A guide to this weekend's action in the English Premiership:
Saturday
Blackburn Rovers (10) v West Ham Utd (20)
Rovers' David Dunn returns from suspension but fellow midfielder Aaron Mokoena is banned after a red card in the FA Cup win over Manchester City. Defender Ryan Nelsen is a doubt with hamstring trouble.
West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker returns from suspension but centre back Matthew Upson is injured. Fellow defender James Collins is fit after a groin problem.
Last season: Blackburn 3 West Ham 2; West Ham 3 Blackburn 1. Last five league matches: Blackburn LWLWW; West Ham LLLLL. Top scorers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 18; Kepa Blanco (West Ham) 8. Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2. Referee: H Webb.
Chelsea (2) v Sheffield United (16)
Chelsea's Michael Essien hurt a knee in the FA Cup quarter-final draw with Tottenham and manager Jose Mourinho may rest him. Midfielder Joe Cole (foot) remains a long-term absentee while Mikel Jon Obi is suspended.
Charlton defender Chris Lucketti (foot) and midfielder Mikele Leigertwood (ankle) have not recovered from injury but Michael Tonge and Nick Montgomery return after bans.
Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Chelsea WWWWW; Sheff Utd WLWLD. Top scorers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 29; Rob Hulse & Luton Shelton (Sheff Utd) 8. Match odds: H 1-7 A 14-1 D 9-2. Referee: C Foy.
Manchester United (1) v Bolton (5)
Rio Ferdinand will play, after United manager Alex Ferguson rejected reports the defender is suffering from a cracked rib. However, Louis Saha (ankle), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (knee) Darren Fletcher (ankle), Mikael Silvestre (shoulder) and Edwin van der Sar (calf) are all out and, with Henrik Larsson now back in Sweden after his short-term loan spell at Old Trafford, Ryan Giggs is likely to play up front alongside Wayne Rooney. Paul Scholes is suspended.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce will make a late decision on striker Kevin Davies, who has returned to following a six-match absence with an ankle injury. Abdoulaye Meite is expected to return to the defence after a ban.
Last season: Bolton 1 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 4 Bolton 1. Last five league matches: Man Utd WWWWW; Bolton DWWLL. Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 17; Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 10. Match odds: H 3-10 A 15-2 D 16-5. Referee: A Wiley.
Middlesbrough (12) v Manchester City (17)
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate gives morning fitness tests to George Boateng, Julio Arca and Ayegbeni Yakubu. Boateng has been unwell, Arca is struggling with a groin strain and striker Yakubu has a tight hamstring.
City manager Stuart Pearce could be tempted to field an unchanged side as he looks to avoid a sixth straight league defeat.
Last season: Man City 0 Middlesbrough 1; Middlesbrough 0 Man City 0. Last five league matches: Middlesbrough DDLWD; Man City LLLLL. Top scorers: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 16; Joey Barton & Georgios Samaras (Man City) 6. M atch odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5. Referee: K Stroud.
Reading (7) v Portsmouth (9)
Reading defender Graeme Murty (toe) is a doubt - Greg Halford stands by for a debut, although Ulises de la Cruz and Brynjar Gunnarsson are in contention. Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle is back to full fitness after hamstring trouble but Ibrahima Sonko and Bobby Convey are out for the season following knee operations.
Portsmouth are without Lauren (thigh), Pedro Mendes (ankle) and Sean Davis (suspension). Noe Pamarot (back) is another doubt but captain Dejan Stefanovic is back in the squad and Glen Johnson returns at right back having missed out against Chelsea. Croatian Niko Kranjcar stands by for a rare start in midfield.
Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Reading WWWLL; Portsmouth DLWLL. Top scorers: Leroy Lita (Reading) 14; Kanu (Portsmouth) 12. Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5 Referee: S Bennett.
Tottenham (8) v Watford (19)
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson (thigh) and midfielder Jermaine Jenas (groin) could be considered after missing the midweek Uefa Cup win over Braga. Didier Zokora (toe) is a concern, Anthony Gardner (fractured fibula), Ledley King (knee) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) are out, but Teemu Tainio (calf) could return.
Watford midfielders Lee Williamson and Gareth Williams and forward Will Hoskins are available again after missing last week's FA Cup quarter-final win at Plymouth because they were cup-tied. Defender Jordan Stewart (calf) and forward Marlon King (knee) remain out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Tottenham LLWWW; Watford LWDLD. Top scorers: Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 19; Will Hoskins (Watford) 16. Match odds: H 4-9 A 11-2 D 13-5. Referee: L Mason.
Wigan Athletic (15) v Fulham (14)
Wigan striker Henri Camara could come into contention after returning to training following a reaction to a knee problem two weeks ago. Paul Scharner (knee) and Arjan De Zeeuw (toe) might also be available after injury. However, Leighton Baines, Lee McCulloch and Fitz Hall are suspended.
Central defender Philippe Christanval is back in the Fulham squad after hamstring trouble - but on-loan Italian striker Vincenzo Montella is suspended.
Last season: Fulham 1 Wigan 0; Wigan 1 Fulham 0. Last five league matches: Wigan WLDWW; Fulham LWLLD. Top scorers: Caleb Folan (Wigan) 14; Brian McBride (Fulham) 12. Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5. Referee: S Tanner.
Sunday
Aston Villa (13) v Liverpool (4)
Aston Villa will check on the fitness of Shaun Maloney. Central defender Martin Laursen is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Robbie Fowler is in the Liverpool squad as Peter Crouch is out until next month after an operation on his his broken nose.
Last season: Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 1; Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 2. Last five league matches: Aston Villa LWLDL; Liverpool WDLWL. Top scorers: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) 9; Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 13. Match odds: H 11-4 A 5-6 D 11-5. Referee: M Halsey.
Charlton Athletic (18) v Newcastle Utd (11)
Hamstring injuries rule out Charlton midfielder Andy Reid and defender Ben Thatcher. Darren Bent requires a check on a knee problem.
Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt is suspended, while full back Stephen Carr is likely to miss out again with a thigh problem. Craig Moore is in contention for the first time since a hamstring injury in November.
Last season: Charlton 3 Newcastle 1; Newcastle 0 Charlton 0. Last five league matches: Charlton DLLWD; Newcastle WLWLD. Top scorers: Darren Bent (Charlton) 11; Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 16. Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5 Referee: G Poll.
Everton (6) v Arsenal (3)
Everton hope to have full back Tony Hibbert (groin) back, but full back Nuno Valente (calf) is doubtful. Everton are without James McFadden, Tim Cahill and Andy van der Meyde, and manager David Moyes must decide whether to play with just one striker - Andrew Johnson - up front and pack his midfield, or continue with either James Beattie or James Vaughan in attack.
Arsenal's Kolo Toure returns from a ban but Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) and Gael Clichy (hamstring) are struggling. Alexander Hleb (knee) may feature and fit-again midfielder Tomas Rosicky should start. Theo Walcott needs surgery on his shoulder, but could be in the squad, Emmanuel Adebayor is banned and Thierry Henry (groin and stomach) and Robin van Persie (foot) are also out.
Last season: Everton 1 Arsenal 0; Arsenal 2 Everton 0. Last five league matches: Everton DWLWD; Arsenal WDWWW. Top scorers: Andrew Johnson (Everton) 11; Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 13. Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5. Referee: M Clattenburg.
Live on TV
Saturday:
Manchester Utd v Bolton (Prem Plus, kick-off 12.45)
Chelsea v Sheffield United (Setanta Ireland, kick-off 3.0)
Blackburn v West Ham Utd (Prem Plus, Kick-off 5.15)
Sunday
Aston Villa v Liverpool (Sky Sports 1, kick-off 1.35)
Everton v Arsenal (Sky Sports 1, kick-off 4.0)
