on the bench. United will be without Phil Neville who will be serving the second of a twomatch ban.

Nicola Berti, Tottenham's new free-transfer signing from Inter Milan, makes his Premiership debut but Ian Walker and David Ginola are ruled out by injuries. Espen Baardsen replaces Walker and Ruel Fox comes in for Ginola. Fit-again duo David Howells and Andy Sinton will be on the bench.

Last season: Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham; Tottenham 1-2 Man Utd.

Last five League matches: Man Utd W W W W L; Tottenham L L W L D.

Top scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 18; David Ginola (Tottenham) 7.

Match odds: H 4-11; A 13-2; D 3-1.

Referee: P E Alcock (Redhill).

Sheffield Wed (16) v Newcastle (11)

Guy Whittingham faces a late fitness test after picking up a knock in a midweek reserve game and Wednesday manager Ron Atkinson keeps faith with a front three of Italian duo Benito Carbone and Paolo Di Canio and Andy Booth.

Newcastle will almost certainly be without Faustino Asprilla, who is troubled by a thigh injury. Warren Barton is available after recovering from a leg injury. Keith Gillespie and Stuart Pearce, who both missed the League Cup quarter-final defeat against Liverpool, are in contention.

Last season: Sheff Wed 1-1 Newcastle; Newcastle 1-2 Sheff Wed.

Last five League matches: Sheff Wed W L L D D; Newcastle D D L L L.

Top scorers: Paolo Di Canio (Sheff Wed) 9; John Barnes, Faustino Asprilla (Newcastle) 6.

Match Odds: H 11-8; A 13-8; D 11-5.

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

West Ham (8) v Barnsley (20)

West Ham will be without Paul Kitson, who is sidelined by a groin strain, and Samassi Abou is likely to partner John Hartson up front. Midfielders Ian Bishop and John Moncur and defender Ian Pearce are fit again but Steve Lomas serves the last game of a three-match ban.

Barnsley are without suspended defenders Arjan de Zeeuw and Adie Moses so Danny Wilson will choose between Swede Peter Markstedt, Slovenian international Ales Krizan and Matty Appleby for the centre-back slots.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: West Ham L W L W W; Barnsley L D L D W.

Top scorers: John Hartson (West Ham) 18; Neil Redfearn (Barnsley) 8.

Match Odds: H 4-7; A 9-2; D 12-5.

Referee: N S Barry (Scunthorpe).

Tomorrow

Derby (7) v Blackburn (2)

Derby manager Jim Smith has to manage without suspended trio Stefano Eranio, Lee Carsley and Darryl Powell.

Lars Bohinen is Blackburn's only doubt after bruising his ribs during last week's FA Cup tie against Wigan and will have a late fitness test. Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallacher are expected to return after recovering from thigh and back injuries respectively.

Last season: Derby 0-0 Blackburn; Blackburn 1-2 Derby.

Last five League matches: Derby D D D W L; Blackburn W W W D D.

Top scorers: Francesco Baiano (Derby) 12; Kevin Gallacher, Chris Sutton (Blackburn) 13.

Match odds: H 11-8; A 13-8; D 11-5.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.