Saturday
Arsenal (2nd) v Newcastle (9th)
Arsenal will be without Patrick Vieira, ruled out by a hamstring injury suffered in the last minute of the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. Also missing are David Seaman (ankle) and Silvinho (calf). Alex Manninger and Ashley Cole keep their places. Tony Adams has been passed fit, despite a dislocated toe, and Ray Parlour, who missed the Bayern game through a European suspension, looks set to return in place of Vieira. Newcastle's Alan Shearer is out with a knee injury. French defender Alain Goma is also missing with a torn calf muscle, but Northern Ireland international Aaron Hughes is back after suffering concussion while longterm absentee Marcelino (groin), Scottish midfielder Stephen Glass (knee) and Argentinian Christian Bassedas (ankle) all return to the squad.
Last season: Newcastle 4 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 0 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal W D L L W, Newcastle W D L W D
Top scorers: Henry (Arsenal) 10; Shearer (Newcastle) 7
Match odds: H 4/9 A 11/2 D 13/5
Referee: M Dean (Wirrall)
Bradford (20th) v Tottenham (10th)
Bradford winger Peter Beagrie is poised to return to the starting line-up and fit-again Ashley Ward is likely to be on the bench. Midfielder Gareth Whalley (hernia) is out for six to eight weeks.
Tottenham are without suspended Darren Anderton and Sergei Rebrov is recovering from a thigh injury. Steffen Iversen, Ben Thatcher, Mauricio Taricco and Luke Young are also still out, but German midfielder Steffen Freund is set to return after injury.
Last season: Tottenham 1 Bradford 1, Bradford 1 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Bradford L L L D W, Tottenham W L W W L
Top scorers: Carbone (Bradford) 4, Windass (Bradford) 4; Ferdinand (Tottenham) 6
Match odds: H 13/8 A 5/4 D 23/10
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)
Charlton (12th) v Manchester Utd (1st)
South African striker Shaun Bartlett could make a dream home debut against his boyhood idols Manchester United. On a three-month loan from FC Zurich, he made his Premiership bow against Liverpool at Anfield last week.
The game will be Dwight Yorke's last before he begins his three-match ban for his sending-off at Sunderland.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Charlton W L W L L, Man Utd W W W W W
Top scorers: Bartlett (Charlton) 9, Johansson (Charlton) 9; Sheringham (Man Utd) 15
Match odds: H 5/1 A 1/2 D 12/5
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)
Chelsea (14th) v Derby (17th)
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Frank Leboeuf are both suspended, but Dennis Wise returns from a ban. Slavisa Jokanovic, Albert Ferrer and Gustavo Poyet are all in contention, but Graeme Le Saux, Mario Stanic, Jes Hogh and Roberto di Matteo are still out. Norwegian midfielder Lars Bohinen returns to the Derby squad as Seth Johnson is suspended.
Last season: Chelsea 4 Derby 0, Derby 3 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea L D L L W, Derby D D W L W
Top scorers: Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 13; Christie (Derby) 7
Match odds: H 2/5 A 13/2 D 13/5
Referee: P Taylor (Cheshunt)
Manchester City (16th) v Everton (13th)
Richard Dunne, who played for the reserves in midweek, may replace Spencer Prior in the City defence. Ian Bishop (calf) is doubtful, but Paul Ritchie (groin) is a long-term absentee.
Everton's Niclas Alexandersson, Joe-Max Moore, Thomas Gravesen and Alex Nyarko are all in contention having recovered from injury, but striker Duncan Ferguson is still out.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man City L L L L L, Everton L W W W L
Top scorers: Wanchope (Man City) 8; Jeffers (Everton) 7
Match odds: H 11/8 A 6/4 D 23/10
Referee: S Bennett (Orpington)
Southampton (15th) v Leeds (11th)
Strikers James Beattie and Marian Pahars and defender Dean Richards hope to return from injury for Southampton. Midfielder Chris Marsden is a doubt with back trouble.
Rio Ferdinand, ineligible for the Champions League victory over Lazio, should partner Jonathan Woodgate and Lucas Radebe in a three-man Leeds defence. Harry Kewell looks set to start his first game of the season after two substitute appearances.
Last season: Leeds 1 Southampton 0, Southampton 0 Leeds 3
Last five league matches: Southampton W D W L L, Leeds W D L W L
Top scorers: Beattie (Southampton) 6, Pahars (Southampton) 6; Viduka (Leeds) 12
Match odds: H 6/4 A 11/8 D 23/10
Referee: P Durkin (Portland)
Sunderland (6th) v Middlesbrough (19th)
Sunderland will be without Don Hutchison (hamstring), and Chris Makin (leg) and Andy Marriott takes over on the subs bench for substitute goalkeeper Jurgen Macho, who has not overcome a pulled leg muscle. Brian Deane (calf) and Noel Whelan (mouth abscess) are battling to be fit for Middlesbrough. Definitely out are Gary Pallister (back), Alen Boksic (hamstring), Joseph Job (knee ligaments) and Andy Campbell and Neil Maddison (both hernia). Carlos Marinelli is suspended.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 1
Last five league matches: Sunderland L D W W W, Middlesbrough L L L D L
Top scorers: Phillips (Sunderland) 7; Boksic (Middlesbrough) 6
Match odds: H 4/6 A 7/2 D 23/10
Referee: G Poll (Tring)
West Ham (7th) v Aston Villa (8th)
West Ham captain Steve Lomas returns after flu and will be needed in defence as Nigel Winterburn is suspended and Igor Stimac is ruled out by a calf injury. Ian Pearce could return after a hamstring injury, while Finnish international defender Hannu Tihinen is included in the squad after signing on loan. Steve Staunton's transfer from Liverpool is complete and he is expected to be on the Villa bench, but Julian Joachim (broken toe) and Darius Vassell and Ian Taylor (both hamstring) are all sidelined.
Last season: West Ham 1 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 2 West Ham 2
Last five league matches: West Ham D W W W W, Aston Villa W W L D D
Top scorers: Paolo di Canio (West Ham) 8; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 4
Match odds: H 11/10 A 2/1 D 11/5
Referee: M Riley (Leeds)
Sunday
Coventry (18th) v Leicester (3rd)
Lee Carsley is set to make his debut for Coventry following a £2.5million switch from Blackburn. Magnus Hedman could return after missing 10 games with a knee injury and Marc Edworthy may replace Barry Quinn in defence. Midfielder Youssef Chippo is suspended.
Leicester midfielder Stefan Oakes will make only his second start of the season in place of Neil Lennon, who has gone to Celtic. Central defender Phil Gilchrist replaces the suspended Gerry Taggart while midfielder Arnar Gunnlaugsson and striker Trevor Benjamin are fully fit again.
Last season: Coventry 0 Leicester 1, Leicester 1 Coventry 0 Last five league matches: Coventry L L L D L, Leicester W D W L W
Top scorers: Aloisi (Coventry) 6; Izzet (Leicester) 4
Match odds: H 7/4 A 5/4 D 11/5
Referee: G Barber (Tring)
Liverpool (4th) v Ipswich (5th)
Liverpool fans can expect to see Michael Owen or Robbie Fowler, or even both, back in the starting line-up after the pair were confined to the bench for the UEFA Cup win against Olympiakos. Gary McAllister and Christian Ziege, only substitutes for the game with Greeks, may also return. New signing Igor Biscan could also be involved.
Ipswich hope goalkeeper Richard Wright (wrist injury) will be passed fit. Keith Branagan stands by.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Liverpool L W L L W, Ipswich L W W W L
Top scorers: Heskey (Liverpool) 12; Stewart (Ipswich) 9
Match odds: H 4/9 A 11/2 D 13/5
Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood)
