Saturday, December 29th

Birmingham (14) v Fulham (18)

Birmingham have a major doubt over Olivier Kapo, who is continuing to struggle with a knee problem which forced him to miss the St Stephen's Day win against Middlesbrough. Manager Alex McLeish is poised to retain the side that started the 3-0 win against Middlesbrough.

Moritz Volz serves a one-match ban after being sent off during the 5-1 defeat at Tottenham on St Stephen's Day. Jimmy Bullard (knee), Brian McBride (knee) and Lee Cook (knee) remain in the treatment room.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Birmingham W L D L W; Fulham L L L D L
Top scorers: Olivier Kapo & Cameron Jerome (Birmingham) 5; Clinton Dempsey (Fulham) 6
Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Chelsea (3) v Newcastle (11)

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will be out for three weeks to a month with a thigh injury. He joins John Terry (foot), Claude Makelele (ear) and Didier Drogba (knee), Florent Malouda (knee) and Carlo Cudicini (rib) on the sidelines. Ricardo Carvalho and Ashley Cole are suspended after red cards against Aston Villa on St Stephen's Day.

Joey Barton will not play after being remanded in custody charged with common assault and affray. England striker Michael Owen could return from his thigh injury, most likely as a substitute, after travelling to Wigan on St Stephen's Day but not making the 16. Claudio Cacapa and Nicky Butt may figure after being rested in midweek.

Last season: Newcastle 0 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 1 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W L W D; Newcastle D W W D L
Top scorers: Frank Lampard & Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 9; Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 7
Match odds: H 1-3 A 13-2 D 16-5
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Everton (6) v Arsenal (2)

Everton manager David Moyes will make a late decision on Phil Neville's fitness as he continues to struggle with a stomach bug. On-loan midfielder Thomas Gravesen is also doubtful after taking a knock on his knee in the victory against Bolton. Leon Osman, Alan Stubbs and Leighton Baines are again ruled out through injury.

Arsenal will have captain William Gallas available after he recovered from a foot problem. However, winger Emmanuel Eboue will be rested. Robin van Persie is also still sidelined by a muscle problem, the Dutch striker having only just recovered from a knee injury, but he is expected to be fit again early in the new year.

Last season: Everton 1 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 1 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton D W W L W; Arsenal D L W W D
Top scorers: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 11; Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 11
Match odds: H 21-10 A 11-10 D 21-10
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Portsmouth (7) v Middlesbrough (16)

Midfielder Sean Davis is struggling to overcome a hamstring injury, leaving manager Harry Redknapp to consider his options. Richard Hughes came in against his former club Arsenal but Pedro Mendes is also in contention.

Middlesbrough will be without suspended skipper George Boateng after he reached five bookings for the season, and former Pompey midfielder Gary O'Neil is battling against the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the last two games. Defender David Wheater was withdrawn at half-time in the 3-0 Boxing Day defeat at Birmingham because of illness, while Andrew Taylor (foot), Chris
Riggott (calf) and Mido (groin) are still out.

Last season: Portsmouth 0 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 0 Portsmouth 4
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D W L L D; Middlesbrough D W W L L
Top scorers: Benjani Mwaruwari (Portsmouth) 9; Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough) 5
Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 23-10
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Sunderland (19) v Bolton (15)

Sunderland midfielder Liam Miller returns from suspension and teenager Martyn Waghorn could keep his place after making a solid debut in the 4-0 home defeat to Manchester United on Boxing Day. Nyron Nosworthy (hamstring) and Russell Anderson (ankle) are improving by the day, but Carlos Edwards (broken leg) will be out for some time yet.

Bolton manager Gary Megson is monitoring the fitness of Jussi Jaaskelainen. The Finland goalkeeper damaged his wrist in the defeat by Everton on St Stephen's Day. Republic of Ireland defender Joey O'Brien is pushing for a place in the starting line-up after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sunderland W L D L L; Bolton L W L W L
Top scorers: Kenwyne Jones & Roy  O'Donovan (Sunderland) 5; Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 11
Match odds: H 8-5 A 7-5 D 21-10
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Tottenham (13) v Reading (12)

Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has recovered from an ankle injury and is available. Centre-back Ricardo Rocha can also return after ankle and thigh problems, while Ledley King had no reaction to making his first appearance of the season in the St Stephen's Day win over Fulham. Michael Dawson (migraine), Anthony Gardner (ankle), Gareth Bale (foot), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Didier Zokora (suspended) are out.

Reading will be without midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson as the Iceland international begins a three-match ban following his sending-off at West Ham on St Stephen's Day. Manager Steve Coppell has no new injury worries but is still without  wingers John Oster (ankle) and Glen Little (heel).

Last season: Tottenham 1 Reading 0, Reading 3 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham L W W L W; Reading D W D W D
Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 14; Dave Kitson (Reading) 6
Match odds: H 1-2 A 9-2 D 13-5
Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

West Ham (10) v Man Utd (1)

Anton Ferdinand is pushing for a return to the starting XI after returning from two months out with a hamstring injury. Carlton Cole was struggling with illness before the St Stephen's Day draw with Reading but is hopeful of being fit to play.

Owen Hargreaves will return to the Manchester United squad. The England midfielder has missed the first two games of the league leaders' festive programme with a back injury but is now fit for duty and should be handed a starting slot. Alex Ferguson has confirmed Carlos Tevez will start against his former club but Edwin van der Sar (groin) is still out.

Last season: Man Utd 0 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches: West Ham L W L W D; Man Utd W W W W W
Top scorers: Dean Ashton (West Ham) 5; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 17
Match odds: H 5-1 A 1-2 D 12-5
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Wigan (17) v Aston Villa (8)

Manager Steve Bruce rates Emile Heskey "touch and go". The England striker missed Saturday's win over Newcastle with a sprained ankle and Bruce will give Heskey every chance as the Latics look to complete a third straight home win. Jason Koumas (groin) is a major doubt, while Wigan's St Stephen's Day matchwinner Ryan Taylor should shrug off a minor knock.

Aston Villa central defender Curtis Davies could make his first Premier League start as a replacement for the suspended Zat Knight. Villa could also be without left-back Wilfred Bouma as the Dutchman is struggling with an ankle injury. Gareth Barry could drop back from midfield to cover for Bouma.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 Wigan 1, Wigan 0 Aston Villa 0
Last five league matches: Wigan D L W D W; Aston Villa L L D D D
Top scorers: Marcus Bent (Wigan) 8; Gabriel Agbonlahor & Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa) 6
Match odds: H 13-8 A 13-10 D 11-5
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Sunday, December 30th

Derby (20) v Blackburn (9)

Derby boss Paul Jewell' has eight players injured in Stephen Bywater and Stephen Pearson (both shoulder), Andy Griffin and Rob Earnshaw (both calf), Matt Oakley (thigh), Andy Todd (back), Claude Davis (knee) and David Jones (groin). Jay McEveley is also struggling through illness but should be fit, leaving Jewell with 17 available players, including striker Jon Macken, who has been
recalled from a loan spell with Barnsley.

Blackburn will be boosted by the return of Robbie Savage and Stephen Warnock. The Rovers pair are available again after both served a one-match ban during Thursday's 2-2 draw at Manchester City. Defender Andre Ooijer is still recovering from a hamstring injury and is not expected to be fully fit until mid-January.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Derby L L L D L; Blackburn W L L L D
Top scorers: Kenny Miller (Derby) 6; Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 13
Match odds: H 11-4 A 4-5 D 23-10
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Man City (5) v Liverpool (4)

Midfield duo Elano and Dietmar Hamann are set to earn immediate recalls for Manchester City after manager Sven-Goran Eriksson left the pair out of Thursday night's 2-2 draw with Blackburn. With Michael Johnson (groin) again set to miss out, Eriksson will turn to Elano to provide the inspiration for victory and former Reds star Hamann to subdue his old team-mate Steven Gerrard.

Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia is almost certainly unavailable after twisting an ankle in the St Stephen's Day win at Derby. It means manager Rafael Benitez must decide whether to risk Daniel Agger, the young Dane having not played for three months as he recovers from a broken metatarsal. Liverpool have full-back Alvaro Arbeloa fit again after a bout of flu, and he could be switched to partner Jamie Carragher while youngster Jack Hobbs is also on stand-by. Peter Crouch is still
suspended.

Last season: Man City 0 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 1 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Man City D L W D D; Liverpool W L L W W
Top scorers: Rolando Bianchi & Blumer Elano (Man City) 5; Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 15
Match odds: H 11-5 A 21-20 D 21-10
Referee: Uriah Rennie (S Yorkshire).