Saturday: Arsenal (14) v Birmingham City (18)Robin van Persie (ankle) and Jermaine Pennant (hamstring) have joined Arsenal's growing injury list. Arsene Wenger was already without Gilberto Silva, Edu, Pascal Cygan and Dennis Bergkamp.

For Birmingham, Julian Gray is back after illness and Mario Melchiot has recovered from a thigh strain. But midfielder Muzzy Izzet (knee) and winger Stan Lazaridis (hamstring) are still not ready to return to first-team action.

Last season: Arsenal 0 Birmingham 0, Birmingham 0 Arsenal 3. Last five league matches: Arsenal D D W D L; Birmingham L W L D D. Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 14; Robbie Savage (Birmingham) 3. Match odds: H 2-7; A 7-1; D 7-2. Referee: D Gallagher.

Aston Villa (6) v Liverpool (7)

Villa midfielder Steven Davis will make his second start for the club as manager David O'Leary will be without Lee Hendrie (suspension) and Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh).

Liverpool will have full backs Josemi and Djimi Traore back in their squad after recovering from a head wound and an ankle injury respectively. Igor Biscan suffered a leg injury in the League Cup win at Tottenham in midweek and is out of contention. Milan Baros has begun ball work after his hamstring trouble and is in line to return for Wednesday's European home tie with Olympiacos.

Last season: Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0. Last five league matches: Aston Villa D W W W L; Liverpool D L W L W. Top scorers: Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 5; Milan Baros (Liverpool) 10. Match odds: H 7-5; A 8-5; D 21-10. Referee: M Halsey.

Blackburn Rovers (17) v Tottenham (13)

Ledley King is Tottenham's chief concern after suffering a foot injury during Wednesday's League Cup defeat to Liverpool. Calum Davenport is available again after being cup-tied in midweek while Noureddine Naybet has recovered from a groin injury and Ireland under-21 international Stephen Kelly returns having recovered from concussion.

Jay Bothroyd returns from a three-match suspension and is likely to be on the bench for Blackburn. Jonathan Stead will have a fitness test on an ankle injury but is regarded as doubtful, while Matt Jansen (knee), Lorenzo Amoruso (heel) and Youri Djorkaeff (hamstring) are all missing.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 1 Tottenham 0. Last five league matches: Blackburn D D D D W; Tottenham L L L L W. Top scorers: Paul Dickov (Blackburn) 5; Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 11. Match odds: H 11-8; A 17-10; D 2-1. Referee: M Dean.

Chelsea (1) v Newcastle Utd (10)

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech will return in place of Carlo Cudicini and Paulo Ferreira will replace Glen Johnson at right back. Boss Jose Mourinho has to decide on whether to start with Didier Drogba or Eidur Gudjohnsen in attack.

Newcastle striker Alan Shearer is still out with a thigh strain and Nicky Butt (hamstring) will be sidelined for up to six weeks. Stephen Carr (knee) and Andy O'Brien (hamstring) are also out, but Robbie Elliott (knee) and Ronny Johnsen (groin) are back in contention.

Last season: Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 5 Newcastle 0. Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W D W; Newcastle L L L W D. Top scorers: Eidur Gudjohnsen (Chelsea) 8; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 10. Match odds: H 4-9; A 11-2; D 13-4. Referee: R Styles.

Everton (3) v Bolton Wanderers (8)

David Moyes is likely to field the same side for the fourth game in succession. Tim Cahill and Kevin Kilbane are one booking away from suspension.

Bolton striker Henrik Pedersen is set to return in the absence of El-Hadji Diouf, who begins a three-match ban after spitting in the face of Portsmouth's Arjan De Zeeuw. Defender Ricardo Gardner is sidelined with a knee injury and Anthony Barness could make only his second league start of the season.

Last season: Everton 1 Bolton 2, Bolton 2 Everton 0. Last five league matches: Everton D L W W D; Bolton W D L D L. Top scorers: Marcus Bent (Everton) 5; Henrik Pedersen (Bolton) 7. Match odds: H evens; A 13-5; D 15-8. Referee: H Webb.

Manchester Utd (4) v Southampton (18)

Kleberson has been ruled out until the new year after picking up an ankle injury in Wednesday's League Cup win over Arsenal. The Brazilian midfielder was carried off on a stretcher at Old Trafford, but while the damage is not as serious as it could have been Alex Ferguson has confirmed he will miss the next three to four weeks.

Antti Niemi is competing with on-loan Tottenham goalkeeper Kasey Keller to start after three weeks out following knee surgery. Striker James Beattie has overcome a calf strain while defender Claus Lundekvam is fit after a virus.

Last season: Man Utd 3 Southampton 2, Southampton 1 Man Utd 0. Last five league matches: Man Utd L D W W W; Southampton D D W L D. Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 12; Dexter Blackstock (Southampton) 5. Match odds: H 2-9; A 17-2; D 4-1. Referee: B Knight.

Norwich City (19) v Fulham (15)

Scotland international Gary Holt has joined Damien Francis (fractured cheekbone) on the sidelines after suffering complications to a rib injury which required hospital treatment to drain fluid from his chest. Norwich boss Nigel Worthington is, therefore, likely to field the same side that finished last weekend's draw at Birmingham.

Defender Zat Knight returns to the Fulham squad after suspension but Mark Crossley (groin) is still unavailable, so Edwin van der Sar will continue in goal. Collins John (hip) and Luis Boa Morte (hamstring) are ruled out but should return against Manchester United on December 13th, while Claus Jensen (hamstring) could be back in two weeks.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Norwich D D L W D; Fulham W W L L L. Top scorers: Darren Huckerby (Norwich) 5; Andy Cole (Fulham) 6. Match odds: H 13-10; A 9-5; D 2-1. Referee: A Wiley.

Portsmouth (11) v West Brom (20)

Shaka Hislop is set to return in goal for Portsmouth after recovering from a hamstring injury. Dejan Stefanovic (back) should also return and there will be a late decision on whether striker Lomana LuaLua (groin) is fit for a recall. Aliou Cisse looks favourite to replace midfielder Gary O'Neil (ankle).

West Brom captain Kanu has recovered from a groin injury. Darren Purse is also fit after twisting his knee but his centre-back partner and former Pompey player Darren Moore is given only a 50-50 chance of recovering from a knee injury. Cosmin Contra is doubtful with a groin problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Portsmouth W L L L W; West Brom L D L D L. Top scorers: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Portsmouth) 8; Robert Earnshaw (West Brom) 6. Match odds: H 5-6; A 10-3; D 15-8. Referee: P Walton.

Sunday

Crystal Palace (16) v Charlton Ath (12)

Charlton are waiting on the fitness of Hermann Hreidarsson, who has been hampered by a back problem. The Addicks are already without centre-back Chris Perry (groin) and Mark Fish remains doubtful with a knee problem, so Jonathan Fortune is ready to come into the starting team again.

Midfielder Ben Watson (thigh) faces a late fitness test while Aki Riihilahti will continue to play through an Achilles injury. Nicola Ventola will be out for at least six weeks after damaging his ankle in a training-ground fall and Ivan Kaviedes is struggling with an illness.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Crystal Palace W D L L D; Charlton L W W L L. Top scorers: Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace) 9; Jonatan Johansson (Charlton) 3, Francis Jeffers (Charlton) 3. Match odds: H 13-10; A 7-4; D 21-10. Referee: M Messias.