Saturday

Chelsea (3) v Tottenham (11)

Chelsea are without Dennis Wise, who begins his latest suspension, but welcome back centrebacks Marcel Desailly, recovered from a knee injury, and Frank Leboeuf, after suspension. Graeme Le Saux is also expected to be fit after being taken off with a knock at Old Trafford in midweek. Roberto Di Matteo could play with a brace protecting his injured hand. Justin Edinburgh returns to the Tottenham squad three weeks after a knee operation. Centre backs John Scales and Ramon Vega are still missing through injuries and 19-year-old Luke Young looks set to play his fifth game in a row.

Last season: Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham, Tottenham 1-6 Chelsea

Last five League matches: Chelsea D D W D D, Tottenham D W L W D

Top scorers: Gianfranco Zola, Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 9; Chris Armstrong (Tottenham) 8

Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 9-4

Referee: G Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire)

Coventry (17) v Derby (10)

New Coventry signing John Aloisi is expected to be on the bench. The £650,000 striker signed from Portsmouth signed last night, but despite City's lack of goals, he will have to wait for his first start. Derby's Italian midfielder Stefano Eranio is expected to start if he has fully recovered from 'flu. Stefan Schnoor is doubtful with an ankle injury, but midfielder Lee Carsley is available after a one-match ban. Igor Stimac is back in Croatia trying to speed-up his recovery from an ankle problem.

Last season: Coventry 1-0 Derby, Derby 3-1 Coventry Last five League matches: Coventry W L D L L, Derby D L W D D Top scorers: Noel Whelan (Coventry) 5; Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 5 Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 9-4

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)

Liverpool (12) v Sheff Wed (13)

Gerard Houllier has the long-term injury problems of Steve McManaman, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Sean Dundee and Rob Jones to contend with and is unlikely to have many alternatives to the side that lost 1-0 at Wimbledon last Sunday. Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson looks set to name an unchanged line-up. Wilson has no fresh injury worries following their win against Charlton last week, so the same starting 11 are likely to keep their places at Liverpool for the sixth consecutive game.

Last season: Liverpool 2-1 Sheff Wed, Sheff Wed 3-3 Liverpool Last five League matches: Liverpool L W W L L, Sheff Wed D W D W W Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 12; Andy Booth, Paolo Di Canio, Benito Carbone, Niclas Alexandersson (Sheff Wed) 3 Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 12-5

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)

Man Utd (2) v Middlesbrough (5)

Dwight Yorke looks certain to miss out for Manchester United after aggravating a groin strain during Wednesday's draw with Chelsea. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is having treatment on an ankle injury, so Alex Ferguson could be forced into using last season's striking partnership of Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole. Middlesbrough are waiting for fitness tests on Gianluca Festa, Curtis Fleming, Phil Stamp, Mark Summerbell and Brian Deane.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures Last five league matches: Man Utd L W D D D, Middlesbrough D W D D W Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 12; Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 12 Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 12-5

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)

Newcastle (15) v Leicester (9)

Alan Shearer has a late fitness test on the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last four games, while a last-minute decision will be taken on Duncan Ferguson, who has missed training all week with flu. Leicester's Tony Cottee has been out for four weeks with a thigh strain but is in contention for the St James' Park clash. Steve Walsh (flu) is rated as doubtful, but Frank Sinclair returns from suspension. Matt Elliott could return to central defence to combat the threat of Duncan Ferguson.

Last season: Newcastle 3-3 Leicester, Leicester 0-0 Newcastle Last five League matches: Newcastle D L W D D, Leicester L L D W W Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 8; Emile Heskey (Leicester) 9 Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 9-4

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Notts Forest (19) v Blackburn (18)

Dave Bassett wants to revert to a 4-4-2 formation and is poised to deploy central defender Jon Olav Hjelde at right-back even though he has never played there for Forest. Striker Dougie Freedman is expected to return at the expense of Marlon Harewood. Chris Sutton, out for six weeks through suspension and injury, has a late fitness test for Blackburn. Darren Peacock is available after a broken toe and manager Brian Kidd will also test goalkeeper John Filan who has been suffering from concussion.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures Last five League matches: Nottm Forest D L D L L, Blackburn L L L W D Top scorers: Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 6; Nathan Blake (Blackburn) 10 Match odds: H 6-4 A 13-8 D 2-1

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)

Southampton (20) v Wimbledon (8)

Ken Monkou is expected to return for Southampton in place of Gary Monk after missing the last three matches with a thigh injury. Norwegian striker Egil Ostenstad will play in attack, and Carlton Palmer is back from a one-match suspension. Wimbledon winger Gareth Ainsworth has joined Michael Hughes on the treatment table for a groin injury and misses the game.

Last season: Southampton 0-1 Wimbledon, Wimbledon 1-0 Southampton Last five League matches: Southampton L W L L L, Wimbledon L W L W W Top scorers: Matt Le Tissier (Southampton) 4; Marcus Gayle, Efan Ekoku (Wimbledon) 7 Match odds: H 13-8 A 11-8 D 11-5 Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)

West Ham (7) v Everton (14)

West Ham's centre-back Neil Ruddock begins a three-match ban while John Moncur is also suspended. Paul Kitson is still out with a toe problem, but should be fit for the Christmas programme. Eyal Berkovic and Javier Margas both return to the squad after injury. Danny Cadamarteri returns for Everton following suspension, but Craig Short and Dave Watson are injured, while Ibrahima Bakayoko, John Oster, Phil Jevons and Gareth Farrelly have flu. Michael Ballalong Richard Dunne are suspended. Mitch Ward and Michael Branch could be in the starting line-up, while teenage defenders Wayne McDermott, Carl Regan and Adam Farley have been added to the squad.

Last season: West Ham 2-2 Everton, Everton 2-1 West Ham Last five League matches: West Ham W W W L L, Everton L W W D W Top scorers: Ian Wright (West Ham) 6; Daniel Cadamarteri (Everton) 3 Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 9-4

Referee: R Harris (Oxford)

Sunday

Arsenal (6) v Leeds (4)

David Seaman is set to miss out after damaging a shoulder ligament in training. Alex Manninger should win his third game of the season. Tony Adams (back), Ray Parlour (knee), Nigel Winterburn (hamstring) and Stephen Hughes (hip) are still out. Leeds captain Lucas Radebe (knee) and David Batty (ribs) are rated "very doubtful" for the trip to Highbury. Batty is set to be replaced by Alfie Haaland.

Last season: Arsenal 2-1 Leeds, Leeds 1-1 Arsenal Last five League matches: Arsenal D L D D L, Leeds W W L W W Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 7; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 9 Match odds: H 11-10 A 9-4 D 2-1

Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset)

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill