Saturday, November 11th
Blackburn (13) v Man Utd (1)
Blackburn full-back Brett Emerton could return after missing the last three matches with a hamstring strain. Manager Mark Hughes, though, is still without three key players in midfielders Robbie Savage (thigh) and Steven Reid (back), as well as striker Jason Roberts (metatarsal).
United go into tomorrow's match with the same side who beat Portsmouth last weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson has no fresh injury problems, with only striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Last season:Blackburn 4 Man Utd 3, Man Utd 1 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches:Blackburn W D L L L; Man Utd W W W W W
Top scorers:Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 7; Louis Saha (Man Utd) 7
Match odds:H 5-1 A 8-15 D 23-10
Referee:M Riley (W Yorkshire).
Chelsea (2) v Watford (17)
Blues boss Jose Mourinho must decide whether to recall goalkeeper Hilario to the starting 11, after Carlo Cudicini took his place for the Carling Cup win over Aston Villa. Ashley Cole and Arjen Robben, rested against Villa, are expected to be back in the squad and captain John Terry returns after suspension.
Watford could have goalkeeper Ben Foster back. The on-loan Manchester United player will have a late fitness test after missing the Hornets' last two matches with a knee ligament problem.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Chelsea D W W W L; Watford D L D D W
Top scorers:Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 11; Ashley Young (Watford) 4
Match odds:H 1-7 A 14-1 D 9-2
Referee:H Webb (S Yorkshire).
Everton (7) v Aston Villa (6)
James McFadden starts a three-match ban — Everton boss David Moyes must decide whether to recall Simon Davies to the midfield or use either James Beattie or Victor Anichebe up front alongside Andrew Johnson.
Villa defender Gary Cahill is set to replace Martin Laursen (knee) and partner Liam Ridgewell, with Olof Mellberg moving to right-back in place of Aaron Hughes (groin). Skipper Gareth Barry (back) is likely to miss out, Chris Sutton is set for a recall up front, with Gabriel Agbonlahor reverting to wide midfield.
Last season:Everton 4 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 4 Everton 0
Last five league matches:Everton D L W D L; Aston Villa D D D L W
Top scorers:Tim Cahill (Everton) 7; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 6
Match odds:H 11-10 A 23-10 D 15-8
Referee:P Dowd (Staffordshire).
Man City (14) v Newcastle (19)
Dietmar Hamann could be on the City bench after recovering from a thigh injury. Boss Stuart Pearce may opt to shuffle his strikers, with the return of Bernardo Corradi a distinct possibility.
Magpies midfielder Kieron Dyer has recovered from an eye injury and striker Shola Ameobi, due to undergo surgery on his damaged hip, also trained yesterday and is in with a chance. Manager Glenn Roeder has given little away over striker Obafemi Martins' hamstring injury or whether or not goalkeeper Shay Given will return in place of Steve Harper (groin) after abdominal surgery.
Last season:Man City 3 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 1 Man City 0
Last five league matches:Man City D D L W L; Newcastle L L L D L
Top scorers:Georgios Samaras (Man City) 3; Shola Ameobi (Newcastle) 5
Match odds:H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee:G Poll (Hertfordshire).
Middlesbrough (16) v West Ham (15)
Defender Abel Xavier is in the Boro squad for the first time since completing a year-long drugs ban — and is in contention. Chris Riggott (ankle ligaments) is training but is short of match fitness, while Ugo Ehiogu (Achilles) and Stuart Parnaby (foot) are out. Striker Mark Viduka is nursing two fractured toes.
West Ham have doubts over centre-back Anton Ferdinand (Achilles) and striker Bobby Zamora (ankle). George McCartney could be asked to fill in after coming off the bench during the win over Arsenal, but Wales international James Collins is also pressing for a start.
Last season:Middlesbrough 2 West Ham 0, West Ham 2 Middlesbrough 1
Last five league matches:Middlesbrough L W W L L; West Ham L L L W W
Top scorers:Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 4; Bobby Zamora (West Ham) 5
Match odds:H 6-5 A 15-8 D 21-10
Referee:M Halsey (Lancashire).
Portsmouth (4) v Fulham (9)
Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus return after a stomach bug and a hamstring injury respectively. but fellow defender Glen Johnson (thigh) is still out and fellow defender Noe Pamarot and midfielder Gary O'Neil will need fitness tests on hamstring injuries. Up front, Andy Cole (groin) is out and Benjani Mwaruwari will partner Kanu if his knee injury responds to a pain-killing injection.
Fulham's Michael Brown (ankle) is still out. Papa Bouba Diop is expected to be in the squad following his thigh injury but is unlikely to be in the starting XI, with Carlos Bocanegra deputising again in midfield.
Last season:Fulham 1 Portsmouth 3, Portsmouth 1 Fulham 0
Last five league matches:Portsmouth L W L W L; Fulham D W D L W
Top scorers:Kanu (Portsmouth) 7; Brian McBride (Fulham) 3
Match odds:H 4-5 A 3-1 D 21-10
Referee:S Bennett (Kent).
Sheff Utd (18) v Bolton (3)
Defender Chris Armstrong has been ruled out for a month following minor surgery on his knee, joining midfielder Michael Tonge (ankle), Leigh Bromby (hamstring) and Steve Kabba (shoulder) on the sidelines. Full-backs Rob Kozluk and Derek Geary will keep their places in defence as a result.
Bolton captain Kevin Nolan is set to return from his three-match suspension. But boss Sam Allardyce could be left sweating with Nolan's fiancee Hayley due to give birth over the weekend — leaving his star's participation in doubt until the last minute.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Sheff Utd W D L L W; Bolton W W W L L
Top scorers:Rob Hulse (Sheff Utd) 3; Ivan Campo (Bolton) 4
Match odds:H 7-4 A 13-10 D 21-10
Referee:A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Wigan (11) v Charlton (20)
Record signing Emile Heskey is a doubt for the hosts after picking up a groin strain in last week's win at Bolton.
Charlton rate winger Dennis Rommedahl (groin) as only 50-50. Striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink could retain his place in the starting XI following a midweek brace against Chesterfield, while centre-back Talal El Karkouri (hamstring) is set to return to the squad. Striker Kevin Lisbie (shoulder) remains sidelined.
Last season:Wigan 3 Charlton 0, Charlton 1 Wigan 0
Last five league matches:Wigan L L W W W; Charlton L L D D W
Top scorers:Henri Camara & Emile Heskey (Wigan) 3; Darren Bent (Charlton) 8
Match odds:H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee:D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
Sunday, November 12th
Arsenal (5) v Liverpool (8)
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is expected to recall his senior men after making changes for the Carling Cup win at Everton. Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) joins Freddie Ljungberg (calf), Julio Baptista (hamstring), Abou Diaby (ankle) and Lauren (knee) on the sidelines but goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is fit after concussion.
Mohamed Sissoko's three-month injury lay-off leaves Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez with a dilemma in central midfield. Sissoko will have an operation next week and his place looks certain to go to Steven Gerrard.
Last season:Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches:Arsenal W W W D L; Liverpool L D L W W
Top scorers:Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 6; Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 8
Match odds:H 1-1 A 13-5 D 15-8
Referee:M Clattenburg (Co Durham).
Reading (12) v Tottenham (10)
Reading expect to welcome back captain Graeme Murty after the right-back missed the last four games with a hamstring problem. Winger Bobby Convey has returned to the United States to recuperate from a knee injury. Dave Kitson (knee), Peter Mate (knee), Aaron Brown (ankle) and Simon Cox (leg) remain sidelined.
Spurs are set to be without defender Pascal Chimbonda (knee), while striker Mido has a cyst on his knee. Teemu Tainio (hernia/foot), Calum Davenport (groin), Anthony Gardner (knee) and Paul Stalteri (knee) are missing but Steed Malbranque (groin) should be fit and Hossam Ghaly (hamstring) is also likely to travel.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches:Reading W L L L L; Tottenham W D W D W
Top scorers:Kevin Doyle & Leroy Lita (Reading) 4; Dimitar Berbatov & Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 4
Match odds:H 9-5 A 5-4 D 21-10
Referee:R Styles (Hampshire).
