Arsenal (2) v Wolves (19):Abou Diaby is suspended and Tomas Rosicky also misses the game with a groin problem, but Denilson returns to the squad and Johan Djourou has recovered from his knee problem. Robin van Persie is over the flu which saw him pull out of the Holland squad for the midweek friendly against Austria.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy could retain the starting XI that ended Manchester United’s unbeaten start to the league campaign last week. Loan signing Jamie O’Hara made his first start in that match and is likely to retain his place, but Stephen Hunt, who missed that game with a calf strain, could be out again, while Michael Kightly (knee) and Adlene Guedioura (leg) remain on the injured list.

Last season: Arsenal 1 Wolves 0, Wolves 1 Arsenal 4
Last five league matches: Arsenal D W W W D; Wolves W L L L W
Top scorers: Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 14; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake & Steven Fletcher (Wolves) 4
Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 5-1
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Birmingham (16) v Stoke (9)

Birmingham newcomer Obafemi Martins is included in the squad for the first time but he may be on the bench having not played competitively for two months. Alex McLeish has a full squad to choose from with the exception of long-term injury victims James McFadden and Scott Dann, with goalkeeper Ben Foster having recovered from the thumb injury.

Stoke’s Mamady Sidibe, who has been missing for five-and-a-half months, looks set to remain on the sidelines for an extended period after injuring his Achilles in training yesterday. Ricardo Fuller is back after compassionate leave and will be battling for a place in attack alongside Kenwyne Jones, Jon Walters and John Carew.

Last season: Stoke 0 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 0 Stoke 0
Last five league matches: Birmingham W D L D W; Stoke L W L L W
Top scorers: Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 7; Robert Huth & Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 7
Match odds: H 6-4 A 15-8 D 11-5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Blackburn (11) v Newcastle (10)

Striker Roque Santa Cruz returns to Blackburn’s squad after missing two matches with a groin injury, but defender Gael Givet (groin) is still not fit. January signings Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina are still a few weeks away from featuring, but utility player Phil Jones’ rehabilitation from a knee operation is ahead of schedule and he is set for a possible return in April.

Newcastle strikers Leon Best and Nile Ranger will be fit to take their places following hamstring and back problems respectively, and will be joined in the squad by new recruit Shefki Kuqi. Shola Ameobi hopes to return from a fractured

cheekbone in as little as three weeks’ time, while Steven Taylor (hamstring) will return to training on Monday and loan signing Stephen Ireland continues his recovery from a knee problem. Ryan Taylor (ankle), Dan Gosling (knee), Alan Smith (ankle) and Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg) remain on the sidelines.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackburn W L W L L; Newcastle W D D L D
Top scorers: Mame Diouf (Blackburn) 6; Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 10
Match odds: H 21-20 A 5-2 D 12-5
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

Blackpool (15) v Aston Villa (14)

Blackpool could have only one senior goalkeeper available, as Paul Rachubka looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after damaging his knee yesterday and Matt Gilks, who has not played since November due to a knee problem of his own, is still several weeks away. Richard Kingson is therefore in line to start in goal, but Stephen Crainey (ankle) is still out while January arrivals Sergei Kornilenko and Salaheddine Sbai are not yet ready.

Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is available despite having withdrawn from the England squad for the midweek friendly in Denmark for “family reasons”. On-loan midfielder Michael Bradley is in contention to make his debut and fellow midfielder Jean Makoun has overcome the calf strain which led to him being withdrawn from Cameroon’s squad to face Macedonia, but left-back Nathan Baker is still suspended after his sending-off against Blackburn in the FA Cup.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackpool L L L L L; Aston Villa D W W L D
Top scorers: DJ Campbell (Blackpool) 9; Darren Bent (Aston Villa) 13
Match odds: H 21-10 A 6-5 D 5-2
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Liverpool (6) v Wigan (18)

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will make a late decision on Steven Gerrard’s availability after the captain missed England’s midweek friendly victory with a groin problem, while centre-back Martin Skrtel (thigh) is a doubt and Jonjo Shelvey has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury. Defender Martin Kelly, who was withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad with an ankle injury, is expected to be fit but Joe Cole (knee) will probably be on the sidelines again.

Wigan defender Gary Caldwell could play with a mask to protect a fractured cheekbone, having missed the victory over Blackburn at the weekend because of the injury. James McCarthy is likely to be available after he was withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad to rest his previously injured ankle.

Last season: Wigan 1 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 2 Wigan 1
Last five league matches: Liverpool D W W W W; Wigan D L L D W
Top scorers:Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles (Liverpool) 4; Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 7
Match odds: H 4-11 A 8-1 D 7-2
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

Manchester United (1) v Manchester City (3)

Chris Smalling will be handed his first start in a Manchester derby as Rio Ferdinand (calf) and Jonny Evans (ankle) are both ruled out. Javier Hernandez was the latest member of United’s international contingent to report back for duty, although given his arduous journey following Mexico’s meeting with Bosnia, the best he can hope for is a place on the bench.

City midfielder Nigel de Jong (ankle) is doubtful, but defender Micah Richards has recovered from a similar problem and comes into contention. Striker Mario Balotelli could return after a four-week absence with a knee injury which followed his hat-trick against Aston Villa.

Last season: Man City 0 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 4 Man City 3
Last five league matches: Man Utd D W W W L; Man City D W L D W
Top scorers: Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 20; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 20
Match odds: H 8-11 A 7-2 D 11-4
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Sunderland (7) v Tottenham (5)

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will make a late decision on midfielder Jordan Henderson, who withdrew from England Under-21 duty with a groin-cum hamstring problem. Keeper Craig Gordon should be fit after returning early from the Scotland camp with a knee problem. Michael Turner and Fraizer Campbell (both knee) have returned to light training, but are still some way from being available.

Tottenham will be without Gareth Bale (back), Rafael van der Vaart (calf) and Luka Modric (appendix), while Peter Crouch did not report for England duty because of a back injury and is also a doubt. Jonathan Woodgate came through a reserve match in midweek and is available but fellow defenders Ledley King (groin) and Younes Kaboul (knee) are unavailable.

Last season: Sunderland 3 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Sunderland W D W L L; Tottenham L D D W W
Top scorers: Asamoah Gyan (Sunderland) 9; Rafael Van der Vaart (Tottenham) 12
Match odds: H 9-5 A 6-4 D 23-10
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).

West Brom (17) v West Ham (20)

Baggies caretaker head coach Michael Appleton, who takes charge tomorrow despite Roy Hodgson’s appointment as manager today, should have Marek Cech available after he recovered from a groin strain. Graham Dorrans, who pulled out of the Scotland squad that played Northern Ireland in midweek, should have shaken off his ankle knock in time.

West Ham will give a late fitness test to calf injury victim Robbie Keane, while James Tomkins (calf) and Matthew Upson (Achilles) are also doubts, but Manuel Da Costa is available after coming through last weekend’s match unscathed following four months out with an ankle injury. Long-term absentee Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) played an hour in the reserves this week but is unlikely to be risked.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom L W L D L; West Ham L L D W L
Top scorers: Peter Odemwingie (West Brom) 9; Victor Obinna (West Ham) 8
Match odds: H 19-20 A 11-4 D 5-2
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

Sunday, February 13th

Bolton (8) v Everton (13)

Daniel Sturridge withdrew from England Under-21 duty this week but will be hoping for a second consecutive start after netting twice in two games since joining Bolton on loan from Chelsea. Jlloyd Samuel (thigh) has returned to training after six months out but is some way short of match-fitness while Ricardo Gardner, Joey O’Brien and Sean Davis are also on the sidelines.

Everton have lost Louis Saha, who scored four against Blackpool last week, to a hamstring injury and Jack Rodwell to a groin problem sustained on England Under-21 duty. Defender Phil Jagielka, who recently had a spell out with a thigh injury, is pushing for a start after two substitute appearances.

Last season: Everton 2 Bolton 0, Bolton 3 Everton 2
Last five league matches: Bolton D L L W L; Everton W D D L W
Top scorers: Johan Elmander (Bolton) 10; Louis Saha & Tim Cahill (Everton) 9
Match odds: H 17-10 A 8-5 D 11-5
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Monday, February 14th

Fulham (12) v Chelsea (4)

Eidur Gudjohnsen could make his first Fulham start against his former club having been a late substitute in the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa. Dickson Etuhu (hamstring) and Philippe Senderos (Achilles) are likely to miss out again, while Bobby Zamora is still two to three weeks away from fitness after recovering from a broken leg.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed €29million signing David Luiz will be given his first start for the club, with the centre-back expected to come in for Jose Bosingwa, who has a knock, pushing Branislav Ivanovic to right-back. In attack, the Italian looks set to persevere with a front three of €58million former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 0 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Fulham D W L W D; Chelsea L W W W L
Top scorers: Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 10; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 14
Match odds: H 7-2 A 4-5 D 5-2
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).