Saturday, December 23rd

Arsenal (4) v Blackburn (16)

Arsenal are without full-back Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) - Justin Hoyte is his probable replacement, as fit-again Lauren won't be rushed back. Midfielders Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky are in the squad but William Gallas (thigh), captain Thierry Henry (sciatic nerve) and Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) are out.

Blackburn's top scorer Benni McCarthy is out suspended. Stephane Henchoz is available again after a ban while fellow defender Zurab Khizanishvili could shake off a groin injury and return to the squad.

Last season: Blackburn 1 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 3 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal L W D W D; Blackburn D W L L W
Top scorers: Robin Van Persie & Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 7; Benni McCarthy
(Blackburn) 9
Match odds: H 3-10 A 15-2 D 16-5
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)

Aston Villa (9) v Man Utd (1)

Villa midfielder Gavin McCann is battling to be fit having been unable to train since suffering a hamstring injury against Bolton last weekend. Youngster Craig Gardner stands by as a replacement.

United are set to be unchanged from the team which lost 1-0 at West Ham last Sunday. Patrice Evra (calf) remains doubtful, while Alan Smith is still not being considered as he battles for full fitness.

Last season: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 1 Aston Villa 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D L D D L; Man Utd D W W W L
Top scorers: Gareth Barry & Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 7; Louis Saha (Man
Utd) 12
Match odds: H 4-1 A 8-13 D 23-10
Referee: S Bennett (Kent)

Fulham (11) v West Ham (18)

Cottagers midfielder Claus Jensen misses the match because of a tight hamstring, while Collins John (hamstring), Luis Boa Morte (hamstring), Papa Bouba Diop (thigh) and Ian Pearce (back) are also out, with  Moritz Volz set to continue in midfield. Academy defender Elliot Omozusi, 18, will be on the bench alongside fellow rookies Gabriel Zakuani and Bjorn Runstrom as injuries continue to hit Fulham.

West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon is back in training after a hamstring injury but unlikely to feature at Craven Cottage. The squad had no injury setbacks in Alan Curbishley's first week in charge, and Shaun Newton is now available after completing a drug ban.

Last season: West Ham 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 1 West Ham 2
Last five league matches: Fulham L W L L W; West Ham W L L L W
Top scorers: Brian McBride (Fulham) 5; Bobby Zamora (West Ham) 5
Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside)

Liverpool (3) v Watford (20)

Reds boss Rafael Benitez may name an unchanged line-up. The postponement of the midweek Carling Cup tie against Arsenal meant all Benitez's players have had an unexpected but welcome rest. Left-sided duo Fabio Aurelio and Stephen Warnock both played for the reserves on Wednesday and could come into contention.

Watford defender James Chambers faces up to six weeks on the sidelines with a gashed ankle. On-loan Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster is unlikely to recover from a knee injury in time to play, while defender Clarke Carlisle (thigh) and forward Marlon King (knee) remain long-term casualties.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Liverpool W D W W W; Watford L L D D L
Top scorers: Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 9; Ashley Young (Watford) 4
Match odds: H 1-5 A 10-1 D 4-1
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire)

Man City (14) v Bolton (5)

City's England defender Micah Richards is expected to shake off a dead leg. Claudio Reyna could come into contention following a hamstring injury while Dietmar Hamann remains sidelined with a back problem.

Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf is available again after suspension. Diouf, who has weighed in with five goals this season, looks likely to replace Kevin Davies, who is banned.

Last season: Bolton 2 Man City 0, Man City 0 Bolton 1
Last five league matches: Man City L W D L L; Bolton W L L W W
Top scorers: Joey Barton (Man City) 5; El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton) 5
Match odds: H 11-8 A 17-10 D 2-1
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)

Middlesbrough (17) v Charlton (19)

Jonathan Woodgate is expected to return to the heart of Boro's defence after missing Monday's 2-1 defeat at Fulham with an ankle problem. Emanuel Pogatetz, who was banned for the trip to Craven Cottage, is back but Abel Xavier remains a doubt with a hamstring injury and Robert Huth (foot) is a long-term absentee.

Charlton have several injury concerns. Darren Ambrose (knee), Dennis Rommedahl (foot), Hermann Hreidarsson (Achilles) and Radostin Kishishev (calf) face fitness tests, while winger Jerome Thomas (virus) is another doubt.

Last season: Charlton 2 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 0 Charlton 3
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D L L D L; Charlton D L W L L
Top scorers: Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 5; Darren Bent (Charlton) 8
Match odds: H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire)

Newcastle (13) v Tottenham (7)

Full-back Celestine Babayaro returns from suspension but Magpies boss Glenn Roeder makes a late check on winger Damien Duff (knee). Michael Owen, Charles N'Zogbia and Tim Krul (all knee), Shola Ameobi and Olivier Bernard (both hip), Craig Moore (hamstring), Titus Bramble (calf), Stephen Carr (foot) and Steve Harper (groin) remain on the sidelines.

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is still suffering from an inflammation of his knee and is unlikely to feature. Hossam Ghaly is available after a thigh complaint, skipper Ledley King was rested in midweek, while Didier Zokora returns from a ban. Jermaine Jenas (ankle) and Robbie Keane (knee) remain
sidelined.

Last season: Newcastle 3 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Newcastle W W W L W; Tottenham W L W W W
Top scorers: Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 8; Dimitar Berbatov & Jermain Defoe
(Tottenham) 10
Match odds: H 7-5 A 8-5 D 21-10
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)

Portsmouth (6) v Sheff Utd (15)

Kanu is set to keep his place in Portsmouth's attack despite showing signs of a knee injury in the draw at Arsenal last week. Benjani Mwaruwari (hamstring) and Lomana Lualua (thigh) are out until January but Andy Cole is a likely substitute after recovering from an Achilles injury.

Danny Webber should be fit for the Blades despite missing two days training this week with a virus. Mikele Leigertwood is back in light training as he recovers from an ankle injury, however, the game comes too soon for the midfielder who is expected to feature next week. Paul Gerrard steps in as
back-up goalkeeper to Paddy Kenny after Ian Bennett broke a finger in training this week.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Portsmouth L D D W D; Sheff Utd L W W D W
Top scorers: Kanu (Portsmouth) 9; Rob Hulse (Sheff Utd) 5
Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 11-5
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)

Reading (8) v Everton (10)

Reading have no fresh injury worries ahead of tomorrow's visit of Everton. Striker Dave Kitson (appendix operation) and winger Bobby Convey (knee) remain sidelined but are both nearing comebacks.

Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta has recovered from an ankle injury and will be in the Everton side. Phil Neville, Leon Osman and Nuno Valente, who all returned to action against Chelsea after minor injuries, have all suffered no ill-effects and are also in the squad.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Reading W W L D L; Everton D L W L L
Top scorers: Kevin Doyle (Reading) 8; Tim Cahill (Everton) 7
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: S Tanner (Somerset)

Wigan (12) v Chelsea (2)

Wigan are without Henri Camara, who faces six weeks out with a knee injury, and Lee McCulloch, who starts a three-match ban. Svetoslav Todorov may start his first game since joining on loan from Portsmouth in August. Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Steve McMillan and Ryan Taylor are out.

Chelsea captain John Terry remains doubtful with his back injury, and Khalid Boulahrouz is ready to deputise after filling in for the last two matches. Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is still struggling with a muscle injury, so Hilario could continue, and Joe Cole is out with a broken foot.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Wigan 0, Wigan 0 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Wigan L W D L L; Chelsea D W D W W
Top scorers: Henri Camara (Wigan) 6; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 17
Match odds: H 6-1 A 2-5 D 11-4
Referee: M Dean (Wirral)