Saturday

Arsenal (4) v Middlesbrough (8)

Gilles Grimandi and Matthew Upson are set to replace suspended Arsenal duo Patrick Vieira and Martin Keown. Ray Parlour is fit again after a hamstring injury and will challenge Fredrik Ljungberg for a right-wing role. Brazilian Silvinho is still sidelined by a thigh muscle injury and Arsene Wenger will run a late check on full back Oleg Luzhny, who made a surprise return for Ukraine in midweek, despite Arsenal's belief he was unfit through a groin injury.

Paul Gascoigne has been recalled by Middlesbrough as manager Bryan Robson faces a mini-crisis. Gary Pallister and Phil Stamp are rated at only 50-50 with back and groin injuries respectively. Christian Ziege and Keith O'Neill are suspended, so Robson has recalled Gascoigne and drafted in youngsters Jason Gavin, Robbie Stockdale and Carlos Marinelli.

Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Arsenal 6, Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1.

Last five league matches: Arsenal L W W D L, Middlesbrough L W W W D.

Top scorers: Kanu (Arsenal) 10; Brian Deane (Middlesbrough) 6.

Match odds: H 4-9 A 13-2 D 5-2.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).

Derby (18) v Man Utd (1)

DERBY are unlikely to have any new faces in their ranks when they take on Manchester United at Pride Park. Manager Jim Smith is pursuing Scotland duo Colin Hendry and Craig Burley, but no deals are expected to be completed until next week. Rory Delap could be employed in attack while Mart Poom may replace Russell Hoult in goal.

Fit-again Gary Neville could start only his second Premiership game of the season. Teddy Sheringham and Nicky Butt are also available again after recovering from injuries, but Denis Irwin is a doubt after returning from Turkey with an ankle injury. Mickael Silvestre could move from central defence to left back, allowing David May or Henning Berg to partner Jaap Stam. Mark Bosnich has shaken off a hamstring injury and will continue in goal.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Derby 0, Derby 1 Man Utd 1.

Last five league matches: Derby D L L W L, Man Utd L W L W W.

Top scorers: Rory Delap (Derby) 5; Andy Cole (Man Utd) 13.

Match odds: H 10-3 A 8-11 D 9-4.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

Everton (10) v Chelsea (9)

EVERTON have David Weir suspended, but Francis Jeffers has recovered from a hernia operation and is set to start on the substitutes' bench. Available again after injury or illness are Michael Ball, Abel Xavier, Richard Gough and Mark Pembridge. Dave Watson is sidelined following a knee operation.

Chelsea are still without Graeme Le Saux, who is set to be out of action for several more weeks as he struggles to recover from an ankle injury sustained against Arsenal last month. Gianluca Vialli is also without Dennis Wise as he completes a three-game suspension and striker Mikael Forssell, who has a knee problem.

Last season: Chelsea 3 Everton 1, Everton 0 Chelsea 0.

Last five league matches: Everton D L D L D, Chelsea W L L L D.

Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 7; Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 5.

Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 9-4.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).

Leeds (2) v Bradford (17)

LEEDS MANAGER David O'Leary is without winger Harry Kewell after FIFA upheld a complaint by Soccer Australia. FIFA enforced the five-day ruling on Kewell after he missed two international friendlies against Brazil through injury. Jonathon Woodgate, Lee Bowyer, Michael Bridges, Gary Kelly and Ian Harte are all fit after recent injury problems.

Bradford's only absentee is striker Dean Saunders who misses out after failing to shake off a hamstring strain sustained in their last game, a 1-1 draw at home to Coventry two weeks ago.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Leeds W W D W L, Bradford L L W L D.

Top scorers: Michael Bridges (Leeds) 11; Lee Mills (Bradford) 4.

Match odds: H 4-11 A 8-1 D 11-4.

Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset).

Leicester (7) v Wimbledon (15)

LEICESTER are without skipper Matt Elliott, who is serving a one-match ban for elbowing Michael Owen. Phil Gilchrist and Steve Walsh will be competing for the third centre back slot while England striker Emile Heskey has recovered from a leg knock and will start.

Ben Thatcher (ankle) is the only doubt for Wimbledon as they aim to stretch their unbeaten run to 13 games.

Last season: Wimbledon 0 Leicester 1, Leicester 1 Wimbledon 1.

Last five league matches: Leicester W W L W L, Wimbledon L W D D W.

Top scorers: Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 8; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 10.

Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 12-5.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood, Staffs).

Southampton (14) v Tottenham (6)

SOUTHAMPTON have full back Scott Hiley in line for a recall. He has made only three Premiership appearances this season, but is likely to start with captain Jason Dodd still recovering from the effects of a knee operation last week. Mark Hughes (leg), Matt Le Tissier (calf) and Claus Lundekvam (hamstring) should all be fit. Kevin Davies and Marco Almeida are suspended and David Hirst, John Beresford and David Hughes are sidelined by knee injuries. Tottenham are without Stephen Carr who damaged ankle ligaments in the Euro 2000 play-off in Turkey on Wednesday and faces several weeks on the sidelines. Luke Young or Mauricio Taricco could fill in at right back. Steffen Iversen, who also returned from international duty in Norway with an ankle injury, should be fit to start up front alongside Chris Armstrong.

Last season: Tottenham 3 Southampton 0, Southampton 1 Tottenham 1.

Last five league matches: Southampton D L D D W, Tottenham L W W L W.

Top scorers: Marian Pahars (Southampton) 8; Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 10.

Match odds: H 13-8 A 11-8 D 11-5.

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington, Kent).

Sunderland (3) v Liverpool (5)

TEENAGER Michael Reddy is standing by to make his first Premiership start for Sunderland in case Niall Quinn suffers any reaction to a neck injury. Steve Bould, Chris Makin, Stefan Schwarz, Kevin Ball and John Oster are suspended so Darren Williams, Jody Craddock, Darren Holloway, Paul Thirlwell and Carsten Fredgaard all come into contention.

Liverpool are without Titi Camara who has a thigh injury and Vladimir Smicer is out with a hamstring problem. Steve Staunton is struggling with a knee injury and Robbie Fowler, one reserve game into his comeback from an ankle injury, will not be considered.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Sunderland W W D W D, Liverpool W D W W W.

Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 13; Titi Camara (Liverpool) 5.

Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 9-4.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon).

Watford (19) v Newcastle (16)

FRENCH striker Xavier Gravelaine could make his first appearance for Watford after joining on a free from Paris St Germain and Neil Cox, a £500,000 buy from Bolton, should make his home debut. Mark Williams completes his threematch ban, while Watford manager Graham Taylor is still missing key players through injury. Nick Wright, Allan Smart, Tommy Mooney and Peter Kennedy are all out.

Newcastle are without Duncan Ferguson (calf) and Didier Domi (ankle) while Warren Barton is suspended. Bobby Robson will await Nolberto Solano's return from Peru duty before deciding whether or not to include him.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Watford L L L L D Newcastle W L W D D.

Top scorers: Neil Cox (Watford) 3; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 18.

Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 9-4

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

SUNDAY West Ham (11) v Sheff Wed (20)

WEST HAM have virtually a clean bill of health with only Stuart Pearce and Ian Pearce on the injured list. However, Steve Lomas and Javier Margas are suspended. Wednesday manager Danny Wilson looks set to field the same line-up which started against Watford two weeks ago.

Last season: West Ham 0 Sheff Wed 4, Sheff Wed 0 West Ham 1.

Last five league matches: West Ham L D L L D Sheff Wed W L D L D.

Top scorers: Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 6; Gilles De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 6.

Match odds: H 8-15 A 9-2 D 13-5.

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).