Saturday
(Current positions in brackets)
Aston Villa (6) v Derby (17)
Villa will check on the fitness of goalkeeper David James and captain Gareth Southgate. James has missed the last five matches with a thigh strain while central defender Southgate was sidelined by an Achilles tendon problem at Southampton last weekend.
Craig Burley could return to the Derby midfield after missing the last three games with a hamstring strain. Former Villa defender Tony Dorigo has recovered from a calf injury and is included in the squad.
Last season: Derby 2 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Derby 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D D W D L, Derby L D W L L
Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 12; Branko Strupar (Derby) 15
Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: P Alcock (Halstead)
Bradford (18) v Manchester Utd (1)
Bradford manager Paul Jewell has a full squad to choose from but may be tempted to shake things up after the 4-0 defeat at Coventry. Portuguese striker Jorge Cadete is pushing for a place in the starting line-up while goalkeeper Ademola Bankole, on loan from QPR, is expected to be on the bench.
Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole are all likely to return for United after missing the midweek Champions League game in Valencia. Alex Ferguson also switches back to his most potent strike pairing of Yorke and Cole in place of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Bradford L D D L L, Man Utd W D D W W
Top scorers: Lee Mills, Dean Saunders & Dean Windass (Bradford) 6; Andy Cole (Man Utd) 20
Match odds: H 5-1 A 1-2 D 12-5
Referee: G Poll (Tring)
Chelsea (5) v Southampton (15)
Chelsea captain Dennis Wise and striker George Weah are both in line for a return, the former after being rested against Lazio in midweek and the latter following a month out with a hamstring problem. Frank Leboeuf is sidelined with back trouble and could be replaced by Emerson Thome or Jes Hogh, while Celestine Babayaro has a groin injury that has also ruled him out of Nigeria's Olympic qualifier against Zimbabwe.
For Southampton, Tahar El Khalej and Claus Lundekvam are both expected to play despite their respective ankle and thigh injuries. Matthew Oakley and Luis Boa Morte are battling to recover from hamstring injuries, while midfielder Chris Marsden has a flu virus. French defender Patrick Colleter starts a four-game ban, while striker James Beattie is still out with an ankle problem.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Southampton 0, Southampton 0 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W D D, Southampton L D L L W
Top scorers: Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 15; Marian Pahars (Southampton) 10
Match odds: H 1-3 A 7-1 D 3-1
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury)
Liverpool (3) v Newcastle (11)
Michael Owen has been left out with Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier claiming it is only a precaution. The England striker does not, says Houllier, have any new hamstring problem after almost a year suffering from various recurrences of the injury. Liverpool will partner Titi Camara with Emile Heskey up front, hoping to build on an eight-match unbeaten run.
Portuguese defender Helder returns to the Newcastle squad after a hamstring injury but Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Solano and Paraguayan Diego Gavilan have both been allowed to return to South America on international duty.
Last season: Liverpool 4 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 1 Liverpool 4
Last five league matches: Liverpool W D D D W, Newcastle W W L W W
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 10; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 28
Match odds: H 8-13 A 7-2 D 5-2
Referee: P Durkin (Portland)
Middlesboro (14) v Sheff Wed (19)
Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson will await fitness news on striker Brian Deane and wing-back Christian Ziege. Both picked up knocks in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland last week which the manager is hopeful they can shake off, but midfielder Neil Maddison is definitely out with a badly bruised foot.
Czech Republic goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek trained with the Wednesday squad today after damaging his shoulder against Watford and could play tomorrow. Kevin Pressman is standing by if he fails to make it while Barry Richardson has been brought in as cover from Lincoln. Midfielder Barry Horne has also been drafted in from Huddersfield on loan and is set to make his debut.
Last season: Sheff Wed 3 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 4 Sheff Wed 0
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W D D W D, Sheff Wed L L D W L
Top scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 11; Gilles de Bilde (Sheff Wed) 8
Match odds: H 4-6 A 10-3 D 12-5
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay)
Sunderland (8) v Everton (10)
Sunderland's transfer deadline signing Milton Nunez is not being considered. Captain Steve Bould comes into contention after missing the last two months with a hamstring injury.
Don Hutchison has been recalled to Everton's first-team squad after clear-the-air talks with Walter Smith which included an apology to the Goodison Park boss.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sunderland L D L D D, Everton W D D L L
Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 25; Kevin Campbell (Everton) 12
Match odds: H 10-11 A 12-5 D 9-4
Referee: S Bennett (Orpington)
Watford (20) v Tottenham (7)
Watford manager Graham Taylor expects to name an unchanged side for the third week in succession. Midfielder Peter Kennedy and club record signing Nordin Wooter are the only major injury doubts, but Taylor expects both men to come through late fitness tests.
Spurs captain Sol Campbell is ruled out after damaging fibres in his knee during last Sunday's derby clash at Arsenal. George Graham will replace him with either John Scales or Luke Young and has also added his three recent teenage signings to the squad - Anthony Gardner from Port Vale and Peterborough pair Simon Davies and Matthew Etherington.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Watford D L L L W, Tottenham L W D W L
Top scorers: Heidar Helguson (Watford) 4; Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 17
Match odds: H 11-4 A 5-6 D 11-5
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)
Sunday
Arsenal (4) v Coventry (12)
David Seaman is again doubtful after missing the UEFA Cup win over Werder Bremen with a recurrence of a neck injury. Seaman's deputy Alex Manninger is on stand-by to make his third appearance in four games but defender Tony Adams has already been ruled out, although manager Arsene Wenger says his captain's latest problem with a niggling groin injury is not a major worry.
Coventry could have defender David Burrows back after a knee injury. Definitely out are Robbie Keane (knee), Carlton Palmer (ankle), Paul Williams (knee), Mark Edworthy (knee) and John Aloisi (hamstring). But Gary McAllister and Cedric Roussel are expected to be fit after picking up thigh injuries while Steve Froggatt could be back from an ankle injury.
Last season: Arsenal 2 Coventry 0, Coventry 0 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal L W D L W, Coventry L L L W W
Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 16; Robbie Keane (Coventry) 17
Match odds: H 4-11 A 7-1 D 11-4
Referee: B Knight (Orpington)
Leicester (13) v Leeds (2)
Leicester manager Martin O'Neill will have a diminished squad to pick from as Stuart Campbell, Stuart Wilson and Jordan Stewart have all left on loan until the end of the season. Defender Gerry Taggart is an injury worry after tweaking his groin during training. Steve Walsh remains out of contention after picking up a number of injuries last month.
Leeds midfielder Matthew Jones is manager David O'Leary's major doubt. Jones started only his fifth game this season in Thursday's 2-1 UEFA Cup defeat to Slavia Prague but the 19-year-old sustained an ankle injury and if unfit will be replaced by David Hopkin. Lee Bowyer would be available again after serving a one-match ban but the England under-21 international is likely to be out for at least another week with a knee ligament injury.
Last season: Leicester 1 Leeds 2, Leeds 0 Leicester 1
Last five league matches: Leicester W D W L L, Leeds L D W W W
Top scorers: Tony Cottee & Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 9; Michael Bridges (Leeds) 17
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)
West Ham (9) v Wimbledon (16)
New on-loan striker Frederic Kanoute goes straight into West Ham squad. Goalkeeper Sasa Ilic has returned to Charlton after a one-month loan spell, while Chilean defender Javier Margas is on international duty. Boss Harry Redknapp reports no fresh injury problems.
Wimbledon striker Carl Cort is struggling with an ankle injury and looks certain to be ruled out. Ben Thatcher's comeback from an ankle injury has received a setback and he could be out for at least another fortnight. The Dons are also without Hermann Hreidarsson and John Hartson.
Last season: Wimbledon 0 West Ham 0, West Ham 3 Wimbledon 4
Last five league matches: West Ham L W W L D Wimbledon L D L W L
Top scorers: Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 13; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 17
Match odds: H 4-6 A 1-3 D 12-5
Referee: R Harris (Oxford)
