Today

(League positions in brackets)

Aston Villa (13) v Crystal Palace (20)

Aston Villa will be without their Trinidad and Tobago striker, Dwight Yorke, who is suspended after clocking up five bookings this season. Savo Milosevic may return up front after knee ligament problems because Stan Collymore is still struggling to shake off foot and ankle injuries.

Crystal Palace's new player/coach, Attilio Lombardo, is likely to start the game on the bench, but has been boosted by the return of striker Neil Shipperley after a long-term injury. Centre-back Hermann Hreidarsson is suspended, while Simon Rodger is likely to have recovered from flu in time to play.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Aston Villa LLWWL, Crystal Palace LLLLL.

Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa) 9; Matt Jansen (Crystal Palace) 12.

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

Referee: G P Barber (Pyrford).

Barnsley (18) v Southampton (10)

Barnsley wing-back Darren Barnard could be fit to start - just three days after fears he had broken his leg. Barnard only sustained a calf injury in the 1-0 win at Aston Villa. Although midfielder Jovo Bosancic returns from a two-match ban, Barnsley are still without injured quartet John Hendrie (ankle), Ales Krizan (knee), Arjan de Zeeuw (groin) and Peter Markstedt (neck).

Southampton's inspirational midfielder, Carlton Palmer, is serving a one-match ban and is likely to be replaced by Kevin Richardson. Leading scorer Kevin Davies and midfielder David Hughes are ruled out for the next month with long-term ankle and rib injuries.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Barnsley LDLWW, Southampton WLWWW.

Top scorers: Jan Aage Fjortoft (Barnsley) 15; Kevin Davies (Southampton) 12.

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

Referee: G R Ashby (Worcester).

Bolton (19) v Sheff Wed (12)

Unsettled Bolton midfielder Jamie Pollock has been ruled out with flu and manager Colin Todd also has a doubt over Scott Sellars, who has a leg injury. Mark Fish is likely to get his first start since mid-January following a month of international duty with South Africa and one match on the bench.

Goce Sedloski is included in the Sheffield Wednesday squad for the first time since his £1.75 million move from Hajduk Split. Petter Rudi (hamstring) and Mark Pembridge (stomach) have both shrugged off minor knocks, but midfielder Graham Hyde is suspended.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Bolton LDDLL, Sheff Wed LDWLW.

Top scorers: Nathan Blake (Bolton) 11; Paolo Di Canio (Sheff Wed) 13.

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

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Everton (16) v Blackburn (5)

John Spencer, the Scottish striker signed on loan from QPR this week, will make his Everton debut. Fellow Scot Duncan Ferguson serves the last game of his three-match ban, while midfielder Gareth Farrelly is also suspended, but defender Craig Short and midfielder Gavin McCann are available again after injury.

England goalkeeper Tim Flowers is set to return for Blackburn after three matches out with a shoulder strain. Roy Hodgson could also recall midfielder Billy McKinlay and has midfielder Lars Bohinen and defender Tore Pedersen available. French full-back Patrick Valery is out with a virus, while forward Kevin Gallacher serves the final game of a three-match ban.

Last season: Everton 0-2 Blackburn, Blackburn 1-1 Everton.

Last five league matches: Everton DLDDL, Blackburn DLLWL.

Top scorers: Duncan Ferguson (Everton) 9; Chris Sutton (Blackburn) 19.

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

Referee: G S Willard (Worthing).

Man Utd (1) v Arsenal (2)

England midfielder Nicky Butt looks certain to miss out with a calf strain and, with Gary Pallister and Ryan Giggs still on the injured list, Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson will not name his side until the last minute. Phil Neville should be fit after missing the midweek game against West Ham with a slight hamstring injury, while Ronny Johnsen, ruled out on Wednesday after suffering from concussion during the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, may return.

Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger and full-back Nigel Winterburn have both been passed fit after respective thigh and foot injuries, but Arsene Wenger faces a selection poser over 18-year-old Frenchman Nicolas Anelka and fellow striker Christopher Wreh.

Last season: Man Utd 1-0 Arsenal, Arsenal 1-2 Man Utd.

Last five league matches: Man Utd WWWLD, Arsenal WWWDW.

Top scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 22; Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) 18.

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

Referee: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).

Newcastle (14) v Coventry (11)

Steve Watson is Newcastle's only injury worry. Greek international defender Nikos Dabizas is in line to at least be on the bench, while Alessandro Pistone could be given a recall, after missing the last two matches through suspension.

Coventry defender Paul Williams stands by for his first taste of senior football since a hernia operation two months ago and is expected to be on the substitutes' bench. Marcus Hall is likely to recover from a calf strain, while veteran goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic plays his 496th League game for the club.

Last season: Newcastle 4-0 Coventry, Coventry 2-1 Newcastle.

Last five league matches: Newcastle LWLDD, Coventry WWWWW.

Top scorers: Gary Speed (Newcastle) 8; Dion Dublin (Coventry) 19.

Match odds: H Evens A 9-4 D 9-4.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Tottenham (17) v Liverpool (3)

New signing Moussa Saib has joined Tottenham's infamous injury list, but Chris Armstrong is set to return in attack after recovering from thigh trouble.

Liverpool defender Phil Babb stands by to make his comeback after missing five games with a knee injury. German striker Karlheinz Riedle is ruled out with a thigh injury, along with Mark Kennedy, who has failed to recover from a finger operation earlier in the week.

Last season: Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool, Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham.

Last five league matches: Tottenham WDLWL, Liverpool LDDLW.

Top scorers: David Ginola (Tottenham) 8; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 19.

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

Referee: U D Rennie (Sheffield).

West Ham (8) v Chelsea (4)

West Ham captain Steve Lomas is out with a thigh problem, joining defender David Unsworth, striker Paul Kitson, right-back Tim Breacker and goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko on the Hammers' casualty list. Midfielder John Moncur and striker John Hartson are suspended, so Ian Bishop is expected to come into the midfield. Chelsea player-boss Gianluca Vialli is set to rest himself and give Tore Andre Flo a starting berth. Roberto Di Matteo, rested in Wednesday's big win over Crystal Palace, replaces the suspended Dennis Wise, while Michael Duberry is ready to return, possibly in place of Steve Clarke.

Last season: West Ham 3-2 Chelsea, Chelsea 3-1 West Ham.

Last five league matches: West Ham DWDDD, Chelsea LLLLW.

Top scorers: John Hartson (West Ham) 20; Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea) 17.

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

Referee: M J D Bodenham (East Looe).

Wimbledon (15) v Leicester (9)

Wimbledon Captain Vinnie Jones is doubtful after suffering a leg injury in the defeat against Arsenal in midweek. England Under-21 defender Ben Thatcher also faces a late fitness test after pulling a hamstring in the same game. But midfielder Ceri Hughes, who has hamstring trouble, and vice-captain Robbie Earle could both return.

Leicester manager Martin O'Neill has recalled on-loan Steve Claridge from Portsmouth and Julian Watts from Huddersfield. The Foxes are without Matt Elliott and Muzzy Izzet, both starting suspensions, while Ian Marshall's planned comeback may be delayed. O'Neill is also waiting on the fitness of Tony Cottee, Garry Parker, Spencer Prior and Pontus Kaamark.

Last season: Wimbledon 1-3 Leicester, Leicester 1-0 Wimbledon.

Last five league matches: Wimbledon DWWLL, Leicester WWDWL.

Top scorers: Jason Euell (Wimbledon) 8; Ian Marshall (Leicester) 8.

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

Referee: M A Riley (Leeds).

Tomorrow

Derby (7) v Leeds (6)

Derby boss Jim Smith has named an unchanged side following the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday two weeks ago. Striker Dean Sturridge, who missed that game following a car crash, starts a two-match ban, so Jamaican star Deon Burton again partners Paulo Wanchope in attack.

Leeds manager George Graham looks set to name an unchanged side for the first time since the end of November. Striker Rod Wallace and midfielder Bruno Ribeiro are both completing twomatch bans.

Last season: Derby 3-3 Leeds, Leeds 0-0 Derby.

Last five league matches: Derby WLWLW, Leeds LDLWW.

Top scorers: Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 15; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 15.

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

Referee: S J Lodge (Barnsley).

Odds supplied by William Hill