(Current positions in brackets)

St Stephen's Day

Coventry (13) v Arsenal (4)

Swedish international fullback Tomas Gustafsson could make his debut for Coventry at Highfield Road. The 26-year-old former AIK Stockholm player could get his chance if the Sky Blues' casualty list of seven defenders does not improve.

Arsenal hope to have Tony Adams, Martin Keown and David Seaman available, and Dennis Bergkamp has an outside chance of appearing during the busy Christmas programme. Patrick Vieira serves the final game of his seven-match ban against Coventry and will be available to face Leeds next week.

Last Season: Arsenal 2 Coventry 0, Coventry 0 Arsenal 1

Last five league matches: Coventry D W L D L, Arsenal L W W W D

Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Coventry) 12; Kanu, Marc Overmars (Arsenal) 10

Match odds: H 11-4 A 4-5 D 9-4

Referee: R Harris (Oxford)

Derby (18) v Aston Villa (12)

Branko Strupar is set to make his full Derby debut against Villa. The striker is likely to partner Deon Burton, with Marvin Robinson dropping to the bench. Georgi Kinkladze has flu, while Rory Delap is suspended. Jacob Laursen is set to move to right wing-back and either Horacio Carbonari or Stefan Schnoor will play at the heart of the defence.

Aston Villa will be spearheaded by a new-look attack. The diminutive duo of Julian Joachim and Benito Carbone will lead the Villa front line in the absence of leading scorer Dion Dublin who suffered a serious neck injury against Sheffield Wednesday. Villa are also set to be without midfielder Lee Hendrie for the fourth successive game with an ankle injury.

Last Season: Derby 2 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Derby 0

Last five League matches: Derby L L L L W, Aston Villa L L D L W

Top scorers: Branko Strupar (Derby) 10; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 13

Match odds: H 6-4 A 11-8 D 9-4

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)

Everton (11) v Sunderland (3)

Everton should have veteran Richard Gough back in their side after a thigh injury. Gough's return is likely to mean that Alex Cleland returns to the substitutes' bench with Richard Dunne switching to fullback. Otherwise, Walter Smith will keep faith with the team that beat Exeter on Tuesday in the FA Cup.

Niall Quinn is expected to be missing from the Sunderland attack as he is struggling to recover from an ankle injury. Leading scorer Kevin Phillips (ankle) and French midfielder Eric Roy (bruised ribs) have also missed training but expect to be fit. New recruit Kevin Kilbane could make his first appearance in the starting lineup. John Oster, Carsten Fredgaard and teenager Michael Reddy are added to the squad.

Last Season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Everton D D D L W, Sunderland D L W W W

Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 8; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 18

Match odds: H 7-5 A 6-4 D 11-5

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)

Leeds (1) v Leicester (6)

Influential midfielder David Batty will again be missing for Leeds as he continues to be plagued by a calf injury. Strikers Michael Bridges and Alan Smith, along with key central defender Jonathan Woodgate, are also doubtful. Jason Wilcox, a £3 million capture from Blackburn last week, is in line to make his home debut, although he is likely to start on the bench.

Leicester are hoping their injury problems clear up in time. Emile Heskey and Frank Sinclair are on the mend and Neil Lennon is making good progress from his hamstring trouble. Andrew Impey, who limped off with a hamstring injury during Leicester's win over Hereford United in the FA Cup, is almost certain to be sidelined so new record-signing Darren Eadie should be involved.

Last Season: Leicester 1 Leeds 2, Leeds 0 Leicester 1

Last five league matches: Leeds L W W W W, Leicester L W W L L

Top scorers: Michael Bridges (Leeds) 12; Tony Cottee, Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 8

Match odds: H 1-2 A 5-1 D 12-5

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City, Herts)

Man Utd (2) v Bradford (17)

David Beckham is Manchester United's only doubt. He will have treatment on a hamstring injury picked up during Saturday's 4-2 win against West Ham, but Alex Ferguson expects him to be fit. Goalkeeper Mark Bosnich is also in full training again after his hamstring trouble and is pushing for a return over Christmas.

Bradford midfielder Dean Windass is likely to undergo a late fitness test. He returned to action last week in the 2-0 home victory over Newcastle following a short lay-off with an ankle injury but went over on his ankle against the Magpies. Neil Redfearn is available again after a one-match ban, but back-up striker Isaiah Rankin is out for three games following a sending-off in a recent reserve outing.

Last Season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W W, Bradford D L L D W

Top scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 14; Lee Mills (Bradford) 5

Match odds: H 1-6 A 10-1 D 9-2

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)

Newcastle (15) v Liverpool (5)

Newcastle are without Portuguese defender Helder, who picked up a groin injury in the 61 FA Cup victory over Tottenham. Alessandro Pistone remains a doubt with the 'flu bug which kept him out of the Spurs game.

Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz is suspended, bringing to an end a run of 12 games in partnership with Sami Hyypia that has brought only two defeats and seven clean sheets. Jamie Redknapp, Erik Meijer and Vladimir Smicer are out while midfielder David Thompson is struggling with a knee injury. Robbie Fowler missed out on a reserve game that was postponed on Wednesday and it remains to be seen if he is called on.

Last Season: Liverpool 4 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 1 Liverpool 4

Last five league matches: Newcastle D D W W L, Liverpool W W L W W

Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 18; Titi Camara (Liverpool) 7

Match odds: H 6-4 A 11-8 D 9-4

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

Sheff Wed (20) v M'brough (8)

Danny Wilson, the Wednesday manager, has drafted in youngsters Derek Geary, Kevin Nicholson, Tony Crane and Mark McKeever. Andy Hinchcliffe, Petter Rudi and Lee Briscoe are doubtful starters because of injury and Emerson Thome has moved to Chelsea in a £2.5 million deal.

Injury has robbed Middlesbrough of Gary Pallister, Colin Cooper, Dean Gordon, Paul Gascoigne, Christian Ziege and skipper Paul Ince, who is recovering from a hernia operation. Argentinian teenager Carlos Marinelli, signed from Boca Juniors for £1.5 million earlier this season, could have his first taste of Premiership action. Keith O'Neill faces a late fitness test and Alan Moore wins a recall.

Last Season: Sheff Wed 3 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 4 Sheff Wed 0

Last five league matches: Sheff Wed L D L L L, Middlesbrough D L D D W

Top scorers: Gilles De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 7; Brian Deane, Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 8

Match odds: H 7-5 A 6-4 D 11-5

Referee: B Knight (Orpington, Kent)

Southampton (16) v Chelsea (10)

Central defenders Claus Lundekvam, who has a broken toe, and Dean Richards, who has been suffering with flu and also has an Achilles tendon problem, are fitness doubts for Southampton. Mark Hughes has a back injury which kept him out of the defeat against Sunderland but is expected to be fit to face his former club. James Beattie is another fitness doubt after he was struck down by flu.

Marcel Desailly is the only major injury doubt for Chelsea. The French international is nursing a long-term shoulder injury and may start on the bench. Emerson Thome, Chelsea's new £2.5 million signing from Sheffield Wednesday, is included in the squad alongside Frank Leboeuf who is available for his final game before suspension.

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

Last five league matches: Southampton W L L D L, Chelsea D D W L L

Top scorers: Marian Pahars (Southampton) 8; Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 9

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

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent)

Tottenham (7) v Watford (19)

Luke Young is Tottenham's main injury doubt. The fullback came off with a hamstring injury against Newcastle in the 6-1 FA Cup replay hammering, and faces a battle to be fit. If he fails to make it, Mauricio Taricco will switch to right-back, with Justin Edinburgh returning on the left.

Watford will be without Nick Wright, who has a knee injury, and Xavier Gravelaine, who serves the final game of a threematch ban. Graham Taylor is hopeful that striker Nordin Wooter will recover from an ankle injury.

Last Season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Tottenham W W L D L, Watford D D L L L

Top scorers: Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 12; Michel Ngonge (Watford) 5

Match odds: H 1-3 A 7-1 D 3-1

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)

Wimbledon (14) v West Ham (9)

Ben Thatcher and Dean Blackwell are Wimbledon's major injury concerns. Thatcher is suffering from an ankle injury while Blackwell's niggling thigh injury has shown no signs of recovery. The Dons also have problems up front with strikers Marcus Gayle, Carl Cort and John Hartson all suffering knocks against Arsenal last week.

Teenager Joe Cole has recovered from an ankle injury and is line to play for West Ham. Skipper Steve Lomas is suspended and has a groin problem which could well rule him out of playing against Derby two days later. Igor Stimac is back in the squad and Gary Charles has also recovered from injury. Paul Kitson faces a late fitness test with a back problem, John Moncur has a bad chest infection and is ruled out, while Stuart Pearce remains on the injured list.

Last Season: Wimbledon 0 West Ham 0, West Ham 3 Wimbledon 4

Last five league matches: Wimbledon W L D W D, West Ham D W W D L

Top scorers: Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 14; Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 10

Match odds: H 11-8 A 6-4 D 9-4

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill