A look ahead to the weekend's fixtures cross-channel:

Saturday

Arsenal (3) v Portsmouth (4)

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry (hamstring) will probably not play again until the new year, while defender William Gallas (thigh) and midfielder Tomas Rosicky (groin/hamstring) are doubts. Theo Walcott could be handed another run-out and Cesc Fabregas looks set to return to midfield.

Midfielder Pedro Mendes returns from suspension but Kanu (knee) faces a late fitness test. Centre back Sol Campbell also returns to face his former team-mates while Niko Kranjcar is pushing for a place.

Last season: Portsmouth 1, Arsenal 1; Arsenal 4, Portsmouth 0. Last five league matches: Arsenal LLWDW; Portsmouth WLDDW. Top scorers: Robin Van Persie & Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 7; Kanu (Portsmouth) 9. Match odds: H1-3 A7-1 D3-1. Referee: S Bennett.

Aston Villa (8) v Bolton (6)

On-loan Crystal Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly makes his Villa debut. Gareth Barry returns after suspension and defender Wilfred Bouma is fit despite needing stitches in a head after Monday's draw at Sheffield United.

Bolton striker El Hadji Diouf serves a one-match suspension but Tal Ben Haim has served a ban. Quinton Fortune is again out with Achilles trouble and Joey O'Brien remains on the injured list.

Last season: Bolton 1, Aston Villa 1; Aston Villa 2, Bolton 2. Last five league matches: Aston Villa DDLDD; Bolton LWLLW. Top scorers: Gareth Barry & Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 7; El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton) 5. Match odds: H23-20 A21-10 D2-1 Referee: M Clattenburg.

Charlton (19) v Liverpool (5)

Charlton are without goalkeeper Scott Carson as part of his loan deal from Liverpool - Thomas Myhre comes in. Striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and defender Djimi Traore are fit and could start but midfielders Radostin Kishishev (calf) and Andy Reid (hamstring) are concerns.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez may be tempted to name an unchanged side. Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt look likely to continue their strike partnership with Peter Crouch and Robbie Fowler on the bench. Bolo Zenden, Mohamed Sissoko and Harry Kewell remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

Last season: Liverpool 0, Charlton 0; Charlton 2, Liverpool 0. Last five league matches: Charlton LDLWL; Liverpool DWDWW. Top scorers: Darren Bent (Charlton) 8; Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 9. Match odds: H9-2 A4-7 D23-10. Referee: A Wiley.

Newcastle (14) v Watford (20)

Kieron Dyer (thigh), Scott Parker (back muscle) and Emre (ankle) are fit for Newcastle, while Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff (knee) has a chance of figuring. Antoine Sibierski is now clear of Achilles trouble, but Charles N'Zogbia, Michael Owen and Tim Krul (all knee), Shola Ameobi and Olivier Bernard (both hip), Nolberto Solano and Craig Moore (both hamstring), Titus Bramble (calf), Stephen Carr (foot) and Steve Harper (groin) are out.

Watford captain Gavin Mahon is free of suspension and almost certain to replace Al Bangura in central midfield but on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster remains sidelined with a knee injury and forward Marlon King (knee) and defender Clarke Carlisle (thigh) are long-term absentees.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Newcastle DWWWL; Watford LLLDD. Top scorers: Antoine Sibierski & Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 6; Ashley Young (Watford) 4. Match odds: H4-7 A9-2 D23-10. Referee: M Atkinson.

Reading (7) v Blackburn (17)

Reading expect to welcome back defender Graeme Murty and forward Seol Ki-Hyeon after toe injuries. Winger Bobby Convey (knee) and striker Dave Kitson (appendix operation) remain sidelined.

Blackburn defender Andy Todd is expected to recover from an ankle injury suffered in the Uefa Cup victory against Nancy on Wednesday. Manager Mark Hughes is down on defenders as Stephane Henchoz is ineligible while Zurab Khizanishvili has a groin injury. Brett Emerton (hamstring) is also expected to be sidelined.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Reading WWWLD; Blackburn LDWLL. Top scorers: Kevin Doyle (Reading) 8; Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 8. Match odds: H10-11 A13-5 D21-10. Referee: G Poll.

Wigan (11) v Sheff Utd (16)

Wigan captain Arjan de Zeeuw is back in contention, after missing the last four matches with a toe injury. Midfielder Paul Scharner is also available again after serving a one-match ban. But Gary Teale, Antonio Valencia, Steve McMillan and Ryan Taylor all remain out through injury.

Michael Tonge is in contention for United after seven weeks out with ankle trouble but fellow midfielder Mikele Leigertwood is still sidelined with an ankle injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Wigan LLWDL; Sheff Utd LLWWD. Top scorers: Henri Camara (Wigan) 6; Rob Hulse (Sheff Utd) 4. Match odds: H5-6 A3-1 D2-1. Referee: P Walton.

Sunday

Everton (10) v Chelsea (2)

Phil Neville (knee) and Leon Osman (hamstring) may return for Everton's but Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Tony Hibbert, Alessandro Pistone and Gary Naysmith are all injured.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has doubts over centre back Ricardo Carvalho (ankle) and goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (thigh). Joe Cole is out for three more weeks with a broken foot.

Last season: Chelsea 3, Everton 0; Everton 1, Chelsea 1. Last five league matches: Everton WDLWL; Chelsea WDWDW Top scorers: Tim Cahill (Everton) 7; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 15. Match odds: H5-1 A1-2 D12-5. Referee: M Halsey.

Man City (12) v Tottenham (9)

City's Claudio Reyna has a tight hamstring, while Dietmar Hamann picked up a knock in training. Ben Thatcher and Bernardo Corradi are suspended.

Tottenham will still be without Robbie Keane (knee) and Jermaine Jenas (ankle). Didier Zokora is suspended and Teemu Tainio has been ill.

Last season: Tottenham 2, Man City 1; Man City 0, Tottenham 2. Last five league matches: Man City WLWDL; Tottenham DWLWW. Top scorers: Joey Barton (Man City) 4; Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 9. Match odds: H11-8 A17-10 D2-1. Referee: R Styles.

West Ham (18) v Man Utd (1)

Anton Ferdinand is expected to be fit for West Ham after an ankle injury. Danny Gabbidon remains sidelined with a hamstring complaint, while striker Dean Ashton (ankle) will not return until next month.

Patrice Evra remains United's only injury absentee. The Premiership leaders will be looking to consolidate their five-point advantage over Chelsea, and Alex Ferguson could name an unchanged side.

Last season: Man Utd 1, West Ham 0; West Ham 1, Man Utd 2. Last five league matches: West Ham LWLLL; Man Utd WDWWW. Top scorers: Bobby Zamora (West Ham) 5; Louis Saha (Man Utd) 12. Match odds: H6-1 A2-5 D11-4. Referee: P Dowd.