Saturday
(Current positions in brackets)
Aston Villa (10) v Chelsea (6)
Aston Villa are set to recall wing-back Steve Watson with Steve Stone dropping back down to the substitutes' bench. Villa will check on the fitness of Lee Hendrie, who has missed the previous three matches with the recurrence of an ankle injury.
George Weah and Emerson Thome are expected to return for Chelsea having missed Wednesday's FA Cup fourth-round win over Nottingham Forest because they were not eligible. Defender Marcel Desailly is hoping to recover from an abductor muscle injury but Albert Ferrer is still out with a twisted ankle.
Last season: Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 3, Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W D W D, Chelsea W D D W D
Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 12; Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 13
Match odds: H 6-4 A 7-5 D 9-4
Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)
Bradford (18) v Watford (19)
Bradford boss Paul Jewell's only doubt is left-back Andy Myers with a groin strain, so Wayne Jacobs is added to the squad.
Watford welcome Neil Cox and Micah Hyde back from suspension. Striker Allan Smart, missing for 15 games, came through another reserve game in midweek and will also be looking for a place in a side which has won only once in his absence. Michel Ngonge is on international duty with Congo in the African Nations Cup.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Last five league matches: Bradford L D L D L, Watford L L W L L
Top scorers: Lee Mills (Bradford) 6; Michel Ngonge (Watford) 5
Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5
Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent)
Derby (16) v Coventry (12)
Branko Strupar, banned for last Saturday's 4-1 win against Middlesbrough, has recovered from flu and is likely to replace either Malcolm Christie or Deon Burton. Skipper Darryl Powell serves a one-match suspension but Jacob Laursen (calf) and Spencer Prior (heavy cold) should be fit. Tony Dorigo is still out with a calf problem but Dean Sturridge could be on the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury.
New signing Cedric Roussel will lead Coventry's attack. The Belgian sealed his £1.2 million transfer from Ghent yesterday after three months on loan at Coventry and will partner Republic of Ireland international striker Robbie Keane up front.
Last season: Derby 0 Coventry 0, Coventry 1 Derby 1
Last five league matches: Derby W L D W W, Coventry D L W D W
Top scorers: Branko Strupar (Derby) 12; Robbie Keane (Coventry) 15
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: G Barber (Tring, Herts)
Leicester (8) v West Ham (11)
Leicester are definitely without the injured Tony Cottee, Muzzy Izzet, Neil Lennon, Andy Impey and Steve Walsh, while Darren Eadie (hamstring) and Tim Flowers (back, groin and knee) face late tests. Gerry Taggart, Matt Elliott and Emile Heskey are all set to ignore niggling injuries while Frank Sinclair returns from suspension and Steve Guppy will figure again. Youth players Danny Thomas, Jordan Stewart and Tommy Goodwin are expected to be on the bench.
West Ham are without Igor Stimac, who is serving a one-match ban. Marc-Vivien Foe is away with Cameroon in the African Nations Cup while Steve Potts, John Moncur, Paul Kitson and Adam Newton are all on the injured list.
Last season: Leicester 0 West Ham 0, West Ham 3 Leicester 2
Last five league matches: Leicester L L L D D, West Ham L D D D D
Top scorers: Tony Cottee, Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 9; Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 11
Match odds: H Evens A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)
Liverpool (4) v Middlesbrough (14)
Liverpool are without Titi Camara, who is serving a one-match ban, and David Thompson plays his last game before starting a four-match suspension. Injuries have sidelined Robbie Fowler, Erik Meijer and Jamie Redknapp which means Vladimir Smicer or Danny Murphy will play up front alongside Michael Owen, with Steven Gerrard continuing in a central midfield role. Jamie Carragher will fill in at right-back with Vegard Heggem also injured and Rigobert Song away on international duty.
Boro have Colin Cooper back after knee surgery but are without flu victim Paul Gascoigne, Argentinean teenager Carlos Marinelli, who has a hamstring strain, and the suspended Brian Deane. Sean Kilgannon, an 18-year-old midfielder, is added to the squad.
Last season: Liverpool 3 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 3
Last five league matches: Liverpool W D W L W, Middlesbrough D D W L L
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9; Brian Deane, Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 8
Match odds: H 2-5 A 6-1 D 11-4
Referee: R Harris (Oxford)
Southampton (17) v Everton (9)
Richard Gough is doubtful for Everton and faces a late fitness test on an ankle injury before boss Walter Smith names his side. Gough missed last week's 2-2 draw with Tottenham and has had only two days' training with the first team this week. Midfielder Abel Xavier is back in training after a viral infection but will not be considered for the trip.
England Under-21 player Matthew Oakley is in line for a return after three weeks out with a knee injury and fellow midfielder Chris Marsden is also expected to recover from a thigh injury. But Claus Lundekvam faces a late fitness test, captain Jason Dodd is doubtful (ankle) and Matt Le Tissier and Hassan Kachloul are out.
Last season: Southampton 2 Everton 0, Everton 1 Southampton 0
Last five league matches: Southampton L L L W L, Everton W W D D D
Top scorers: Marian Pahars (Southampton) 8; Kevin Campbell (Everton) 10
Match odds: H 6-4 A 7-5 D 9-4
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay, Essex)
Tottenham (7) v Sheff Wed (20)
Tottenham will give a late fitness test to Argentinean full-back Mauricio Taricco, who has been laid low by illness. Justin Edinburgh is set to deputise again while midfielders Oyvind Leonhardsen (groin) and Steffen Freund (hamstring) are likely to be absent for two more weeks. Les Ferdinand and John Scales, both long-term casualties, are back in training but not yet ready to rejoin the squad. Willem Korsten, yet to make his debut after surgery on an ankle injury, notched a hat-trick for the reserves in a 5-1 midweek win over Torpedo Moscow and could challenge for Chris Armstrong's place in attack.
Wednesday give a late fitness test to Niclas Alexandersson (back). Andy Booth and winger Petter Rudi are again both out with groin and Achilles injuries respectively.
Last season: Sheff Wed 0 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 0 Sheff Wed 3
Last five league matches: Tottenham W D W L D, Sheff Wed L W L D W
Top scorers: Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 13; Gilles De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 7
Match odds: H 4-9 A 6-1 D 5-2
Referee: M Riley (Leeds)
Wimbledon (15) v Newcastle (13)
Marcus Gayle is ready to return to action for Wimbledon and ease Egil Olsen's new year injury crisis. Kjetil Waehler and Duncan Jupp were also back in training this week but John Hartson, Ben Thatcher, Dean Blackwell, Tore Pedersen and Gareth Ainsworth, who scored twice in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle earlier this season, are all sidelined.
Midfielder Rob Lee and defender Helder return from injury to boost the Newcastle squad. Lee has missed the last two games with a hip injury while Helder has been out with a groin problem, but youngster Jamie McClen is out through illness and Steve Howey has been left behind to prepare for the reserves game on Monday night.
Last season: Wimbledon 1 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 3 Wimbledon 1
Last five league matches: Wimbledon D D L W L, Newcastle L D W D W
Top scorers: Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 15; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 23
Match odds: H 6-4 A 7-5 D 9-4
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon)
Sunday
Sunderland (5) v Leeds (1)
Sunderland must make one change because Niall Quinn is suspended. Kevin Kilbane or John Oster will be drafted in. Teenage striker Michael Reddy also comes into contention and Alex Rae could return if leading scorer Kevin Phillips is asked to play up front on his own.
Leeds have Michael Bridges back from suspension. He replaces Alan Smith, who is serving a one-match ban. Michael Duberry takes over in defence from Lucas Radebe, who is on African Nations Cup duty with South Africa. David Batty has still not recovered from a calf injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Last five league matches: Sunderland W L D L L, Leeds W W W L L
Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 18; Michael Bridges (Leeds) 13
Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill
