Saturday

Aston Villa (8th) v Man City (16th)

Villa boss John Gregory is set to name an unchanged side following last weekend's 1-1 draw at West Ham. Julian Joachim (toe), Darius Vassell and midfielder Ian Taylor (both hamstring) are undergoing treatment. Steve Staunton will be on the bench on his return to Villa Park following last week's move back to the club from Liverpool. Manchester City striker Shaun Goater is expected to shrug off his groin strain. Paul Dickov has had a calf problem but should also be fit.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Aston Villa WLDDD, Man City LLLLW.

Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Coventry) 4, Paulo Wanchope (Man City) 9.

Match odds: H 4-7, A 9-2, D 9-4.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).

Derby (18) v Coventry (17)

Seth Johnson returns from suspension for Derby and manager Jim Smith hopes to find a place in the starting line-up for Stefano Eranio, who returned to training this week following a hamstring strain. Giorgi Kinkladze is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench at best. Coventry are unchanged.

Last season: Derby 0 Coventry 0, Coventry 2 Derby 0.

Last five league matches: Derby DWLWL, Coventry LLDLW.

Top scorers: Malcolm Christie (Derby) 7, John Aloisi (Coventry) 6.

Match odds: H Evs, A 11-5, D 11-5.

Referee: M Messias (York).

Everton (14) v West Ham (7)

Everton midfielder Alex Nyarko has been ruled out due to a knee injury. Mark Pembridge is available after recovering from a knock sustained in the 5-0 defeat at Manchester City. West Ham are boosted by the return of Frank Lampard and Nigel Winterburn.

Last season: West Ham 0 Everton 4, Everton 1 West Ham 0.

Last five league matches: Everton WWWLL, West Ham WWWWD.

Top scorers: Francis Jeffers (Everton) 7, Paolo di Canio (West Ham) 8.

Match odds: H 5-4, A 7-4, D 11-5.

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester).

Ipswich (3) v Southampton (15)

Ipswich will be without right-back Fabian Wilnis, who is serving a one-match ban for five bookings. His likely replacement is Gary Croft, otherwise no changes are expected from the side which won 1-0 at Liverpool last Sunday. Dean Richards is set to return after a fortnight out with a hamstring strain and resume his partnership with Claus Lundekvam in the centre of Southampton's defence.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Ipswich WWWLW, Southampton DWLLW.

Top scorers: Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 11, James Beattie (Southampton) 7.

Match odds: H 4-6, A 7-2, D 23-10.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington).

Leeds (12) v Sunderland (5)

Leeds captain Lucas Radebe serves a onematch suspension and is instead taking his chance to lead South Africa in the African Nations Cup against Liberia. Harry Kewell is set to start his first game since last season. Goalkeeper Nigel Martyn is also poised for a recall. Sunderland will be unchanged from the team that overcame Middlesbrough in last week's north-east derby. Chris Makin and Don Hutchison are again ruled out.

Last season: Sunderland 1 Leeds 2, Leeds 2 Sunderland 1.

Last five league matches: Leeds DLWLL, Sunderland DWWWW.

Top scorers: Mark Viduka (Leeds) 12, Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 7.

Match odds: H 4-6, A 7-2, D 23-10.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).

Leicester (4) v Charlton (13)

Leicester's new signing Matthew Jones will go straight into the team alongside his Welsh international team-mate Robbie Savage - probably at the expense of Stefan Oakes. Gerry Taggart will return in defence after missing the woeful performance at Coventry last Sunday through suspension. Charlton centre-back Richard Rufus serves a one-game ban and Carl Tiler is called into the squad as cover.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Leicester DWLWL, Charlton LWLLD.

Top scorers: Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 4, Sean Bartlett (Charlton) 11.

Match odds: H 4-6, A 7-2, D 23-10.

Referee: P Taylor (Cheshunt).

Middlesbrough (20) v Chelsea (11)

Middlesbrough draft youngsters Christian Hanson and Mark Hudson into a threadbare squad. Hamilton Ricard, Ugo Ehiogu, Curtis Fleming and Carlos Marinelli are all suspended while Gary Pallister (back), Alen Boksic (hamstring), Joseph Job (knee ligaments), Phil Stamp (neck), Mark Summerbell (thigh), Andy Campbell and Neil Maddison (both hernia) are all out. Defender Frank Leboeuf returns to the Chelsea squad after a one-match suspension.

Albert Ferrer is out with an ankle problem and Graeme Le Saux (Achilles), Roberto di Matteo, Mario Stanic (knee) and Jes Hogh (ankle) are all long-term absentees.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 1.

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough LLDLL, Chelsea DLLWW.

Top scorers: Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 6, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 13.

Match odds: H 15-8 A 6-5 D 21-10.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Newcastle (10) v Bradford (19)

Newcastle will leave it as late as possible before deciding whether Alan Shearer is fit enough to play after missing the last two games with tendinitis in his knee. Central defender Marcelino is poised to make only his second start of the season.

Bradford will be without Stan Collymore as he starts a three-match suspension handed out for a recent violent conduct charge. Benito Carbone and Dean Windass look set to start up front.

Winger Lee Sharpe has been struggling with illness throughout the week but Billy McKinlay is poised to return after missing last week's draw against Tottenham with a knee problem.

Last season: Newcastle 2 Bradford 0, Bradford 2 Newcastle 0.

Last five league matches: Newcastle DLWDL, Bradford LLDWD.

Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 7, Benito Carbone, Dean Windass (Bradford) 5.

Match odds: H 1-2, A 9-2, D 13-5.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Sunday

Man Utd (1) v Liverpool (6)

Fabien Barthez, Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham will all return for Manchester United. Barthez trained yesterday after recovering from an ankle injury and looks certain to be in the starting line-up after missing last weekend's draw at Charlton. Sheringham and Scholes, who were on the bench for that game, look likely to be involved from the start. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is favourite to partner Sheringham in the absence of Andy Cole, who is recovering from ankle surgery, and the suspended Dwight Yorke, who starts a three-match ban. Injuries have ruled out Liverpool pair Dietmar Hamann (ankle) and Christian Ziege (calf). Emile Heskey and Steven Gerrard are likely to play after picking up knocks in the midweek League Cup victory against Fulham.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 2 Man Utd 3.

Last five league matches: Man Utd WWWWD, Liverpool WLLWL.

Top scorers: Teddy Sheringham (Man Utd) 15, Emile Heskey (Liverpool) 13.

Match odds: H 8-13, A 4-1, D 9-4.

Referee: G Barber (Tring).