Bolton (1) v Southampton (19)
Bolton Midfielder Gareth Farrelly has a hamstring injury Colin Hendry is suspended. Paul Warhurst is back in the squad, and Ricardo Gardner looks set to start.
Southampton Striker Marian Pahars (knee) and midfielder Chris Marsden (Achilles) are expected to be available, while Matthew Le Tissier is hoping to make his first appearance of the season following a calf problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Bolton DWWWD, Southampton WWLLL.
Top scorers: Michael Ricketts (Bolton) 4 Anders Svensson (Southampton) 2.
Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5. Referee: D Pugh
Derby. Derby (12) v Leicester (18)
Leicester boss Peter Taylor is resigned to being without Dennis Wise (suspension), Jamie Scowcroft (calf) and Gary Rowett (knee). However, the former England under-21 chief is optimistic Dean Sturridge will be fit.
Derby boss Jim Smith will keep faith with Deon Burton despite the return to fitness of Malcolm Christie. Midfielders Seth Johnson and Darryl Powell return to the squad while Craig Burley has made a speedy recovery and should start.
Last season: Derby 2 Leicester 0, Leicester 2 Derby 1.
Last five league matches: Derby DWLDD, Leicester LWLLD.
Top scorers: Deon Burton and Fabrizio Ravanelli (Derby) 2 Ade Akinbiyi and Dean Sturridge (Leicester) 1.
Match odds: H 5-6 A 13-5 D 11-5. Referee: G Barber.
Everton (5) v Liverpool (16)
Nine players missed Everton's midweek League Cup exit, but Dane Thomas Gravesen and Paul Gascoigne could start. Gary Naysmith could also return and Tomasz Radzinski (hamstring) may be on the bench. There are doubts over Mark Pembridge, Niclas Alexandersson, Dave Unsworth, Alessandro Pistone and Scot Gemmill.
Robbie Fowler staked his claim by hitting two goals for Liverpool reserves in midweek. Boss Gerard Houllier will be without Markus Babbel, still recovering from illness, and Patrik Berger (knee), while Vladimir Smicer, Jamie Redknapp, Nick Barmby and Jari Litmanen are all available.
Last season: Everton 2 Liverpool 3, Liverpool 3 Everton 1.
Last five league matches: Everton DWDWL, Liverpool DWWLL.
Top scorers: Duncan Ferguson (Everton) 3 Michael Owen (Liverpool) 8.
Match odds: H 15-8 A 6-5 D 21-10. Referee: P Durkin.
Fulham (10) v Arsenal (4)
Fulham boss Jean Tigana will assess the fitness of record signing Steve Marlet, before deciding whether to hand the 27-year-old French striker his debut. Centre-back Alain Goma faces another three weeks out with a hip problem.
Arsenal veteran Tony Adams is still troubled by a foot problem and may have to sit out the match.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Fulham L LWDD, Arsenal LWLWD.
Top scorers: Louis Saha (Fulham) 3 Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 3
Match odds: H 15-8 A 6-5 D 21-10. Referee: A Wiley.
Middlesbrough (20) v West Ham (17)
Boro's Croatian striker Alen Boksic has failed to shake off a calf injury but Brian Deane has recovered from a groin strain.Midweek scorers Szilard Nemeth and Mark Wilson will be hoping to force their way into the starting 11, as will Argentinian starlet Carlos Marinelli.
West Ham boss Glenn Roeder has injury worries over Paolo di Canio and Frederic Kanoute, but Joe Cole may be available and Don Hutchison could also be moved forward into an attacking role.
Last season: Middlesbrough 2 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Middlesbrough 0.
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough WLLLL, West Ham WLLDD.
Top scorers: Colin Cooper, David Murphy, Szilard Nemeth and Mark Wilson (Middlesbrough) all 1 Paolo di Canio (West Ham) 1.
Match odds: H 6-5 A 15-8 D 21-10. Referee: M Riley.
Newcastle (7) v Man Utd (2)
French defender Sylvain Distin faces a race against time to have his loan registration in place. Aaron Hughes (hamstring) and Steve Caldwell (groin) are struggling, and Wayne Quinn (calf and hamstring) and Gary Speed (hamstring) are still out - but full-back Warren Barton returns from a thigh injury and Nikos Dabizas and Rob Lee are both back after being rested in midweek.
David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are all set to return as Alex Ferguson reverts to his strongest line-up. Mikael Silvestre is in line for a starting place at left-back while Luke Chadwick, Quinton Fortune, Phil Neville, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole look set to step down.
Last season: N'castle 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 N'castle 0
Last five league matches: N'castle DWDDW, Man Utd LWDDW.
Top scorers: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle) 5 David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 3
Match odds: H 12-5 A 10-11 D 9-4. Referee: S Bennett
Sunday
Aston Villa (8) v Sunderland (6)
Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel is back from international duty and is battling with Darius Vassell, Dion Dublin and Bosko Balaban for a starting role. Villa are still without midfielder Ian Taylor who is recovering from a knee operation.
Sunderland hope Thomas Sorensen will be fit to return but central defender Emerson Thome is suspended. Nicolas Medina is in the squad after recovering from a viral infection.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Villa 1, Villa 0 Sunderland 0.
Last five league matches: Villa WLDDW, S' land DWLDW.
Top scorers: Darius Vassell (Aston Villa) 4 Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 3.
Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 21-10.
Referee: U Rennie.
Charlton(14) v Leeds (3)
Leeds duo Lee Bowyer and Danny Mills return from one-match suspensions. Mills is likely to replace Gary Kelly at right back, while Bowyer takes over from Jason Wilcox in midfield. Striker Alan Smith is again out with his ankle ligament injury, and midfielder Eirik Bakke continues to be plagued by a hamstring problem.
Charlton's Jonatan Johansson could shake off an ankle injury in time to play, while Mark Kinsella could claim a place on the bench after coming through a reserve team run-out unscathed.
Last season: Charlton 1 Leeds 2, Leeds 3 Charlton 1.
Last five league matches: Charlton LLLWD, Leeds WWWDD.
Top scorers: John Fortune, Jonatan Johansson, Paul Konchesky and Kevin Lisbie (Charlton) all 1 Lee Bowyer, Ian Harte, Alan Smith and Mark Viduka (Leeds) all 1.
Match odds: H 5-2 A 10-11 D 11-5. Referee: M Halsey.
Ipswich (13) v Blackburn (15)
Marcus Stewart is troubled with a hamstring problem but Italian goalkeeper Matteo Sereni continues while the club await news of their appeal against his sending off at Leicester last weekend. Jason McAteer has been left out of Blackburn's 17-man squad for Ipswich and also missing are Craig Short and John Curtis.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Ipswich DLWLD, B'burn DLDWL.
Top scorers: Finidi George (Ipswich) 2 Nathan Blake, Damien Duff, Darren Dunning, Keith Gillespie, Matt Jansen and Alan Mahon (Blackburn) all 1.
Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10. Referee: G Poll.
Tottenham (11) v Chelsea (9)
Darren Anderton is likely to figure for Tottenham after resting an Achilles injury - but Spurs will be without defender Gary Doherty (ankle) and Gus Poyet, who misses out against his former club as he completes a three-match suspension. Boss Glenn Hoddle is still without Steffen Iversen, Tim Sherwood, Steven Carr, Stephen Clemence, Anthony Gardner, Ben Thatcher, Willem Korsten and Chris Armstrong.
Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro is back in contention after injury but striker Mikael Forssell (ankle) is still likely to be out.
Last season: T'ham 0 Chelsea 3, Chelsea 3 T'ham 0.
Last five league matches: Tottenham WDDLW, Chelsea DWDWD.
Top scorers: Christian Ziege (Tottenham) 2 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 2.
Match odds: H 8-5 A 7-5 D 21-10. Referee: S Dunn.
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.
