Aston Villa (5) v Man Utd (3)Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar has been ruled out after suffering a thigh injury during the 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. Luke Young is expected to revert to right back with Nicky Shorey returning to the side on the opposite flank. Rio Ferdinand faces a fitness test on a back injury but Dimitar Berbatov (hamstring) and Wes Brown (ankle) join long-term knee injury victims Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves on the sidelines.

Wayne Rooney is expected to recover from a calf strain which kept him out of England's midweek win in Germany. Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson will be assessed following their trip to Brazil on international duty, while teenage forward Danny Welbeck is also in the squad.

Last season:Man Utd 4 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 1 Man Utd 4. Last five league matches:Aston Villa W W L L W; Man Utd D W W L W. Top scorers:Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 8; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 9. Match odds:H 7-2 A4-5 D 5-2. Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Chelsea (1) v Newcastle (17)

Chelsea have a doubt over midfielder Frank Lampard, who withdrew from England's squad for the friendly with Germany on Wednesday because of a rib injury.

Striker Didier Drogba starts a three-match ban but Chelsea hope to have Joe Cole (hamstring) and goalkeeper Petr Cech (calf) back in the squad. Ashley Cole (foot), Alex (thigh), and Juliano Belletti (ankle) are also doubtful while Michael Essien and Franco Di Santo are definitely out. Centre half Ricardo Carvalho is also likely to miss out with a knee problem.

Steven Taylor (abdominal muscle) is still out, leaving Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear to chose two central defenders from Fabricio Coloccini, Sebastien Bassong and Claudio Cacapa. Danny Guthrie is likely to deputise for Joey Barton (knee) in central midfield.

Last season:Newcastle 0 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 2 Newcastle 1. Last five league matches:Chelsea L W W W W; Newcastle L W W L D. Top scorers:Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 13; Michael Owen (Newcastle) 6. Match odds:H 2-9 A 12-1 D 5-1. Referee:Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Liverpool (2) v Fulham (10)

Steven Gerrard is out after the muscle tear which ruled him out of England's win in Germany on Wednesday. Full back Alvaro Arbeloa returns after a one-match ban and Robbie Keane has recovered from the shoulder injury which kept him out of the Republic of Ireland defeat to Poland.

Fulham have included Dickson Etuhu in their squad. It is the first time the midfielder has been available for first-team duty since his August transfer from Sunderland after recovering from a knee injury. Long-term injury victim Diomansy Kamara (knee) is Roy Hodgson's only absentee.

Last season:Fulham 0 Liverpool 2, Liverpool 2 Fulham 0. Last five league matches:Liverpool W W L W W; Fulham D W L W W. Top scorers:Dirk Kuyt & Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 7; Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 4. Match odds:H 2-7 A 11-1 D 4-1. Referee:Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Man City (12) v Arsenal (4)

Captain Richard Dunne, midfielder Gelson Fernandes and striker Danny Sturridge could all return. Dunne and Fernandes have both completed one-match bans for their red cards against Tottenham a fortnight ago, while Sturridge has returned to training following three weeks out with an ankle injury.

Manager Mark Hughes could also add another goalkeeper to his squad as cover for the injured Joe Hart if he can make a suitable loan signing.

Arsenal forward Robin van Persie returns from suspension but midfielder Cesc Fabregas serves a one-match ban. Kolo Toure (calf) is doubtful, while Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Emmanuel Eboue (knee) are on the sidelines along with long-term absentees Tomas Rosicky (knee) and Eduardo (ankle). Emmanuel Adebayor only returned from his ankle complaint last week so will require assessment before a decision is made.

Last season:Man City 1 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 1 Man City 0. Last five league matches:Man City W L L L D; Arsenal W D L W L. Top scorers:Robinho (Man City) 8; Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 9. Match odds:H 9-4 A 6-5 D 23-10. Referee:Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Middlesbrough (8) v Bolton (13)

Emanuel Pogatetz and Mido have both been passed fit. Skipper Pogatetz missed Austria's midweek friendly due to a knee injury while top scorer Mido has been sidelined for two matches due to a groin condition.

Jeremie Aliadiere has recovered from the illness which forced him out of last Sunday's draw at Everton and is likely to replace Julio Arca. Centre back Chris Riggott (hamstring) is out.

Bolton manager Gary Megson will check on the fitness of Ricardo Gardner and Danny Shittu. The pair were away on international duty with Jamaica and Nigeria respectively this week.

Joey O'Brien definitely misses out with a thigh injury but Megson hopes Ebi Smolarek and Gretar Steinsson will be available after illness and injury.

Last season:Middlesbrough 0 Bolton 1, Bolton 0 Middlesbrough 0. Last five league matches:Middlesbrough D W D W D; Bolton L L W W L. Top scorers:  Mido (Middlesbrough) 5; Kevin Davies (Bolton) 4. Match odds:H 10-11 A 16-5 D 23-10. Referee:Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Portsmouth (9) v Hull (6)

Portsmouth hope Jermain Defoe will have recovered from a calf injury sustained on England duty but skipper Sol Campbell (toe) and midfielders Lassana Diarra and Niko Kranjcar (both ankle) are out.

John Utaka, who has shaken off a stomach bug, Papa Bouba Diop and Younes Kaboul are all ready to step in again, with Richard Hughes and David Nugent likely to be among the substitutes.

Hull manager Phil Brown will decide which four players to leave in the stands at Fratton Park. Striker Daniel Cousin has a knee problem and may give way to Caleb Folan, who made his first start for the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday. Brown may also go with veteran Dean Windass, who impressed for the reserves in midweek.

Last season:No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches:Portsmouth D L L W D; Hull W L L L D. Top scorers:Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth) 7; Geovanni (Hull) 6. Match odds:H 4-5 A 7-2 D 5-2. Referee:Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Stoke (15) v West Brom (20)

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has yet to decide who will replace suspended top scorer Ricardo Fuller. Dave Kitson, who has failed to score since a summer move from Reading, is the firm favourite, but Richard Cresswell is also in the frame.

Tom Soares could also be in line for a recall on the right of midfield with Amdy Faye's place under threat. Seyi Olofinjana has recovered from cramp which forced his early withdrawal at Manchester United last Saturday.

West Brom are without midfielder James Morrison who suffered a slight tear to the medial ligament in his knee against Chelsea last weekend. Portuguese midfielder Filipe Teixeira could make his first start of the season as a replacement for Morrison.

Last season:No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches:Stoke L W W D L; West Brom L L D L L. Top scorers:Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 5; Roman Bednar (West Brom) 4. Match odds:H 23-20 A 11-5 D 5-2. Referee:Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Sunday

Sunderland (11) v West Ham (14)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is keeping his fingers crossed that Trinidad and Tobago trio Kenwyne Jones, Dwight Yorke and Carlos Edwards return unscathed from international duty after playing in the 3-0 win over Cuba in midweek. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon (ankle) and defender George McCartney (foot) are again rated at only 50-50.

West Ham's Diego Tristan faces a late fitness test. Herita Ilunga has recovered from an ankle injury, but Mark Noble (calf) and Kieron Dyer are still out. Jonathan Spector is in contention for a place in the squad following hip surgery in August, but Dean Ashton and Danny Gabbidon remain in the treatment room.

Last season:Sunderland 2 West Ham 1, West Ham 3 Sunderland 1. Last five league matches:Sunderland W L L L W; West Ham L L D L D. Top scorers:Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 5; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 4. Match odds:H 23-20 A 12-5 D 23-10. Referee:Mike Dean (Wirral).

Tottenham (19) v Blackburn (18)

Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric is out but Jermaine Jenas (toe) should be fit, as should Ledley King (knee) and Jonathan Woodgate (virus). The news is not so good for Giovani dos Santos, who will miss out due to an ankle injury.

Ryan Nelsen and Martin Olsson are back for Blackburn after recovering from illness. Strikers Benni McCarthy and Roque Santa Cruz should also be available but Brett Emerton (hamstring) and Vince Grella (calf) are still out along with long-term absentees David Dunn (Achilles) and Steven Reid (knee).

Last season:Blackburn 1 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 1 Blackburn 2. Last five league matches:Tottenham W D W W L; Blackburn D L D L L. Top scorers:Darren Bent (Tottenham) 11; Matt Derbyshire & Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 3. Match odds:H 8-11 A 19-5 D 13-5
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Monday

Wigan (16) v Everton (7)

Wigan manager Steve Bruce will monitor the fitness of four key players. Emile Heskey (hamstring), Amr Zaki (rib and calf), Mario Melchiot (knee) and Jason Koumas (groin) are all doubtful through injury. Emmerson Boyce is sidelined through suspension after being sent off in the draw against Newcastle last weekend.

Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar are major doubts. Fellaini has a groin strain and Pienaar is also struggling with the knee complaint which ruled him out of South Africa's friendly against Cameroon in midweek. Both players will be assessed by Everton's medical staff over the weekend when a final decision on their fitness will be made.

Last season:Wigan 1 Everton 2, Everton 2 Wigan 1. Last five league matches:Wigan L L W D D; Everton D W W W D. Top scorers:Amr Zaki (Wigan) 9; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 5. Match odds:H 6-4 A 7-4 D 23-10. Referee:Rob Styles (Hampshire).