Saturday, March 17
Blackburn (10) v West Ham (20)
Rovers' David Dunn returns from suspension but fellow midfielder Aaron Mokoena is banned after a red card in the FA Cup win over Manchester City. Defender Ryan Nelsen is a doubt with hamstring trouble.
Hammers midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker returns from suspension but centre-back Matthew Upson will not travel after hobbling out of the defeat by Tottenham. Fellow defender James Collins is fit after a groin problem.
Last season:Blackburn 3 West Ham 2, West Ham 3 Blackburn 1
Last five league matches:Blackburn L W L W W; West Ham L L L L L
Top scorers:Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 18; Kepa Blanco (West Ham) 8
Match odds:H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
Chelsea (2) v Sheff Utd (16)
Blues' Michael Essien hurt a knee in the FA Cup quarter-final draw with Tottenham and boss Jose Mourinho may rest him. Midfielder Joe Cole (foot) remains a long-term absentee while Mikel Jon Obi is suspended.
Blades defender Chris Lucketti (foot) and midfielder Mikele Leigertwood (ankle) have still not sufficiently recovered from injury but Michael Tonge and Nick Montgomery return after bans.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W W W; Sheff Utd W L W L D
Top scorers:Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 29; Rob Hulse & Luton Shelton (Sheff Utd) 8
Match odds:H 1-7 A 14-1 D 9-2
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
Man Utd (1) v Bolton (5)
Rio Ferdinand will play, after United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rejected reports the defender is suffering from a cracked rib. However, Louis Saha (ankle), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (knee) Darren Fletcher (ankle), Mikael Silvestre (shoulder) and Edwin van der Sar (calf) are all out and with Henrik Larsson now back in Sweden, Ryan Giggs is likely to play up front alongside Wayne Rooney. Paul Scholes is suspended.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce will make a late decision on striker Kevin Davies, who has returned to training following a six-match absence after suffering a chipped bone in his ankle. Abdoulaye Meite is expected to shake off a toe injury and return to the defence after suspension.
Last season: Bolton 1 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 4 Bolton 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W W; Bolton D W W L L
Top scorers:Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 17; Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 10
Match odds:H 3-10 A 15-2 D 16-5
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Middlesbrough (12) v Man City (17)
Boro boss Gareth Southgate gives morning fitness tests to George Boateng, Julio Arca and Ayegbeni Yakubu. Boateng has been unwell, fellow midfielder Arca is struggling with a groin strain and striker Yakubu has a tight hamstring. Jonathan Woodgate may be rested ahead of Monday's FA Cup replay at Manchester United.
City manager Stuart Pearce could be tempted to field an unchanged side as he looks to avoid a sixth straight league defeat. Goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson is set retain his place between the posts while Emile Mpenza could again operate as a lone striker.
Last season:Man City 0 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 0 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D D L W D; Man City L L L L L
Top scorers:Ayegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 16; Joey Barton & Georgios Samaras (Man City) 6
Match odds:H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: K Stroud (Hampshire).
Reading (7) v Portsmouth (9)
Royals defender Graeme Murty (toe) is a doubt — Greg Halford stands by for a debut, although Ulises de la Cruz and Brynjar Gunnarsson are in contention. Striker Kevin Doyle is back to full fitness after hamstring trouble but Ibrahima Sonko and Bobby Convey are out for the season following knee operations.
Pompey are without Lauren (thigh), Pedro Mendes (ankle) and Sean Davis (suspension). Noe Pamarot (back) is another doubt but captain Dejan Stefanovic is back in the squad and Glen Johnson returns at right-back having missed out against Chelsea. Croatian Niko Kranjcar stands by for a rare start in midfield.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Reading W W W L L; Portsmouth D L W L L
Top scorers:Leroy Lita (Reading) 14; Kanu (Portsmouth) 12
Match odds:H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Tottenham (8) v Watford (19)
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson (thigh) and midfielder Jermaine Jenas (groin) could be considered after missing the midweek UEFA Cup win over Braga. Didier Zokora (toe) is a concern, Anthony Gardner (fractured fibula), Ledley King (knee) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) are out, but Teemu Tainio (calf) could return.
Watford midfielders Lee Williamson and Gareth Williams and forward Will Hoskins are available again after missing the FA Cup win at Plymouth because they were cup-tied. The Hornets are unlikely to make many changes to their starting XI, defender Jordan Stewart (calf) and forward Marlon King (knee) remain out.
Last season:No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Tottenham L L W W W; Watford L W D L D
Top scorers:Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 19; Will Hoskins (Watford) 16
Match odds:H 4-9 A 11-2 D 13-5
Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).
Wigan (15) v Fulham (14)
Wigan striker Henri Camara could come into contention after returning to training following a reaction to a knee problem two weeks ago. Paul Scharner (knee) and Arjan De Zeeuw (toe) might also be available after injury. However Leighton Baines, Lee McCulloch and Fitz Hall are suspended.
Central defender Philippe Christanval is back in the Fulham squad after hamstring trouble — but on-loan Italian striker Vincenzo Montella is suspended.
Last season: Fulham 1 Wigan 0, Wigan 1 Fulham 0
Last five league matches: Wigan W L D W W; Fulham L W L L D
Top scorers:Caleb Folan (Wigan) 14; Brian McBride (Fulham) 12
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: S Tanner (Somerset).
Sunday, March 18
Aston Villa (13) v Liverpool (4)
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill will check on the fitness of Shaun Maloney before finalising his side — the midfielder was ruled out of the midweek home defeat by Arsenal through illness which confined him to bed. He was able to take part in an internal practice game on Thursday but O'Neill will monitor his progress over the next 24 hours. Central defender Martin Laursen is again sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Robbie Fowler is back in the Liverpool squad, with Peter Crouch now out until the beginning of next month as he recovers from an operation to repair his broken nose.
Last season: Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 2
Last five league matches:Aston Villa L W L D L; Liverpool W D L W L
Top scorers: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) 9; Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 13
Match odds: H 11-4 A 5-6 D 11-5
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Charlton (18) v Newcastle (11)
Hamstring injuries rule out Charlton midfielder Andy Reid and defender Ben Thatcher. Striker Darren Bent requires a late check on a knee problem before it is decided whether he will be risked.
Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt is suspended, while full-back Stephen Carr is likely to miss out again with a thigh problem. Oguchi Onyewu is available following his ineligibility in Europe, while Craig Moore is in contention for the first time since picking up a hamstring injury in November.
Last season:Charlton 3 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 0 Charlton 0
Last five league matches: Charlton D L L W D; Newcastle W L W L D
Top scorers:Darren Bent (Charlton) 11; Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 16
Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
Everton (6) v Arsenal (3)
Everton hope to have full-back Tony Hibbert (groin) back, but full-back Nuno Valente (calf) is doubtful. Everton are without James McFadden, Tim Cahill and Andy van der Meyde, and boss David Moyes must decide whether to play with just one striker — Andrew Johnson — up front and pack his midfield, or continue with either James Beattie or youngster James Vaughan in attack.
Arsenal's Kolo Toure returns from a ban but Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) and Gael Clichy (hamstring) are struggling. Alexander Hleb (knee) may feature and fit-again midfielder Tomas Rosicky should start. Theo Walcott needs surgery on his shoulder, but could be in the squad, Emmanuel Adebayor is banned and Thierry Henry (groin and stomach) and Robin van Persie (foot) are also out.
Last season: Everton 1 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 2 Everton 0
Last five league matches: Everton D W L W D; Arsenal W D W W W
Top scorers: Andrew Johnson (Everton) 11; Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 13
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5
Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).
