Saturday

Arsenal (2) v Southampton (15)

Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg and Gilles Grimandi are all available again for Arsenal after various ailments, but England goalkeeper David Seaman is still out for at least two more weeks with an ankle injury.

Southampton defender Claus Lundekvam (knee) midfielder Tahar El Khalej (hamstring) and defender Wayne Bridge (flu) are all expected to be fit but midfielder Matthew Le Tissier is a fortnight away from returning from a knee problem and Trond Soltvedt is still ruled out by a groin injury.

Last season: Arsenal 3 Southampton 1, Southampton 0 Arsenal 1.

Last five league matches: Arsenal W W D L L, Southampton L W D W L.

Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 9; James Beattie and Marian Pahars (Southampton) 6.

Match odds: H 2-7; A 7-1; D 7-2.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Aston Villa (6) v Newcastle (7)

Aston Villa winger David Ginola is standing by to make his first start in two months against former club Newcastle, with striker Julian Joachim out for up to six weeks with a broken toe. Fellow forward Darius Vassell and midfielder Ian Taylor are out with hamstring injuries.

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer faces a late fitness test on back and hamstring injuries. Christian Bassedas picked up an ankle injury during the 2-1 League Cup defeat by Birmingham in midweek but is expected to be fit. Keeper Shay Given, who was rested at St Andrew's, should return and striker Lomana Tresor Lua Lua is available after being cup-tied.

Last season: Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 0 Aston Villa 1.

Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W W L D, Newcastle L W D L W. Top scorers: Dion Dublin, Julian Joachim, Paul Merson, Ian Taylor (Aston Villa) 3; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 7.

Match odds: H 10-11; A 12-5; D 9-4.

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).

Bradford (20) v Coventry (17)

Robert Molenaar goes straight into the Bradford squad after completing his £500,000 switch from Leeds and could start as there is a doubt over the fitness of Andy O'Brien. Striker Ashley Ward (calf) missed training yesterday and is another doubt, which could lead to Stan Collymore starting up front.

Coventry's new signing Lee Carsley will not make his debut because of "personal reasons". The Sky Blues are expected to be unchanged from the League Cup defeat at Ipswich.

Last season: Coventry 4 Bradford 0, Bradford 1 Coventry 1.

Last five league matches: Bradford D L L L D, Coventry L L L L D.

Top scorers: Benito Carbone, Dean Windass (Bradford) 4; John Aloisi (Coventry) 5.

Match odds: H 5-4; A 7-4; D 11-5.

Referee: M Dean (Heswall, Wirral).

Ipswich (3) v Derby (19)

Keith Branagan will deputise in goal for Richard Wright, who has a cracked bone in his left wrist. Skipper Matt Holland hopes to shake off an ankle injury, while Jim Magilton, John McGreal and Mark Venus are expected to return. Striker Richard Naylor will be out for five weeks resting a compressed fracture above his left knee.

Derby defensive pair Horacio Carbonari and Lilian Martin are set to return to the side and midfielder Giorgi Kinkladze is also in contention for a place after missing the League Cup defeat by Fulham in midweek because of a groin problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Ipswich W L W W W, Derby L D D W L.

Top scorers: Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 9; Malcolm Christie (Derby) 7.

Match odds: H 8-15; A 9-2; D 12-5.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).

Leicester (4) v Leeds (10)

Leicester striker Darren Eadie is pushing for a recall as Trevor Benjamin has a hand injury. Icelandic midfielder Arnar Gunnlaugsson could also claim a place in the squad following an appendix operation.

Rio Ferdinand will make his Leeds debut following the completion of his £18 million move from West Ham last weekend. He is likely to line up in a three-man rearguard alongside Jonathan Woodgate and skipper Lucas Radebe. Harry Kewell, who made his long-awaited comeback in the reserves in midweek following a six-month lay-off with an Achilles injury, is set for a place on the bench but Stephen McPhail is now out for the season as he has undergone surgery on his own Achilles problem after rest and treatment failed to provide a cure.

Last season: Leicester 2 Leeds 1, Leeds 2 Leicester 1.

Last five league matches: Leicester W W D W L, Leeds D W D L W.

Top scorers: Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 4; Mark Viduka (Leeds) 11.

Match odds: H 6-4; A 6-4; D 21-10.

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington).

Liverpool (5) v Charlton (12)

Michael Owen is unlikely to be risked after his back injury while injuries to Djimi Traore, Patrik Berger, Jamie Redknapp, Bernard Diomede and Steve Staunton suggest Ritchie Partridge and Stephen Wright will be in the squad again.

South African striker Shaun Bartlett could be in line for his Premiership bow for Charlton, having been granted international clearance to play following his loan move from FC Zurich. Midfielders John Robinson and Shaun Newton are sidelined with groin and ankle injuries respectively, so Scott Parker has been recalled from his loan spell at Norwich as cover.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Liverpool W L W L L, Charlton L W L W L.

Top scorers: Emile Heskey (Liverpool) 11; Jonatan Johansson (Charlton) 9.

Match odds: H 4-11; A 7-1; D 11-4.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).

Man Utd (1) v Tottenham (8)

Dwight Yorke is likely to partner Teddy Sheringham up front for United, while left-back Phil Neville could be edged out by Mickael Silvestre. Alex Ferguson may give Northern Ireland international David Healy a place on the bench with Yorke facing suspension in a fortnight and Andy Cole out of action after surgery.

Tottenham manager George Graham will make late checks on striker Sergei Rebrov and centre-back Chris Perry but Les Ferdinand, who scored a hat-trick to demolish Leicester at White Hart Lane last Saturday, and England midfielder Darren Anderton, who played through that game despite illness, have both been passed fit after bouts of flu.

Last season: Man Utd 3 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 3 Man Utd 1.

Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W W, Tottenham L W L W W.

Top scorers: Teddy Sheringham (Man Utd) 15; Les Ferdinand (Tottenham) 6.

Match odds: H 3-10; A 17-2; D 3-1.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

West Ham (11) v Middlesbrough (18)

West Ham captain Steve Lomas is out because of a flu virus which has hit the Hammers camp. Trevor Sinclair is also struggling with the same problem, while Igor Stimac is hoping to play despite a toe injury.

Middlesbrough's Hamilton Ricard has chipped a bone in his arm and joins Alen Boksic and Keith O'Neill (both hamstring), Gary Pallister (back), Andy Campbell (hernia) and Neil Maddison (groin) on the Middlesbrough casualty list.

Last season: West Ham 0 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 2 West Ham 0.

Last five league matches: West Ham W D W W W, Middlesbrough L L L L D.

Top scorers: Paolo di Canio (West Ham) 7; Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 6.

Match odds: H 4-7; A 4-1; D 5-2.

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).

Sunday

Chelsea (14) v Man City (16)

Chelsea captain Dennis Wise is suspended, and his fellow midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic is also missing with a groin injury. Gustavo Poyet could return, while Jody Morris and Samdalla Bona are also available, but full-back Albert Ferrer is ruled out with an ankle injury.

Shaun Wright-Phillips (stomach bug) and Steve Howey (ankle) are doubtful for City. Shaun Goater and Paulo Wanchope will continue their new partnership in attack at Stamford Bridge.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Chelsea W L D L L, Man City L L L L L.

Top scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 12; Paulo Wanchope (Man City) 8.

Match odds: H 4-9; A 6-1; D 5-2.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill