St Stephen's Day

Blackburn (17) v Liverpool (3)

Blackburn will have top scorer Benni McCarthy available following suspension. Shabani Nonda, who scored twice in the 6-2 defeat at Arsenal, is a slight concern with a hip problem.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will need to check on minor leg injuries to Steven Gerrard and Craig Bellamy before finalising his side. Both are expected to be fit.
Last season: Blackburn 0 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Blackburn W L L W L; Liverpool D W W W W
Top scorers: Benedict McCarthy (Blackburn) 9; Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 9
Match odds: H 10-3 A 7-10 D 23-10
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).

Bolton (5) v Newcastle (11)

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is sweating on the fitness of El-Hadji Diouf. The Senegal striker limped out of the win at Manchester City with a hamstring injury and Allardyce is concerned Diouf will not make it.

Newcastle keeper Shay Given is struggling after aggravating a groin injury. The Irishman was forced off late in Saturday's 3-1 Barclays Premiership victory over Tottenham and Pavel Srnicek, who replaced him nine years after making his last appearance for the club, is on standby.
Last season: Newcastle 3 Bolton 1, Bolton 2 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Bolton L L W W W; Newcastle W W L W W
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 6; Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 9
Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).

Chelsea (2) v Reading (9)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho does not know if captain John Terry will be available . Terry has missed the last three matches with a back injury. Mourinho claims he may be ready to play, or he may be out for another two to three weeks depending on the nature of the problem. Carlo Cudicini is again doubtful with a thigh injury, while Joe Cole remains sidelined with a fractured foot.

Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko and midfielder Stephen Hunt have been passed fit. Sonko suffered from cramp at the end of Saturday's defeat by Everton while Hunt needed treatment following a heavy first-half fall. Striker Dave Kitson (appendix operation) and winger Bobby Convey (knee) remain sidelined.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Chelsea W D W W W; Reading W L D L L
Top scorers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 17; Kevin Doyle (Reading) 8
Match odds: H 1-5 A 10-1 D 4-1
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Everton (8) v Middlesbrough (14)

Everton will monitor the fitness of defender Alan Stubbs and striker Victor Anichebe. Stubbs suffered a knee injury in the warm-up to Saturday's win at Reading and was withdrawn as a precaution while Anichebe took ill in the hotel.

Abel Xavier has recovered from a hamstring injury and is set to return to the squad. Gareth Southgate will be tempted to name an unchanged side following the 2-0 Riverside Stadium win over Charlton. Robert Huth has resumed training but is
some way from match fitness.
Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Everton 1, Everton 1 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Everton L W L L W; Middlesbrough L L D L W
Top scorers: Tim Cahill (Everton) 7, Andrew Johnson (Everton) 7; Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 6
Match odds: H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Man Utd (1) v Wigan (13)

Wayne Rooney could return to the Manchester United starting line-up after being left out of the first XI at Aston Villa following a family bereavement. Sir Alex Ferguson is also mindful of keeping his forwards fresh. and has to decide whether to give Ji-Sung Park a second start in 72 hours.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell has no fresh injury worries but with seven players sidelined, he is limited in being able to freshen up his side.  Henri Camara, Andy Webster, Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Steve McMillan and Ryan Taylor
are injured, while Lee McCulloch serves the second game of a three-match ban.
Last season: Wigan 1 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 4 Wigan 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W L W; Wigan W D L L L
Top scorers: Louis Saha (Man Utd) 12; Henri Camara (Wigan) 6
Match odds: H 2-9 A 17-2 D 4-1
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

Sheff Utd (16) v Man City (15)

Sheffield United took off Rob Hulse and Michael Tonge in the defeat against Portsmouth to keep the pair fresh for Boxing Day. Danny Webber came through the clash at Fratton Park despite suffering from a virus earlier in the week.

Joey Barton will be free to play for Manchester City despite his red card in the defeat by Bolton. Under the Football Association's new fast-track system, City's appeal against Barton's dismissal would normally have been heard before their next game but special rules apply over the festive period, so the Blues' top scorer can turn out. Bernardo Corradi returns from suspension
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sheff Utd W W D W L; Man City W D L L L
Top scorers: Rob Hulse (Sheff Utd) 6; Joey Barton (Man City) 5
Match odds: H 5-4 A 13-8 D 23-10
Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).

Tottenham (7) v Aston Villa (10)

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is a major doubt after suffering a knee injury during the warm-up to Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Newcastle. He is unlikely to play. Aaron Lennon also missed out at St James' Park, while Robbie Keane (knee) and Jermaine Jenas (ankle) are long-term absentees.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill will assess the fitness of key midfielder Gavin McCann. He passed a late fitness on a hamstring problem and played against Manchester United but was substituted in the second half as a precaution.
Last season: Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham L W W W L; Aston Villa L D D L L
Top scorers: Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 10, Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 10; Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) 7, Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 7
Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).

Watford (20) v Arsenal (4)

Watford will need on-loan Ben Foster to produce another top-line show after the youngster's heroics in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool. Foster was a surprise inclusion after a knee problem.

Arsenal look set to be without full-back Emmanuel Eboue (ankle). Theo Walcott, Julio Baptista and Mathieu Flamini are pressing for a start should manager Arsene Wenger decide to give his regulars a breather.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Watford L D D L L; Arsenal W D W D W
Top scorers: Ashley Young (Watford) 4; Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 9
Match odds: H 6-1 A 4-11 D 3-1
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

West Ham (18) v Portsmouth (6)

West Ham are missing suspended captain Nigel Reo-Coker. Wales defender Danny Gabbidon could be available after recovering from a hamstring injury but James Collins is out with a groin problem. Christian Dailly is set to deputise.

Portsmouth forward Benjani Mwaruwari aggravated his hamstring against Sheffield United and will need a check. Lomana LuaLua is out with a thigh injury, while Andy Cole is back in training following his Achilles injury but is short of match practice.
Last season: West Ham 2 Portsmouth 4, Portsmouth 1 West Ham 1
Last five league matches: West Ham L L L W D; Portsmouth D D W D W
Top scorers: Bobby Zamora (West Ham) 5; Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth) 9
Match odds: H 6-5 A 17-10 D 23-10
Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Wednesday, December 27th

Charlton (19) v Fulham (12)

Charlton boss Les Reed will give a late fitness test to midfielder Amdy Faye. Faye limped off during the second half of the 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday and club doctors are assessing the extent of his injury.

Fulham defender Zat Knight will miss out with a broken jaw. Knight sustained the injury in an accident at home and will be sidelined for two months. Iceland striker Heidar Helguson will miss the trip to the Valley through suspension but Collins John and Claus Jensen could return from hamstring problems.
Last season: Fulham 2 Charlton 1, Charlton 1 Fulham 1
Last five league matches: Charlton L W L L L; Fulham W L L W D
Top scorers: Darren Bent (Charlton) 8; Brian McBride (Fulham) 5
Match odds: H 11-8 A 6-4 D 23-10
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).