Today

Charlton (13) v Everton (14)

Striker Shaun Bartlett faces a late fitness test on the hamstring injury he made worse during South Africa's 2-1 win over Liberia last weekend. Bartlett, who scored in that game, limped out of the 3-3 draw with Manchester United and missed the 3-1 defeat at Leicester because of his international commitments.

Keeper Paul Gerrard has a knee injury and Everton boss Walter Smith will make a late decision on who to play in goal when he has assessed the fitness of Thomas Myhre and Steve Simonsen. Smith also has serious problems with striker Kevin Campbell and midfielder Mark Pembridge, who both have flu and are major doubts.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Charlton W L L D L, Everton W W L L D.

Top scorers: Sean Bartlett (Charlton) 11; Francis Jeffers (Everton) 7.

Match odds: H evens; A 11/5; D 11/5.

Referee: G Barber (Tring).

Chelsea (12) v Bradford (20)

Striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink serves the final game of his three-match ban but defender Celestine Babayaro is back in contention after missing last weekend's defeat at Middlesbrough with a hamstring injury.

Bradford manager Jim Jefferies is to name an unchanged squad as his side look for their first away Premiership win of the season. Injured quintet David Wetherall, David Hopkin, Gunnar Halle, Gareth Whalley and Ashley Ward all remain on the sidelines. Goalkeeper Matt Clarke has refused to travel with the side after handing in a transfer request, while Stan Collymore serves the second game of a three-match suspension.

Last season: Bradford 1 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 1 Bradford 0.

Last five league matches: Chelsea L L W W L, Bradford L D W D L.

Top scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 13; Benito Carbone, Dean Windass (Bradford) 5.

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

Referee: B Knight (Orpington).

Derby (17) v Newcastle (7)

Giorgi Kinkladze returns to the Derby squad after recovering from a pelvic injury. Stefano Eranio is expected to start despite picking up an ankle injury in the defeat of Coventry last week.

Newcastle's Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Solano is out with a groin injury. Wales skipper Gary Speed is suspended while Alain Goma (calf) and Carl Cort and Kevin Gallacher (both hamstring) are still out and AWOL fullback Didier Domi has not returned from France.

Last season: Derby 0 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 2 Derby 0.

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

Top scorers: Malcolm Christie (Derby) 8; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 7.

Match odds: H 6/4; A 7/5; D 9/4.

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).

Leeds United (10) v Aston Villa (9)

Robbie Keane is expected to make his Leeds debut after joining Leeds on loan from Inter Milan until the end of the season. Skipper Lucas Radebe returns from a onematch suspension, leaving boss David O'Leary having to decide whether to keep faith with Jonathan Woodgate and Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence, or play with three at the back. Midfielder Olivier Dacourt is banned for one match after picking up five bookings and it could mean David Batty in the starting line-up after returning to the side for the first time in a year last week after an Achilles injury.

Villa are again without midfielder Ian Taylor (hamstring) and striker Julian Joachim (broken toe). But England under-21 international striker Darius Vassell is able to return to the squad after shaking off a hamstring strain.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 Leeds 0, Leeds 1 Aston Villa 2.

Last five league matches: Leeds L W L L W, Aston Villa L D D D D.

Top scorers: Mark Viduka (Leeds) 13; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 5.

Match odds: H 4/6; A 7/2; D 23/10.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).

Leicester (4) v West Ham (8)

Midfielder Muzzy Izzet is expected to return to the Leicester side after recovering from a knee injury. Arnar Gunnlaugsson is pushing for a place in the starting line-up after scoring in the defeat of Charlton, but Callum Davidson is ruled out because of an ankle injury.

Striker Titi Camara goes straight into the West Ham squad after completing his £1.5 million move from Liverpool. Joe Cole, Craig Forrest and Christian Basilla all return after recovering from ankle, hernia and knee problems respectively. John Moncur is available after suspension.

Last season: Leicester 1 West Ham 3, West Ham 2 Leicester 1.

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

Top scorers: Ade Akinbiyi, Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 4; Paolo di Canio (West Ham) 8.

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

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Liverpool (5) v Arsenal (2)

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is set to stick with the squad which beat Manchester United. Christian Ziege and Dietmar Hamann are both still out injured while Robbie Fowler is not expected to dislodge Michael Owen. Arsenal captain Tony Adams has been ruled out with a heavy cold, but Patrick Vieira is fit after a hamstring injury. Midfielder Lauren is still ruled out with a knee injury, while goalkeeper David Seaman is at least two weeks away from a comeback.

Last season: Arsenal 0 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 2 Arsenal 0.

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

Top scorers: Emile Heskey (Liverpool) 13; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 11.

Match odds: H 11/10; A 2/1; D 11/5.

Referee: P Durkin (Portland).

Manchester Utd (1) v Ipswich (3)

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is faced with the possibility of turning to 21-year-olds David Healy or Jonathan Greening to fill the gap left by Andy Cole (achilles), Teddy Sheringham (hamstring) and the suspended Dwight Yorke. Ipswich's top scorer Marcus Stewart (thigh) is a doubt and faces a late fitness test. Alun Armstrong or David Johnson stand by to deputise.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W D L, Ipswich W W L W W.

Top scorers: Teddy Sheringham (Man Utd) 15; Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 11.

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

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington).

Sunderland (6) v Man City (16)

Don Hutchison has recovered from the hamstring injury which forced him to miss the last four matches and is expected to replace the suspended Kevin Phillips in the Sunderland attack. Niall Quinn will return after missing the Worthington Cup defeat at Crystal Palace. Jody Craddock and Gavin McCann, rested in favour of Stanislav Varga and Stefan Schwarz in midweek, come back into contention.

City await a fitness test on Paulo Wanchope (knee) but Steve Howey has recovered from his hamstring scare, while Gerard Wiekens and Jeff Whitley should shake off knocks and be fit. Andy Morrison is suspended and Laurent Charvet and Richard Dunne are available after being cup-tied.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

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

Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 7; Paulo Wanchope (Man City) 10.

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

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

Tottenham (11) v Middlesboro (19)

Tottenham striker Steffen Iversen has had a setback in his recovery from a knee operation and looks unlikely to figure in any of the Christmas matches. Defenders Ben Thatcher, Luke Young and Mauricio Taricco are also not yet ready to return. Norway midfielder Oyvind Leonhardsen, however, was on the substitutes' bench on Monday after eight weeks out with hamstring trouble and could challenge Stephen Clemence for a left-side role.

Middlesbrough striker Alen Boksic will undergo a late fitness test on his injured hamstring but Ugo Ehiogu and Curtis Fleming return from suspension. Hamilton Ricard and Carlos Marinelli are still banned.

Last season: Tottenham 2 Middlesbrough 3, Middlesbrough 2 Tottenham 1.

Last five league matches: Tottenham W W L D D, Middlesbrough L D L L W.

Top scorers: Les Ferdinand, Sergei Rebrov (Tottenham) 6; Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 6.

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

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill