Arsenal (6) V West Ham (7)

Arsenal are close to having a fully-fit squad, with Nigel Winterburn (hamstring) and Ray Parlour (ankle) likely to rejoin the squad after missing last Sunday's win against Leeds. Captain Tony Adams is still out but may return early in the New Year.

Harry Redknapp is likely to stick with former Arsenal strikers Ian Wright and John Hartson - even though they have managed only one goal between them in the last seven games. He does not want to risk Paul Kitson, who has had a broken toe.

Last Season: Arsenal 4 West Ham 0, West Ham 0 Arsenal 0

Last five league matches - Arsenal L D D L W West Ham W W L L W

Top Scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 7, Ian Wright (West Ham) 6.

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

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)

Blackburn (18) V Aston Villa (1)

Rovers striker Kevin Gallacher is ready for action after recovering from a hamstring injury - but boss Brian Kidd may not be able to find him a place with Nathan Blake scoring twice at Nottingham Forest last weekend. But if Gallacher sits on the bench, Kevin Davies will have no part to play at all. Keith Gillespie competes with Damien Johnson for the wide right position.

Villa central defender Gareth Barry could be recalled after being left out for the 1-0 win at Charlton on Monday. John Gregory could start with three central defenders, and having to decide who to leave out of his attack with Stan Collymore and Julian Joachim vying to join Dion Dublin up front.

Last Season: Blackburn 5 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 0 Blackburn 4

Last five league matches - Blackburn L L W D D Aston Villa D D L W W

Top Scorers: Nathan Blake (Blackburn) 12, Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 13

Match Odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 9-4

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury)

Coventry (17) V Tottenham (13)

Gordon Strachan will field the side that drew with Derby. Noel Whelan and Darren Huckerby will be the strike partnership leaving new signing John Aloisi from Portsmouth on the bench.

George Graham is set to name an unchanged Spurs team for the visit to Coventry. Injured trio John Scales, Ramon Vega and Steffen Iversen are all making progress but are not yet able to return.

Last Season: Coventry 4 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 1 Coventry 1

Last five league matches - Coventry L D L L D Tottenham W L W D L

Top Scorers: John Aloisi (Coventry) 17, Chris Armstrong (Tottenham) 8

Match Odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 11-5

Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy)

Everton (15) V Derby (11)

Walter Smith has nearly a full squad to pick from. Back from suspension comes Richard Dunne and Michael Ball, while Craig Short, Dave Watson, John Collins, John Oster, Ibrahima Bakayoko and Nicky Barmby are all clear of injury or illness. Derby captain Igor Stimac, who has not played since the end of October, may be back after an ankle injury. But both left-backs Tony Dorigo and Stefan Schnoor are injured, and midfielder Lars Bohinen is suspended. Stefano Eranio has recovered from flu.

Last Season: Everton 1 Derby 2, Derby 3 Everton 1

Last five league matches - Everton W W D W L Derby L W D D D

Top Scorers: Daniel Cadamarteri (Everton) 4, Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 5

Match Odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 9-4

Referee: M Riley (Leeds)

Man United (3) V Nottm Forest (20)

Jaap Stam has recovered from his ankle injury but his central defensive partner Gary Neville is serving a one-match ban. Leading scorer Dwight Yorke is expected to return after being sidelined by a groin problem.

Forest have a doubt about Jesper Mattsson. The Swedish centre-back, a recent £300,000 signing from Halmstad, is nursing rib and stomach injuries he picked up in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Blackburn. However, Alan Rogers is expected to be fit after a back injury and Nigel Quashie returns to the squad.

Last Season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches - Man Utd W D D D L Nottm Forest L D L L D

Top Scorers: Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 12, Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 7

Match Odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 11-4

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Middlesbrough (4) V Liverpool (9)

Boro welcome back Paul Gascoigne after suspension but have injury doubts over Gary Pallister (heel) and Robbie Mustoe (hamstring).

Steve McManaman is back in contention for the holiday period but Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier will not be able to call on new French midfield signing Jean-Michel Ferri (ankle). Youngster Steven Gerrard is also down with flu.

Last Season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches - Middlesbrough W D D W W Liverpool W W L L W

Top Scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 13, Michael Owen (Liverpool) 13

Match Odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 9-4

Referee: G Poll (Tring)

Newcastle (12) V Leeds (5)

Newcastle strikers Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson are winning the battle to link up for the first time. Shearer has suffered no negative reaction to his 35 minutes of action as a substitute during the 1-0 victory over Leicester on Saturday, while flu victim Ferguson is back in training and expected to be in contention for the weekend.

Leeds are without defenders Robert Molenaar, Martin Hiden (both cruciate ligament) and Lucas Radebe (twisted knee) and there will be no quick return to St James' Park for midfielder David Batty (cracked rib).

Last Season: Newcastle 1 Leeds 1, Leeds 4 Newcastle 1

Last five league matches - Newcastle L W D D W Leeds W L W W L

Top Scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 8, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 10

Match Odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 9-4

Referee: G Willard (Worthing)

Sheff Wed (14) V Leicester (10)

Danny Wilson will be without both his Italian strikers. Paolo Di Canio is AWOL back home in Italy, and caught up in a row with the club after they suspended him for two weeks without pay. Compatriot Benito Carbone is suspended after picking up five bookings.

Leicester midfielders Muzzy Izzet and Neil Lennon are both suffering from flu and have not trained all week. Veteran defender Steve Walsh will return to the side after missing last weekend's defeat at Newcastle through illness but Tony Cottee is fit to play.

Last Season: Sheff Wed 1 Leicester 0, Leicester 0 Sheff Wed 1

Last five league matches - Sheff Wed W D W W L Leicester L D W W L

Top Scorers: Andy Booth, Paolo Di Canio, Benito Carbone, Niclas Alexandersson (Sheff Wed) 3, Emile Heskey (Leicester) 9

Match Odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 9-4

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)

Southampton (19) V Chelsea (2)

Saints have Stuart Ripley, Matthew Oakley, Jason Dodd and Ken Monkou close to full fitness after missing the Wimbledon match. But Francis Benali, Scott Marshall, John Beresford, Dave Hirst and David Howells are all out and young defender Gary Monk is also suspended.

Gianluca Vialli welcomes Marcel Desailly back into his squad and Bernard Lambourde is expected to be fit. Gustavo Poyet returns from Uruguay but Dennis Wise and Roberto Di Matteo are suspended, so youth team captain John Terry and Andy Myers are both added to the squad.

Last Season: Southampton 1 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 4 Southampton 2

Last five league matches - Southampton W L L L W Chelsea D W D D W

Top Scorers: Egil Ostenstad (Southampton) 5, Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 10

Match Odds: H 100-30 A 8-11 D 9-4

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

Wimbledon (8) V Charlton (16)

Joe Kinnear has the chance to recall six-goal striker Jason Euell - the England under-21 international was banned for the Southampton clash. Michael Hughes is holding off a double hernia operation until the end of the season.

Midfielder Paul Mortimer has been ruled out of Charlton's Christmas fixtures with an ankle injury but Eddie Youds is available. Mark Bright, Kevin Lisbie, Anthony Barness, Matt Holmes and Mark Bowen are still ruled out with injury and the Addicks may be forced to blood youngsters Scott Parker and Paul Konchesky. Goalkeeper Sasa Ilic is away with Yugoslavia.

Last Season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches - Wimbledon W L W W L Charlton L L L L L

Top Scorers: Marcus Gayle (Wimbledon) 8, Clive Mendonca (Charlton) 6

Match Odds: H 8-11 A 100-30 D 9-4

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)

Match odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.