FA Premiership Team news

Saturday

Saturday

Birmingham City (10) v Liverpool (4) (live on Premiership Plus, kick-off 5.35)

Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell has recovered from a knee injury but David Dunn (hamstring) will be sidelined for the final two games of the campaign. Goalkeeper Maik Taylor is still suspended.

There are doubts over Stephane Henchoz, who has a groin injury, so Jamie Carragher is standing by to switch from full-back to central defence. Liverpool will be without Vladimir Smicer (knee) and Chris Kirkland (broken wrist) so Harry Kewell may be restored to wide midfield with Milan Baros or Emile Heskey pushing for starts up front.

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Last season: Birmingham 2 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 2 Birmingham 2. Last five league matches: Birmingham L L D D D; Liverpool L L D W W. Top scorers: Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) 19; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 17. Match odds: H 9-4; A 10-11; D 12-5. Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).

Everton (15) v Bolton Wanderers (7)

Everton have doubts over defenders Alan Stubbs (back) and David Unsworth (Achilles). Kevin Kilbane (hamstring) and Thomas Gravesen (ankle) are both out for the season, as is Gary Naysmith following a successful midweek hernia operation. Leon Osman, who scored on his full debut at Wolves last week, could retain his midfield position.

Ricardo Gardner returns to the Bolton squad for the first time in four months following a knee operation.

Last season: Bolton 1 Everton 2, Everton 0 Bolton 0. Last five league matches: Everton W D D L L; Bolton D W W W W. Top scorers: Wayne Rooney (Everton) 9; Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 12. Match odds: H 11-10; A 2-1; D 11-5. Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).

Leeds Utd (19) v Charlton Athletic (9)

Leeds's on-loan centre-back Steve Caldwell has returned to Newcastle, which could mean a recall for Lucas Radebe - if he has recovered from injury - or youngster Matthew Kilgallon.

Charlton welcome back defender Mark Fish after seven weeks out after cutting his chest falling through a glass table at home.

Shaun Bartlett (hamstring) is also available again but striker Carlton Cole (foot) is a major doubt along with midfielder Claus Jensen (thigh).

Last season: Charlton 1 Leeds 6, Leeds 1 Charlton 2. Last five league matches: Leeds W D L L L; Charlton W D L L D. Top scorers: Mark Viduka (Leeds) 12; Jason Euell (Charlton) 7. Match odds: H 13-8; A 11-8; D 21-10. Referee: M Halsey (England).

Leicester City (20) v Portsmouth (14)

Leicester manager Micky Adams has no fresh injury worries - but left-back Ben Thatcher (nose), Riccardo Scimeca (knee) and Lee Morris (hernia) again miss out, while ongoing hernia and groin problems continue to rule out Scotsman Callum Davidson.

Eyal Berkovic and Alexei Smertin return for Portsmouth after being rested for the midweek clash with Arsenal. Petri Pasanen is still struggling with an ankle injury and Linvoy Primus (hamstring) is out for the season so John Curtis looks set to keep his place.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Leicester L L L D D; Portsmouth W W W D D. Top scorers: Les Ferdinand (Leicester) 13; Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Portsmouth) 15. Match odds: H 7-5; A 6-4; D 9-4. Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Manchester Utd (3) v Chelsea (2) (live on Sky Sports 2, kick-off 12.30)

Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to return to the United line-up. The Dutch striker has been plagued by knee and thigh problems in recent weeks but Alex Ferguson has declared the 26-goal striker ready to return to action. Paul Scholes returns from a three-match ban, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha are available again. The only definite absentee is skipper Roy Keane.

Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink faces a late fitness test on a foot injury before manager Claudio Ranieri finalises his line-up. Midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron is again missing through illness.

Last season: Man Utd 2 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 2 Man Utd 2. Last five league matches: Man Utd W L W L L; Chelsea D L D D W. Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 26; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 17. Match odds: H 5-4; A 15-8; D 2-1. Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

Middlesbrough (12) v Manchester City (17)

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren could hand teenager Matthew Bates his Premiership debut. Bates, a member of Boro's FA Youth Cup-winning side, could partner Ugo Ehiogu in central defence, with Chris Riggott (ankle) doubtful and Gareth Southgate, Colin Cooper (both knee) and Andrew Davies out.

Juninho (thigh) is 50-50 and with Doriva, Stuart Parnaby and Malcolm Christie also sidelined, another youngster, James Morrison, is involved.

City boss Kevin Keegan will stick with experience for the final two matches. Daniel van Buyten (knee) and Steve McManaman (hamstring) are out, so Keegan is set to name the same starting line-up which secured the vital home win over Newcastle last weekend.

Last season: Man City 0 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 3 Man City 1. Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D W L L L; Man City D D L D W. Top scorers: Juninho (Middlesbrough) 9; Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 23. Match odds: H evens; A 11-5; D 11-5. Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

Southampton (11) v Aston Villa (5)

Chris Baird has been included in the Saints squad after being recalled from his loan spell at Watford. Darren Kenton has recovered from a calf injury but Marian Pahars has failed to overcome a groin strain. Michael Svensson, Jason Dodd and Rory Delap are out with knee injuries while Graeme Le Saux is sidelined with a torn hamstring.

Darius Vassell and Ronny Johnsen are set to return for Villa after hamstring and groin injuries respectively - Johnsen's fitness is timely as centre-back partner Olof Mellberg is doubtful with flu. Nolberto Solano is suspended after his sending-off against Middlesbrough but Lee Hendrie is a ready-made replacement on the right side of midfield.

Last season: Southampton 2 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 0 Southampton 1. Last five league matches: Southampton W L W L L; Aston Villa D W D W W. Top scorers: James Beattie (Southampton) 16; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 22. Match odds: H 17-10; A 6-5; D 23-10. Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Tottenham (16) v Blackburn Rovers (13)

Stephen Carr returns to the Spurs squad after completing a three-match suspension but is a slight injury doubt.

Mauricio Taricco is also struggling, although Ledley King is back in the squad and Christian Ziege and Darren Anderton could be back in contention.

Goalkeeper Peter Enckelman will make his debut for Blackburn as Brad Friedel is suffering from a thigh injury. Defender Craig Short returns after a dead leg but Lorenzo Amoruso is again ruled out with a hamstring problem. Andy Todd is also included contrary to reports he has been released by the club.

Last season: Tottenham 0 Blackburn 4, Blackburn 1 Tottenham 2. Last five league matches: Tottenham L D L D L; Blackburn L W W W W. Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 15; Andy Cole (Blackburn) 10. Match odds: H 6-5; A 7-4; D 9-4. Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).

Sunday

Fulham (8) v Arsenal (1) (live on Sky Sports 1, kick-off 4.05)

Fulham defender Zat Knight continues his three-match ban for violent behaviour. Striker Facunda Sava has been back in training following a thigh injury, but tomorrow's game looks to be too soon for his first-team return.

Robert Pires is set to return to Arsenal's starting line-up after being rested from the midweek trip to Portsmouth and Dennis Bergkamp is also hoping for a recall. But Sylvain Wiltord (ankle), Edu (eye injury), Gilberto (hamstring) and Pascal Cygan (ankle) are all likely to miss out.

Last season: Arsenal 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 0 Arsenal 1. Last five league matches: Fulham W L D W D; Arsenal D W D D D. Top scorers: Luis Boa Morte (Fulham) 10; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 38. Match odds: H 13-5; A evens; D 15-8. Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

Newcastle Utd (6) v Wolves (18)

Andy O'Brien begins a two-match suspension after being sent off at Aston Villa and with Jonathan Woodgate out with a torn thigh muscle, Steve Caldwell could be in contention following his recall from a loan spell at Leeds. Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer and Andy Griffin (all hamstring) and Jermaine Jenas (thigh) are out, but Lee Bowyer returned as a substitute in the UEFA Cup defeat in Marseille and could start.

Wolves defender Mark Clyde is out for the rest of the season with a thigh strain and is joined on the sidelines by Oleg Luzhny (calf), Steffen Iversen (Achilles) and Silas (ankle).

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Newcastle W D D W L; Wolves D L W D W. Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 28; Alex Rae (Wolves) 8. Match odds: H 2-9; A 17-2; D 4-1. Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).