Aston Villa (6) v Arsenal (1)Nigel Reo-Coker is suspended but leading scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor and midfielder Stiliyan Petrov look like shaking off ankle injuries as Martin O'Neill's team aim for a fifth successive win. Arsenal are set to be without midfielder Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) but Mathieu Flamini (thigh) is back in contention along with captain William Gallas and striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who were rested for the midweek Champions League game in Sevilla. Full-back Gael Clichy (thigh) and winger Alexander Hleb (hamstring) face fitness tests, but Abou Diaby (back) and striker Robin van Persie (knee) are out.
Blackburn (9) v Newcastle (11)
Ryan Nelsen's suspension means Blackburn boss Mark Hughes will have to reshuffle his side. The New Zealander was sent off in the 4-0 midweek defeat to Aston Villa, meaning full-back Andre Ooijer is likely to move into the centre, with Brett Emerton dropping back into defence.
Newcastle will make late decisions on Steven Taylor (back), Abdoulaye Faye (hamstring) and Claudio Cacapa (knee), although manager Sam Allardyce is hoping either Taylor or Faye may be fit. Michael Owen (thigh) is continuing his rehabilitation, while Damien Duff (foot) is back in training but well short of match fitness, and Peter Ramage (knee) and Celestine Babayaro (back) are still out.
Chelsea (4) v West Ham (10)
Michael Essien is suspended following his red card at Derby. Manager Avram Grant has no new injury worries but will still be without a number of experienced players, including goalkeeper Petr Cech (calf). Midfielder Michael Ballack (ankle), winger Florent Malouda (knee) and defenders Ricardo Carvalho (back) and Paulo Ferreira (ankle) are also absent.
Striker Dean Ashton and midfielder Scott Parker are in contention to start after coming through a midweek reserve game unscathed, while Freddie Ljungberg has shown no ill effects from the migraine which ruled him out of the last match against Tottenham. Lee Bowyer (hernia) will be assessed ahead of the match and Craig Bellamy (groin) is still out.
Portsmouth (7) v Everton (8)
Pompey have striker Kanu available again after a thigh injury. Manager Harry Redknapp's dilemma is whether to revert to a 4-4-2 formation with Kanu alongside Benjani Mwaruwari up front or stick with the 4-5-1 line-up that brought Pompey their sixth away win in a row at Birmingham last week.
Veteran defender Alan Stubbs is expected to be out of action for a month with a calf problem suffered in training. Manager David Moyes otherwise has a full-strength squad to choose from.
Reading (13) v Middlesbrough (17)
Royals defender Michael Duberry is still recovering from a rib injury, while long-term casualty Glen Little (Achilles) is the only other senior player unavailable to manager Steve Coppell.
Boro are without Mark Schwarzer (broken thumb) — Ross Turnbull is set to play in goal — and Mido (groin). However, Julio Arca (knee) is ready to resume after playing 59 minutes for the reserves in midweek, while Robert Huth (ankle) is also in contention.
Sunderland (18) v Derby (20)
Kenwyne Jones will be fit to lead the line for Sunderland after recovering from a rib problem. Dean Whitehead (knee), Andy Cole (calf) and Carlos Edwards (shoulder) have shown no reaction to their exertions at Everton last weekend, but Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring) is still out.
New Derby manager Paul Jewell has virtually a full squad to choose from. Striker Kenny Miller has fully recovered from a hamstring problem and is likely to play a lone role up front. Defender Andy Todd is not expected to have recovered from a long-term back injury for another two weeks.
Wigan (19) v Man City (3)
England striker Emile Heskey is pushing for his first start since he broke a metatarsal on September 15, while winger Antonio Valencia is expected to return after knee trouble.
Geovanni may return for City as Elano is out with a hamstring injury. Darius Vassell, Michael Johnson and Nedum Onuoha are injured but Vedran Corluka and Emile Mpenza have shaken off knocks and are in contention.
Sunday
Liverpool (5) v Bolton (15)
Anfield boss Rafael Benitez will select from an unchanged squad. Benitez is still without Xabi Alonso and Jermaine Pennant, both long term injuries, but will select from the squad that beat Porto in midweek.
Kevin Nolan and Nicky Hunt are banned and on-loan Liverpool man Danny Guthrie is ineligible. Gavin McCann should figure despite needing stitches in a head wound sustained against Aris Salonika in midweek.
Tottenham (14) v Birmingham (16)
Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas faces a fitness test on an ankle injury picked up in the UEFA Cup victory over Aalborg. Centre-back Younes Kaboul (groin) is out but Jermain Defoe could be back from flu.
Cameron Jerome (hernia) and captain Damien Johnson (hamstring) may play but Wilson Palacios, allowed to return home to Honduras after his brother was kidnapped, has been unable to return due to visa problems.
