Martin Keown could return after missing the first two games but it gives manager Arsene Wenger the dilemma of whether to leave out skipper Tony Adams, who made a shaky start against Middlesbrough and Leeds. Adams has also recovered from a sore knee but it is unlikely Wenger will drop Sol Campbell.
Leicester manager Peter Taylor is planning to shuffle his side following the 5-0 thrashing by Bolton and also faces some enforced changes. Matt Elliott has a throat infection while Callum Davidson (knee) and Dean Sturridge (hamstring) are also struggling. James Scowcroft is still doubtful with a thigh strain while goalkeeper Ian Walker is suspended.
Last season: Leicester 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 6 Leicester 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal W D L W L, Leicester L L L W L
Top Scorers: Dennis Bergkamp, Junichi Inamoto and Robert Pires (all Arsenal) 2
Match Odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay)
Blackburn (15) V Tottenham (11)
Blackburn will be without midfielders David Dunn and Turkish international Tugay. Dunn has a long-term injury after damaging knee ligaments at Derby last weekend and Tugay has not shaken off the thigh problem which has kept him out of Rovers' start to their Premiership campaign. Alan Mahon is likely to start again in central midfield.
Strikers Sergei Rebrov and Les Ferdinand are back from injury but Goran Bunjevcevic is out and may be replaced by Chris Perry. Young midfielder Matthew Etherington is also added to the squad.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackburn W W D L D, Tottenham D L W D D
Top Scorers: Nathan Blake, Damien Duff and Keith Gillespie (all Blackburn) 1 Darren Anderton (Tottenham) 1
Match Odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: G Barber (Tring)
Everton (4) V Middlesbrough (20)
New striker Tomas Radzinski must wait longer to make his Blues debut and Duncan Ferguson faces a late test on a thigh strain. Steve Watson also faces a late fitness check while Thomas Gravesen's gashed leg will keep him out for up to eight weeks. Alessandro Pistone returns to the squad.
Croatian striker Alen Boksic could return from a calf injury after missing the 1-0 defeat at Bolton on Tuesday night and summer signing Szilard Nemeth could be included for the first time after recovering from a hernia operation. But Dean Gordon (thigh), Noel Whelan (foot), Carlos Marinelli (calf) and Gianluca Festa (hernia) will all be missing.
LAST SEASON: Everton 2 Middlesbrough 2, Middlesbrough 1 Everton 2
Last five league matches: Everton W L D W D, Middlesbrough L D W L L
Top Scorers: Duncan Ferguson (Everton) 2
Match Odds: H 1-1 A 23-10 D 21-10
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)
Fulham (6) V Derby (9)
New £3.3million sterling midfielder Sylvain Legwinski, who moved from Bordeaux this week, is expected to make his Fulham debut providing club officials succeed in obtaining international clearance.
Striker Luis Boa Morte must complete his three-match suspension, while midfielder Lee Clark is a doubt with an Achilles tendon problem.
Mart Poom is expected to start in goal for the Rams despite injuring his ribs midweek, although boss Jim Smith will add a third goalkeeper, Lee Grant, to his squad. Simo Valakari and Yaul Mawene should both make the squad, but Horacio Carbonari, Branko Strupar and Stefano Eranio are all still out.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Fulham W D L L W, Derby L W D W L
Top Scorers: Louis Saha (Fulham) 3 Fabrizio Ravanelli (Derby) 2
Match Odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 9-4
Reeree: M Dean (Heswall)
Ipswich (7) V Charlton (16)
Jim Magilton is available again for the UEFA Cup contenders after the 3-1 stroll against Derby in midweek with a groin problem. He will have to settle for a place on the bench along with new signing Sixto Peralta, who is on a season-long loan from Inter Milan.
Richard Rufus returns from suspension after missing the opening day defeat by Everton following his dismissal against Aston Villa last season. He captains the Addicks with regular skipper Mark Kinsella recovering from a hernia operation.
Last season: Charlton 2 Ipswich 1, Ipswich 2 Charlton 0
Last five league matches: Ipswich L W D L W, Charlton W W L L L
Top Scorers: Finidi George (Ipswich) 2 Jonatan Johansson (Charlton) 1
Match Odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)
Southampton (18) V Chelsea (12)
Southampton manager Stuart Gray will be without captain Jason Dodd because of a long-term knee injury while Matthew Le Tissier (calf) is also likely to be ruled out.
Defender John Terry is battling to be fit after twisting his ankle during last weekend's draw against Newcastle. Summer signing William Gallas is on standby for his full debut. Ed de Goey will start again in goal ahead of Mark Bosnich.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Southampton 0, Southampton 3 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Southampton D L W W L, Chelsea L W D W D
Top Scorers: Mikael Forssell and Boudewijn Zenden (both Chelsea) 1
Match Odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)
West Ham (17) V Leeds (2)
Strikers Freddie Kanoute and Paul Kitson have not fully overcome their hamstring problems. Defenders Ian Pearce, Hayden Foxe, and Scott Minto, goalkeeper David James, and midfielders Steve Lomas and Titi Camera remain on the long-term injured list, so the Hammers are likely to be unchanged.
Striker Alan Smith has an ankle injury and misses tomorrow's match and next Saturday's vital World Cup qualifier in Germany. Smith, who limped out of the 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Highbury on Tuesday in the 47th minute, had been undergoing intensive treatment over the last couple of days in the hope of making the trip.
Last season: West Ham 0 Leeds 2, Leeds 0 West Ham 1
Last five league matches: West Ham L L W L L, Leeds W L W W W
Top Scorers: Jermain Defoe (West Ham) 2 Lee Bowyer, Ian Harte, Alan Smith and Mark Viduka (all Leeds) 1
Match Odds: H 15-8 A 6-5 D 21-10
Referee: P Durkin (Portland)
SUNDAY
Aston Villa (14) V Man Utd (3)
Bosko Balaban will make his debut for Villa after the £6 million sterling Croatian was granted a work permit. Manager John Gregory is preparing to team Balaban up with Juan Pablo Angel.
Nicky Butt could return for United as Alex Ferguson waits on the fitness of Roy Keane (ankle). Denis Irwin looks like missing out with a groin injury, giving Gary Neville the chance to return at right back. The United boss will choose between Jaap Stam, Ronny Johnsen and Wes Brown before naming his central defensive duo.
Last season: Man Utd 2 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 0 Man U 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D D W L D, Man Utd L L L W D
Top Scorers: Darius Vassell (Aston Villa) 3 Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 4
Match Odds: H 11-4 A 5-6 D 11-5
Referee: S Bennett (Orpington)
Newcastle (13) V Sunderland (10)
Alan Shearer could return to the squad after being out for five months with a knee injury. United will be without Carl Cort, who is out for three months with a knee injury, and Kieron Dyer, still battling back from surgery on a shin problem.
Sunderland hope to have central defender Emerson Thome available after he missed the defeat at Fulham with a thigh problem. Niall Quinn could make his first start of the season in place of new signing Lilian Laslandes and Julio Arca is expected to return to the starting line-up.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 1 Sunderland 2
Last five league matches: Newcastle D L D W D Sunderland W W D W L
Top Scorers: Nolberto Solano (Newcastle) 5 Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 1
Match Odds: H 5-4 A 9-5 D 21-10
Referee: M Riley (Leeds)
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill
