Saturday, December 28th
Villa manager Graham Taylor has major selection problems for tomorrow's Villa Park clash. Steve Staunton, Lee Hendrie (both suspended) and Oyvind Leonhardsen (hamstring) are missing while Ian Taylor (thigh) and Ronny Johnson (hamstring) face fitness tests. Mark Delaney, Stefan Moore and Peter Crouch remain long term casualties.
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren has no fresh injuries from the 3-1 win over Manchester United. Noel Whelan could return from a groin strain, while Robbie Stockdale is back in training after a heel problem, but midfielder George Boateng is out for several weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a knee cartilage.
Last season: Middlesbrough 2 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 0 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L L W L L; Middlesbrough L D D L W
Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 7; Szilard Nemeth (Middlesbrough) 5
Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 21-10
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire)
Lucas Neill is suspended for Blackburn and is likely to be replaced by John Curtis. David Dunn is back in the squad after missing the 1-1 draw at Liverpool with a calf problem but may have to settle for a place on the bench.
West Ham boss Glenn Roeder expects Steve Lomas to recover from an ankle injury. Freddie Kanoute, who played 67 minutes on his comeback against Fulham after three months out with a groin injury, has also been passed fit again. Edouard Cisse is not likely to feature after his bout of chicken pox.
Last season: West Ham 2 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 7 West Ham 1
Last five league matches: Blackburn W D L W D; West Ham L D L D D
Top scorers: Andy Cole (Blackburn) 7; Paolo di Canio (West Ham) 6
Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 23-10
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)
Charlton are likely to be unchanged. Manager Alan Curbishley has the shortest injury list of the season with just captain Graham Stuart (knee) ruled out in the long term.
West Brom will be without skipper Derek McInnes, who has a dislocated shoulder, so midfielder Ronnie Wallwork will continue to deputise. Central defender Phil Gilchrist could make a surprise return after six matches out with an ankle problem after travelling with the squad to London.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Charlton W W D D D; West Brom W L L D L
Top scorers: Jason Euell (Charlton) 7; Daniele Dichio, Scott Dobie, Jason Roberts (West Brom) 3
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: S Dunn (Avon)
Joseph Yobo is expected to keep his place in Everton's side after returning for the Boxing Day clash with Birmingham following suspension. Tony Hibbert is a doubtful starter because of a thigh injury and David Unsworth is suspended.
Bolton striker Michael Ricketts is set to keep his place after a return to form in the last two games scoring three goals while the club have picked up four points. Defender Bruno N'Gotty remains doubtful with a calf injury that forced him to sit out the 4-3 victory against Newcastle.
Last season: Everton 3 Bolton 1, Bolton 2 Everton 2
Last five league matches: Everton L L W D D; Bolton L D L D W
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 9; Michael Ricketts (Bolton) 6
Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 23-10
Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire)
Facundo Sava has been given the all-clear to lead the Fulham frontline after a calf problem. However, Louis Saha (hamstring), Barry Hayles (neck), Luis Boa Morte (thigh) and Andrejs Stolcers (leg) are all out until the New Year or beyond.
City boss Kevin Keegan fears Danny Tiatto, injured against Aston Villa, has suffered a hernia problem which will require an operation. It means City are likely to show two changes with Niclas Jensen the obvious replacement for Tiatto and Ali Benarbia, who scored one goal and created another in City's Boxing Day win, likely to start in place of Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Fulham L W L L D; Man City W W D L W
Top scorers: Steve Marlet (Fulham) 7; Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 8
Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)
Alan Smith is expected to be fit for Leeds despite sustaining an eye injury during yesterday's 2-1 win at Sunderland. Should Smith play, it is unlikely record-breaking James Milner will start after becoming the youngest Premiership goalscorer at the Stadium of Light. Jonathan Woodgate, who missed the game against the Black Cats with an ankle injury, will undergo a late fitness test.
Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri could make several changes to his side. Frank Lampard, William Gallas and Eidur Gudjohnsen all went on as substitutes in yesterday's 0-0 draw against Southampton at Stamford Bridge and could start. Ed de Goey is set to continue in goal as Carlo Cudicini has been struggling with a calf strain.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Leeds 0, Leeds 0 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches: Leeds L L W D W; Chelsea W W D W D
Top scorers: Harry Kewell (Leeds) 9; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea) 9
Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5
Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire)
United will give a late fitness test to Mikael Silvestre who has a neck injury. Rio Ferdinand could step in. David Beckham is primed for a recall after a frustrating stint on the bench.
Birmingham are without central defenders Steve Vickers and Darren Purse because of ankle problems while Olivier Tebily faces up to four months out of action with a cruciate knee ligament injury. In midfield, Damien Johnson and Jovan Kirovski are bidding to shake off back and hamstring problems respectively while striker Geoff Horsfield has a groin strain.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W L L; Birmingham D L W D D
Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 18; Stern John (Birmingham) 6
Match odds: H 1-4 A 7-1 D 4-1
Referee: M Dean (Wirral)
Southampton striker Brett Ormerod is set to return to the starting line-up. Ormerod was dropped to the bench for yesterday's 0-0 draw at Chelsea but is expected to replace Jo Tessem. Defender Jason Dodd is still out with a calf injury, Agustin Delgado has a back injury while striker Marian Pahars (ankle) and midfielder Mark Draper (knee) are also out. Anders Svensson will undergo a late fitness test on a bruised foot.
Michael Proctor is likely to retain his place in Sunderland`s starting line-up after manager Howard Wilkinson revealed David Bellion has ankle and heel injuries. Michael Ingham will continue as back-up goalkeeper for Jurgen Macho as Mart Poom, on loan from Derby as cover for the injured Thomas Sorensen and Thomas Myhre, continues to struggle with a back problem.
Last season: Sunderland 1 Southampton 1, Southampton 2 Sunderland 0
Last five league matches: Southampton W W D D D; Sunderland L L W D L
Top scorers: James Beattie (Southampton) 11; Tore Andre Flo (Sunderland) 5
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)
Sunday
Freddie Ljungberg is a doubt for after missing the win at West Brom with a heavy cold. Francis Jeffers is likely to continue up front after he scored as the Gunners battled back from a goal down to win 2-1 at The Hawthorns. Dennis Bergkamp remains a doubt as he struggles to shake off a knee problem, but Patrick Vieira showed no ill effects from his recent groin injury and should continue in midfield.
Emile Heskey is ruled out for Liverpool after suffering a recurrence of an ankle injury against Blackburn. Vladimir Smicer is a doubtful starter because of flu and keeper Jerzy Dudek is sidelined by a back problem. Dietmar Hamann has not yet recovered from a shin injury.
Last season: Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 Arsenal 2
Last five league matches: Arsenal W L D W W; Liverpool L L L D D
Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 16; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 14
Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland)
Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy is back in contention after he requested that he was left out at Bolton to protect his recovering knee. Olivier Bernard could return after shaking off a knee injury, but Titus Bramble is out with a hamstring problem and Hugo Viana is continuing his rehabilitation from surgery to pin his dislocated shoulder.
Dean Richards is rated as 50-50 by Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle. Centre-back Richards missed the draw with Charlton due to an Achilles problem. Christian Ziege should recover from a dead leg.
Last season: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 3, Newcastle 0 Tottenham 2
Last five league matches: Newcastle W W D W L; Tottenham D W D W D
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 14; Robbie Keane, Teddy Sheringham (Tottenham) 6
Match odds: H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4
Referee: S Bennett (Kent)