Saturday
Aston Villa v Southampton
Aston Villa are without midfielder Ian Taylor, who is serving a one-match ban for five bookings and misses his first game of the season. Paul Merson may take over as Villa seek their first win in six Premiership games. Southampton are without Kevin Davies, who is serving the second game of a three-match ban after being sent off against Leicester last month.
Last season: Aston Villa 3 Southampton 0, Southampton 1 Aston Villa 4.
Last five league matches: Aston Villa LDLDL Southampton DDLDD.
Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 8, Marians Pahars (Southampton) 8.
Match odds: H 8-13, A 4-1, D 12-5.
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay, Essex).
Bradford v Coventry
Bradford boss Paul Jewell may drop Gunnar Halle and bring in Jamie Lawrence at right back. Peter Beagrie, Isiah Rankin and Ashley Westwood all came through a midweek reserve game against Bolton and come into contention. Youssef Chippo is expected to be back for Coventry after serving a one-match ban.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures.
Last five league matches: Bradford WLLWL Coventry WDWDW.
Top Scorers: Lee Mills (Bradford) 3, Robbie Keane (Coventry) 10.
Match Odds: H 7-4, A 5-4, D 9-4.
Referee: B Knight (Orpington, Kent).
Liverpool v Derby
Liverpool have been hit by a flu virus. Patrik Berger is a serious doubt because but Sami Hyypia, Dominic Matteo and Vladimir Smicer are all expected to shake off the bug. Seth Johnson is Derby's only doubt with a back problem.
Last season: Derby 3 Liverpool 2, Liverpool 1 Derby 2.
Last five league matches: Liverpool DWDWW, Derby LDLLW.
Top Scorers: Titi Camara (Liverpool) 5, Rory Delap (Derby) 5.
Match Odds: H 4-9, A 11-2, D 11-4.
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
Man Utd v Leicester
Jaap Stam, Dwight Yorke and Paul Scholes return for United but David Beckham is serving a one-match ban after totting up five bookings this season. Leicester have no injury worries and veteran centre-back Steve Walsh, who came through a midweek reserve game, will be on the bench.
Last season: Leicester 2 Man Utd 6, Man Utd 2 Leicester 2.
Last five league matches: Man Utd DLWLW Leicester WWWLW.
Top Scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 11, Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 8.
Match Odds: H 4-11, A 13-2, D 3-1.
Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset).
Middlesbrough v Sunderland
Gianluca Festa returns to the Middlesbrough squad and there are also places for fit-again duo Robbie Mustoe and Neil Maddison, but Paul Gascoigne remains on the casualty list. Darren Williams is on standby to make his first Premiership start of the season for Sunderland if defender Paul Butler fails a late fitness test on a hamstring injury. Peter Reid is hopeful leading goalscorer Kevin Phillips (knee and foot), Nicky Summerbee (hamstring) and Gavin McCann (dead leg) also pass late fitness tests.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures.
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough LLWWW, Sunderland WWWDW.
Top Scorers: Brian Deane (Middlesbrough) 6, Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 13.
Match Odds: H 6-4, A 6-4, D 11-5.
Referee: G Barber (Tring, Herts).
Sheff Wed v Watford
Wednesday are likely to have Andy Booth back in their starting line-up at the expense of Gerald Sibon following the collapse of his £2.75 million transfer to Leicester. Neil Cox, a £500,000 signing from Bolton, will go straight into Watford's starting line-up.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures.
Last five league matches: Sheff Wed LWLDL, Watford LLLLL.
Top Scorers: Gilles De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 3, Peter Kennedy, Tommy Mooney (Watford) 2.
Match Odds: H 4-6, A 7-2, D 12-5.
Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
Sunday
Chelsea v West Ham
Chelsea have Dennis Wise and Chris Sutton suspended. Marcel Desailly, back from a one-game domestic ban, hopes to be fit after hobbling off in the second-half of Wednesday's Champions League win against Hertha Berlin. West Ham's Italian ace Paolo Di Canio is doubtful because of a sore ankle while Croatian defender Igor Stimac could miss the game because of a calf injury. Keeper Shaka Hislop is suspended so Craig Forrest comes in.
Last season: Chelsea 0 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Chelsea 1.
Last five league matches: Chelsea WWLLL, West Ham WLDLL.
Top Scorers: Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 5, Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 6.
Match Odds: H 1-2, A 11-2, D 12-5.
Referee: M Riley (Leeds).
Newcastle v Everton
Newcastle expect Alan Shearer and Robert Lee to shake off knocks. Duncan Ferguson, who started his first game since September 16 against FC Zurich, is also included. Scot Gemmill and Abel Xavier return for Everton after recovering from hamstring and foot injuries respectively. On loan striker Tommy Johnson is expected to start his first match for the club up front with Kevin Campbell, allowing Don Hutchison to return to a midfield role.
Last season: Newcastle 1 Everton 3, Everton 1 Newcastle 0.
Last five league matches: Newcastle LWLWD, Everton WDLDL.
Top Scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 17, Kevin Campbell (Everton) 6.
Match Odds: H 4-5, A 3-1, D 9-4.
Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).
Tottenham v Arsenal
Tottenham are without Steffen Freund, who is suspended after reaching five bookings and Mauricio Taricco is struggling to overcome a foot problem. Arsenal, who have Fredrik Ljungberg standing in for the injured Ray Parlour, welcome back Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, Martin Keown and David Seaman. Patrick Vieira plays his last match before a six-match ban.
Last season: Tottenham 1 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 0 Tottenham 0.
Last five league matches: Tottenham DLWWL, Arsenal WLWWD.
Top Scorers: Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 9, Kanu (Arsenal) 10.
Match Odds: H 7-4, A 11-8, D 2-1.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
Wimbledon v Leeds
Wimbledon welcome back Dean Blackwell, who has recovered from an ankle injury. Leeds boss David O'Leary expects to pick from the squad on duty in Thursday's UEFA Cup victory over Lokomotiv Moscow.
Last season: Leeds 2 Wimbledon 2, Wimbledon 1 Leeds 1.
Last five league matches: Wimbledon DLWDD, Leeds WWWDW.
Top Scorers: Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 10, Michael Bridges (Leeds) 9.
Match Odds: H 3-1, A 4-5, D 9-4.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
