Saturday, September 29th

Birmingham (14) v Man Utd (2)

Birmingham midfielder Borja Oubina will miss the remainder of the season with damaged knee ligaments, with Fabrice Muamba and Neil Danns vying to partner Medhi Nafti in the centre of the park. Striker Mikael Forssell is sidelined for a month with a hernia problem. Number two keeper Richard Kingson has recovered from a head injury suffered in the Carling Cup clash at Blackburn and is likely to be on the bench.

Owen Hargreaves could return to the Manchester United squad. The England midfielder has been restricted to just three games since his summer move from Bayern Munich but is nearly over his thigh problem. Gary Neville is still missing, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson is due to make major changes from the side beaten by Coventry in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Birmingham L W L W D; Man Utd L W W W W
Top scorers: Garry O'Connor, Cameron Jerome & Olivier Kapo (Birmingham) 2;
Louis Saha (Man Utd) 2
Match odds: H 11-2 A 4-9 D 13-5
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Chelsea (6) v Fulham (17)

Chelsea have been boosted by the return of striker Didier Drogba after he recovered from his knee injury. Mikel John Obi is suspended and Ricardo Carvalho, although back in light training, is also likely to miss out. Michael Ballack is ruled out with an ankle problem and Frank Lampard is still not quite fit enough after battling to overcome a thigh injury.

Defender Moritz Volz for misses out for Fulham with a groin problem. Defender Ian Pearce (calf) also misses out. Midfielders Lee Cook and Jimmy Bullard, defender Philippe Christanval and striker Brian McBride all remain sidelined by knee injuries.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Fulham 2, Fulham 0 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Chelsea D W L D L; Fulham L L D D D
Top scorers: Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 3; David Healy & Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 3
Match odds: H 2-7 A 8-1 D 16-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Derby (20) v Bolton (19)

Derby's porous defence could be boosted by the return of veteran centre-back Darren Moore. Highly-rated teenage midfielder Giles Barnes is again in contention following his foot problems he is most likely to start on the bench.

Ivan Campo hopes to return for Bolton after missing the Carling Cup win at Fulham with a stomach muscle strain. Fellow veteran Stelios Giannakopoulos is in contention but Daniel Braaten is an injury doubt.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Derby L L L W L; Bolton L W L L D
Top scorers: Kenny Miller (Derby) 4; Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 4
Match odds: H 13-8 A 6-4 D 19-10
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

Man City (3) v Newcastle (5)

Manchester City striker Rolando Bianchi is out after aggravating a groin injury during Tuesday's Carling Cup triumph over Norwich. Emile Mpenza should return as City's lone forward, meaning Georgios Samaras will probably have to content himself with a place on the bench.

Mark Viduka is expected to return from a foot injury to partner Obafemi Martins in Newcastle's attack. Sam Allardyce's options up front are limited with groin injuries ruling out Michael Owen and making Shola Ameobi very doubtful. Defender Claudio Cacapa (groin) is also unlikely to be fit.

Last season: Newcastle 0 Man City 1, Man City 0 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Man City W L L W D; Newcastle D D W L W
Top scorers: Rolando Bianchi, Michael Johnson, Geovanni, Emile Mpenza & Martin
Petrov (Man City) 2; Charles N'Zogbia, Obafemi Martins & Mark Viduka (Newcastle)
3
Match odds: H 23-20 A 21-10 D 2-1
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Portsmouth (11) v Reading (16)

Striker Kanu, whose third goal in five starts brought Portsmouth their first away win in nine months at Blackburn, is doubtful for the home clash with knee and thigh problems. Fellow striker Benjani Mwaruwari has also had a thigh injury, while forward John Utaka was laid low by a virus, although both should be cleared to play. Former Royals defender Linvoy Primus (knee) is on his back but will play no part this time.

Winger Bobby Convey is expected to miss out after damaging a leg muscle in training. Fellow wide men Glen Little (Achilles) and John Oster (ankle) are still sidelined although the latter is back in training and should be fit soon. Defenders Ibrahima Sonko (knee) and Peter Mate (hamstring) are also unavailable.

Last season: Reading 0 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 3 Reading 1
Last five league matches: Portsmouth W L L D W; Reading W L L L W
Top scorers: Kanu (Portsmouth) 3; Dave Kitson (Reading) 2
Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Sunderland (15) v Blackburn (10)

Sunderland will be without Russell Anderson for three months after the defender underwent ankle surgery. Manager Roy Keane was already without suspended midfielder Dickson Etuhu. Defender Nyron Nosworthy (knee) is rated at 50-50, but Andy Cole (calf), Carlos Edwards (hamstring), Kieran Richardson (back), and Dean Whitehead and Stanislav Varga (both knee) are all out.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes will bring back his big names for the match, with Benni McCarthy, Robbie Savage and Morten Gamst Pedersen all rested in midweek but set to be recalled. New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen is still out with his problematic hamstring injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sunderland L L L W D; Blackburn D D W D L
Top scorers: Michael Chopra (Sunderland) 2; Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 4
Match odds: H 6-4 A 13-8 D 19-10
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

West Ham (7) v Arsenal (1)

West Ham striker Craig Bellamy (hamstring) has been back in training and return. Scott Parker and Freddie Ljungberg came through the midweek Carling Cup win over Plymouth unscathed and are in contention to start. Bobby Zamora (knee), Calum Davenport (calf), Nigel Quashie (foot) are out.

Arsenal will be without striker Eduardo (groin) but winger Alexander Hleb will be available after a knee problem. Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann (elbow), captain William Gallas (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and Alex Song (calf) are all out. Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Eboue are pushing for a start, Gilberto will be in the squad but Theo Walcott will be rested.

Last season: Arsenal 0 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches: West Ham W D W W L; Arsenal D W W W W
Top scorers: Craig Bellamy & Dean Ashton (West Ham) 3; Emmanuel Adebayor &
Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 6
Match odds: H 10-3 A 8-11 D 11-5
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Wigan (12) v Liverpool (4)

Already without Emile Heskey and Denny Landzaat, Wigan are also waiting on Kevin Kilbane (ankle), Ryan Taylor (calf) and Antonio Valencia (hamstring). Paul Scharner and Andreas Granqvist, who sustained Achilles and foot injuries respectively in last week's 2-1 defeat at Reading, should be fit to play.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will decide whether to retain Carling Cup hat-trick hero Fernando Torres in his starting line-up. Jermaine Pennant and Javier Mascherano return from injury, while Benitez has no new problems to contend with besides the long-term absences of metatarsal victims Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger.

Last season: Liverpool 2 Wigan 0, Wigan 0 Liverpool 4
Last five league matches: Wigan W D L D L; Liverpool D W W D D
Top scorers: Antoine Sibierski (Wigan) 3; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 6
Match odds: H 9-2 A 4-7 D 23-10
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Sunday, September 30th

Everton (9) v Middlesbrough (13)

Everton defenders Tony Hibbert (groin) and Nuno Valente (foot) are doubtful, and although Joseph Yobo (illness) has returned to training, Alan Stubbs is expected to keep his place. Andrew Johnson (groin) is also doubtful, meaning Aiyegbeni Yakubu and James McFadden should continue up front. Although midfielder Mikel Arteta (ankle) could return, Thomas Gravesen remains out.

Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Mido (hamstring) have both been declared fit for Middlesbrough and could return to the side after missing Wednesday night's 2-0 Carling Cup defeat at Tottenham. Gary O'Neil is available after being cup-tied in midweek, but Tuncay Sanli remains a doubt with shin problem and Julio Arca, Emanuel Pogatetz (both knee) and Jeremie Aliadiere (hamstring) are out.

Last season: Everton 0 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 2 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton L D W L L; Middlesbrough W D W L D
Top scorers: James McFadden & Joleon Lescott (Everton) 3; Stewart Downing
(Middlesbrough) 3
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Monday, October 1st

Tottenham (18) v Aston Villa (8)

Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas strained an abdominal muscle in the midweek win over Middlesbrough but should recover. Defender Anthony Gardner has only just returned to training from an ankle injury. Skipper Ledley King is still out as he recovers from knee surgery in the summer.

Aston Villa defender Wilfred Bouma (ankle) is poised to return after missing the shock Carling Cup exit at the hands of Leicester. Gabriel Agbonlahor could partner Luke Moore up front with John Carew sidelined for four to six weeks with knee ligament damage. Shaun Maloney picked up an ankle knock against Leicester which makes him a doubt.

Last season: Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham W L D L D; Aston Villa D W W L W
Top scorers: Gareth Bale (Tottenham) 3; Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa) 3
Match odds: H 10-11 A 11-4 D 2-1
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).