Saturday, August 16

Arsenal v West Brom

Samri Nasri looks set to make his full Arsenal debut having missed the midweek Champions League qualifier against FC Twente because of a niggling thigh and  knee complaint. Defender Kolo Toure (hip) will also be back in the squad, but Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Abou Diaby (thigh), Philippe Senderos (hamstring),Amaury Bischoff (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and striker Eduardo (leg) remain in recovery, while Alex Song is at the Olympics.

West Brom are without striker Luke Moore, midfielder Robert Koren, central defender Neil Clement and right-back Gianni Zuiverloon. Moore has a thigh problem, Koren is still not fit following a knee ligament injury, Clement also has a knee problem while Zuiverloon is on duty with Holland at the Olympics. Central defender Abdoulaye Meite, formerly of Bolton, is set to make his debut in place of Clement.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Arsenal L W W W W; West Brom D W W D W

Match odds: H 1-6 A 11-1 D 9-2

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

Bolton v Stoke

Bolton's Icelandic striker Heidar Helguson is ruled out with a hernia problem but could return for the trip to Newcastle on August 23. New signings Johan Elmander, Danny Shittu and Fabrice Muamba are all likely to feature, while manager Gary Megson must choose between Jussi Jaaskelainen and Ali Al Habsi in goal.

Stoke will make late decisions over the fitness of Ricardo Fuller and Liam Lawrence. Fuller, who returned to full training this week, may be on the bench after suffering a knee injury on international duty with Jamaica. Lawrence has been used sparingly in pre-season after a hernia operation, but he is expected to start.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Bolton W W D W D; Stoke L W W W D

Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 21-10

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)

Everton v Blackburn

Everton will be without Steven Pienaar (toe), Tim Cahill (foot), Tony Hibbert (knee), James Vaughan (foot) and Andy van der Meyde (hamstring). Victor Anichebe is at the Olympics with Nigeria. It means there could a starting berth for any one of the young quartet of Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling, Jose Baxter and Lukas Jutkiewicz, who have all figured prominently for Everton in pre-season.

Blackburn utility man Brett Emerton and striker Roque Santa Cruz are set torecover from their respective bruised foot and Achilles injuries. Also available will be Ryan Nelsen after his return from Olympics duty with New Zealand, although new signing Carlos Villanueva should miss out due to chicken pox and veteran striker Robbie Fowler has not yet signed a short-term contract so is unavailable.

Last season: Blackburn 0 Everton 0, Everton 1 Blackburn 1

Last five league matches: Everton D L D L W; Blackburn L D W W L

Match odds: H 19-20 A 5-2 D 21-10

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Hull v Fulham

Striker Marlon King will compete for a place with veteran Dean Windass and Caleb Folan after joining on loan from Wigan. Fellow new signings Peter Halmosi, George Boateng, Anthony Gardner, Bernard Mendy and Geovanni could all feature in a much-changed Hull side following their promotion.

Fulham are without striker Andrew Johnson, who is still recovering from a thigh injury. Goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer, Pascal Zuberbuhler and David Stockdale, defenders John Pantsil and Fredrik Stoor, midfielders Andranik Teymourian and Zoltan Gera and striker Bobby Zamora will all be hoping for first appearances for their new club.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Hull D W L W L; Fulham W L W W W

Match odds: H 6-4 A 13-8 D 19-10

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)

Middlesbrough v Tottenham

Midfielder Gary O'Neil has recovered from a calf strain and is expected to start for Middlesbrough alongside new signing Didier Digard. Captain Emanuel Pogatetz has shaken off a knee problem and could also start, but midfielder Julio Arca and defender Chris Riggott miss out with ankle and calf injuries respectively.

Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton has a foot injury but skipper Ledley King, who missed the final part of last season to recover from a knee problem, is fit. Elsewhere in defence, Didier Zokora could deputise for Hutton. Dimitar Berbatov will be considered for the match while he remains at the club.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 1

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D L L W W; Tottenham D D D W L

Match odds: H 19-10 A 23-20 D 11-5

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Sunderland v Liverpool

El-Hadji Diouf, Steed Malbranque, Teemu Tainio and Pascal Chimbonda are set to make their Sunderland debuts. Chimbonda (dead leg), Kieran Richardson (calf), Phil Bardsley (hamstring) and Danny Higginbotham (back) have recovered from injuries and are in contention. Kenwyne Jones, Dwight Yorke and Paul McShane miss out.

Captain Steven Gerrard will be fit to start, even though he was only used for the final 24 minutes of the disappointing draw against Standard Liege on Wednesday following a thigh injury. There are doubts over Xabi Alonso and Yossi Benayoun who have minor muscle injuries, but Fabio Aurelio and Martin Skrtel are back in contention.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2

Last five league matches: Sunderland L L W L L; Liverpool W W D W W

Match odds: H 9-2 A 4-7 D 23-10

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

West Ham v Wigan

West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand is a doubt with a hamstring injury. Craig Bellamy (hamstring), Kieron Dyer (broken leg), Jonathan Spector (hip), George McCartney (virus), Danny Gabbidon (stomach), James Tompkins (leg) and James Collins (knee) are out.

Wigan's Chris Kirkland (back) and Emile Heskey (groin) have been passed fit after picking up problems in pre-season, while Jason Koumas (knee) is also expected to be available. But Paul Scharner (ankle) and Ryan Taylor (shin) remain doubtful, with Erik Edman (knee ligament) still recovering from a long-term injury and Marlon King unavailable after joining Hull on a season-long loan.

Last season: Wigan 1 West Ham 0, West Ham 1 Wigan 1

Last five league matches: West Ham L W D L D; Wigan D D D W L

Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)

Sunday, August 17

Aston Villa v Man City

Aston Villa are set to hand a debut to right-back Luke Young. Central defender Carlos Cuellar, who joined Villa from Rangers earlier this week in a #7.8million deal, has a calf problem and is unlikely to be fit for another week. Villa also have an injury doubt over midfielder Steve Sidwell, their #5million summer signing from Chelsea, who damaged his calf in training.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will be without suspended captain Richard Dunne, who was sent off at Middlesbrough on the final weekend of last season. Bulgaria striker Valeri Bojinov is pushing for a place in the starting line-up after his recovery from a long-term knee injury. City are short of options in attack as Benjani Mwaruwari and Darius Vassell are injured while Jo is part of Brazil's Olympic squad.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 Man City 1, Man City 1 Aston Villa 0

Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W D L D; Man City W W L L L

Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Chelsea v Portsmouth

Nicolas Anelka will start as Chelsea's lone striker as Didier Drogba is still recovering from a knee injury. Fellow forward Andriy Shevchenko is still not fully fit following groin surgery and Salomon Kalou is away at the Olympic Games. The game marks manager Luiz Felipe Scolari's first in charge and he is set to hand debuts to Portugal internationals Jose Bosingwa and Deco.

Portsmouth include summer signings Peter Crouch, Younes Kaboul and Jerome Thomas in their squad. However they will be without Sean Davis (hip), Glen Little, Noe Pamarot (both thigh), David Nugent and Linvoy Primus (both groin). Kanu could feature on the bench after recovering from a thigh injury, and with Pedro Mendes looking set to join Rangers, John Utaka and Papa Bouba Diop mayboth start in midfield.

Last season: Portsmouth 1 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 1 Portsmouth 0

Last five league matches: Chelsea D W W W D; Portsmouth D L L L L

Match odds: H 3-10 A 15-2 D 16-5

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Man Utd v Newcastle

Wayne Rooney will spearhead Manchester United's attack after recovering from a virus. Midfielder Nani is suspended, so Sir Alex Ferguson must make changes from the Community Shield win over Portsmouth last weekend, with Michael Carrick tipped for a start.

Newcastle have included Argentina defender Fabricio Coloccini in the squad after he was signed from Deportivo La Coruna for an undisclosed fee. But strikers Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Andy Carroll are injured and Shola Ameobi who is talking to Ipswich ahead of a possible move. Obafemi Martins is availableafter a knee injury but Joey Barton is not in the squad.

Last season: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 5, Man Utd 6 Newcastle 0

Last five league matches: Man Utd W D L W W; Newcastle D W D L L

Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2

Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)