Today
Arsenal (3) v Southampton (20)
Arsene Wenger will be without midfielder Emmanuel Petit. Arsenal's French midfielder limped out of France's 3-2 win in Moscow in midweek with a damaged hamstring. Wenger also has doubts over Tony Adams and Ray Parlour who missed England's matches against Bulgaria and Luxembourg through injury and will both undergo late fitness tests. Steve Bould and Stephen Hughes stand by to deputise.
Southampton's former England midfielder Carlton Palmer serves a one-match ban and England under-21 star Matthew Oakley is poised to start his first game for two months after recovering from a back injury.
Last season: Arsenal 3-0 Southampton, Southampton 1-3 Arsenal
Last five league matches: Arsenal DDWLW, Southampton LLDLL
Top scorers: Dennis Bergkamp, Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 2; Matt Le Tissier (Southampton) 2
Match odds: H 1-3 A 8-1 D 3-1
Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)
Chelsea (6) v Charlton (13)
Chelsea will be without full-back Graeme Le Saux who begins a three-match suspension following his dismissal against Blackburn on September 21st. Otherwise, player-manager Gianluca Vialli will have nearly a full-strength squad to chose from. Welsh international John Robinson is fit again for Charlton, and with new signing Carl Tiler impressing on his debut at Nottingham Forest, Alan Curbishley faces a dilemma of who to leave out. Shaun Newton will miss another three weeks with knee ligament damage. Mark Bowen, Mike Salmon and Gary Poole are also still out injured.
Last season: No Corresponding Fixtures
Last five league matches: Chelsea DWWWD, Charlton LLDDW
Top scorers: Gianfranco Zola, Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 3; Clive Mendonca (Charlton) 5
Match odds: H 1-2 A 11-2 D 12-5
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)
Everton (14) v Liverpool (5)
Local boy Tony Grant could be competing for a place in Everton's starting line-up along with Gareth Farrelly because of Olivier Dacourt's suspension. Full-back Mitch Ward is also called in after injury but Marco Materazzi is banned.
Steve McManaman is almost certain to be fit for Liverpool after being out with an Achilles injury since the defeat at Manchester United on September 24th. Jason McAteer came back from Irish duty with a thigh injury, while goalkeeper Brad Friedel has a groin problem.
Last season: Everton 2-0 Liverpool, Liverpool 1-1 Everton
Last five league matches: Everton WDDDW, Liverpool WLDLD
Top scorers: Duncan Ferguson (Everton) 3; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 5
Match odds: H 7-4 A 11-8 D 2-1
Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset)
Manchester UTD (2) v Wimbledon (8)
Ryan Giggs is ready to return for Manchester United after being sidelined with a foot injury since September 24th. Peter Schmeichel is still ruled out while midfielder Nicky Butt is suspended. Denis Irwin (heel) is also missing but Phil Neville is fit and Teddy Sheringham has recovered from a calf strain.
Joe Kinnear names an unchanged squad. The only cloud on his horizon is striker Efan Ekoku's continued hamstring trouble, but Kinnear is more than happy to keep faith with his home-grown youngsters.
Last season: Man Utd 2-0 Wimbledon, Wimbledon 2-5 Man Utd
Last five league matches: Man Utd WWLWW, Wimbledon WLWDL
Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 5; Efan Ekoku (Wimbledon) 6
Match odds: H 1-2 A 11-2 D 12-5
Referee: G Willard (Worthing, W.Sussex)
Middlesbrough (4) v Blackburn (17)
Middlesbrough's defender Curtis Fleming and midfielder Robbie Mustoe are both fit and included in the squad, as is £3 million signing Brian Deane who completed his move from Benfica. But Slovakian defender Vladimir Kinder and midfielder Phil Stamp will both have late fitness tests, while no fewer than 14 other potential squad members remain on the casualty list.
Kevin Davies makes an unexpected return to Premiership action for Blackburn after a month out with a throat abscess. If Davies starts, he could be partnered by makeshift striker Jason Wilcox. Apart from his long-term absentees, Hodgson also has Kevin Gallacher, Christian Dailly, John Filan and Billy McKinlay out of action.
Last season: No Corresponding Fixtures
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough WWDLW, Blackburn LLLDW
Top scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 8; Garry Flitcroft (Blackburn) 3
Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 9-4
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)
Newcastle UTD (11) v Derby County (7)
Ruud Gullit is facing a selection headache after all his international stars returned from Euro 2000 duty in midweek with a clean bill of health. However French striker Stephane Guivarc'h, defender Steve Howey and German international Dietmar Hamann are struggling and unlikely to be included.
Striker Dean Sturridge could return for Derby after being relegated to the substitute's bench for the home game against Spurs last week. Skipper Igor Stimac is also back after missing the last two Premiership games with a hamstring injury.
Last season: Newcastle 0-0 Derby, Derby 1-0 Newcastle
Last five league matches: Newcastle LWWWL, Derby WWWLL
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 7; Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 4
Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4
Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy)
Nottingham Forest (18) v Leeds UTD (10)
Scot Gemmill could be forced to postpone his Nottingham Forest comeback. The midfielder was expected to return after a seven-match lay-off with a hamstring injury but he has picked up a back injury in training this week and his chances of figuring are now rated at 50-50. If Gemmill fails to recover in time, Nigel Quashie is likely to retain his midfield spot.
Leeds are boosted by the return of captain Lucas Radebe from international duty and he should replace David Wetherall in the centre of defence. David Hopkin and Bruno Ribeiro are also included in the squad after recovering from their recent injuries, but Derek Lilley is out with an ankle problem, while Gary Kelly and Alan Maybury both face shin surgery.
Last season: No Corresponding Fixtures
Last five league matches: Nottm Forest LLDLL, Leeds WDDDL
Top scorers: Steve Stone (Nottm Forest) 3; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 3
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 11-5
Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)
West Ham UTD (9) v Aston Villa (1)
John Hartson and Eyal Berkovic will both be in West Ham's starting line-up after burying the hatchet following their training ground bust-up. Skipper Steve Lomas returns from a long-term ankle injury and striker Paul Kitson is also in the squad after a lengthy battle with injury. Stan Lazaridis and Javier Margas are still receiving treatment for a groin strain and knee injury respectively.
Steve Watson, Aston Villa's new £4 million defender, looks set to start his new career on the bench. Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich (calf) and striker Paul Merson (back) have been receiving treatment this week but are expected to be fit. Stan Collymore seems likely to retain his starting place up front ahead of Julian Joachim.
Last season: West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa, Aston Villa 2-0 West Ham
Last five league matches: West Ham LWDWL, Aston Villa WWDWW
Top scorers: Ian Wright (West Ham) 4; Stan Collymore, Ian Taylor (Aston Villa) 3
Match odds: H 13-8 A 11-8 D 11-5
Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent)
Tomorrow
Coventry (19) v Sheffield Wed (16)
Gary McAllister is back in Coventry's first-team squad for the first time in almost a year. Manager Gordon Strachan could also have Darren Huckerby back after his recent knee injury, but David Burrows is out with a hamstring strain.
Benito Carbone hopes to be back in contention for Wednesday after enduring a lengthy lay-off with an ankle problem. Sheffield boss Danny Wilson has Paolo Di Canio missing, Andy Booth in doubt with an ankle problem and Guy Whittingham facing a race against time to be fit with a hamstring injury. Petter Rudi and Scott Oakes are also doubtful, and with Andy Hinchcliffe and Graham Hyde suspended, Wilson is down to the bare bones of his squad, meaning new £75,000 midfield signing Danny Sonner is set for his debut.
Last season: Coventry 1-0 Sheff Wed, Sheff Wed 0-0 Coventry
Last five league matches: Coventry LLLDL, Sheff Wed LWLWL
Top scorers: Noel Whelan (Coventry) 3; Paolo Di Canio (Sheff Wed) 3
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 9-4
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill
