Saturday, February 1st
Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp faces a fitness test after suffering a badly bruised foot at Liverpool in midweek. The Dutchman is rated as having a 50-50 chance of starting the game, with Francis Jeffers, Kanu and Sylvain Wiltord on standby to replace him alongside Thierry Henry. Freddie Ljungberg is still out of action as he continues his comeback from an Achilles injury but Martin Keown is available again after a one-match ban.
Fulham striker Louis Saha is expected to return from his three-game lay-off with a hamstring injury - while midfielder Lee Clark has had the thumbs-up to start a four-week recovery programme from his torn right calf. But goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, already out for six weeks after breaking the fourth metatarsal bone in his right foot, now faces treatment until mid-March.
Last season: Arsenal 4 Fulham 1, Fulham 1 Arsenal 3
Last five league matches: Arsenal D W W W D, Fulham D L D W L
Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 23; Steed Malbranque (Fulham) 9
Match odds: H 1-4 A 7-1 D 4-1
Referee: E Wolstenholme (Lancashire).
Bolton (17) v Birmingham (16)
Striker Salva Ballesta, signed on loan from Valencia, is standing by to make his Bolton debut. Midfielders Jay-Jay Okocha and Paul Warhurst could return after hamstring problems but defender Mike Whitlow faces a two-month absence with a knee injury.
Matthew Upson is poised to make his debut after becoming Blues' manager Steve Bruce's sixth transfer window signing in a £3million move from Arsenal.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Bolton L D D L L, Birmingham D L L L D
Top scorers: Michael Ricketts (Bolton) 7; Stern John (Birmingham) 8
Match odds: H 6-5 A 2-1 D 2-1
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
Chelsea (4) v Tottenham (8)
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is fit to return for Chelsea after recovering from an ankle injury - but defender Celestine Babayaro, who suffered a thigh strain in Tuesday's victory over Leeds, has been ruled out.
Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle will make a late decision on Robbie Keane, who suffered a swollen ankle against Newcastle on Wednesday. Steffen Iversen has recovered from a dead leg and is available.
Last season: Chelsea 4 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 2 Chelsea 3
Last five league matches: Chelsea L L W L W, Tottenham L L W W L
Top scorers: Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea) 11. Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 9
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
Everton (5) v Leeds (13)
Everton's only worry is defender Alan Stubbs, who hurt his leg in the 2-1 midweek win at Bolton but is expected to have recovered in time. Wayne Rooney serves the last match of his ban.
Leeds, following the departures of Jonathan Woodgate and Robbie Fowler, are likely to name an unchanged side following goalkeeper Paul Robinson's recovery from a hip injury sustained during Tuesday's 3-2 defeat to Chelsea.
Last season: Everton 0 Leeds 0, Leeds 3 Everton 2
Last five league matches: Everton D D L W W, Leeds W W L D L
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 9; Harry Kewell (Leeds) 11
Match odds: H Evs A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Man City (9) v West Brom (20)
Robbie Fowler will make his debut after completing his £6million move from cash-strapped Leeds. The 27-year-old is set to partner 11-goal Nicolas Anelka.
Midfielder Andy Johnson is serving a one-match suspension for his sending-off for two bookable offences in the goalless draw at Leeds a fortnight ago. Albion skipper Derek McInnes, axed for the midweek home defeat by Charlton, is the natural candidate to replace him.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man City W D W L W, West Brom L L L D L
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 11; Daniele Dichio (West Brom) 6
Match odds: H 4-9 A 11-2 D 13-5
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
Southampton (7) v Man Utd (3)
Gordon Strachan will be without Rory Delap, who limped out of Tuesday's 1-0 win at Sunderland with a calf strain. Veteran Francis Benali continues to deputise at left-back for England defender Wayne Bridge, who is sidelined for another fortnight with a torn calf muscle.
Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to make changes even though Manchester United beat West Ham 6-0 in last weekend's FA Cup clash at Old Trafford. Wes Brown is likely to be drafted in to replace John O'Shea at the heart of the defence while Mikael Silvestre could regain his place at left-back at the expense of Phil Neville.
Last season: Southampton 1 Man Utd 3, Man Utd 6 Southampton 1
Last five league matches: Southampton W W D L W, Man Utd L W W W W
Top scorers: James Beattie (Southampton) 17; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United) 24
Match odds: H 11-4 A 4-5 D 23-10
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
Sunderland (19) v Charlton (10)
Moroccan international Talal el Karkouri will make his debut for Sunderland subject to receiving international clearance. The centre-back, signed on loan from Paris St Germain until the end of the season, is set to take over from Phil Babb, who is struggling with a groin problem. Howard Wilkinson awaits fitness checks on Tore Andre Flo, Stephen Wright, Paul Thirlwell and Darren Williams before naming his side.
Charlton manager Alan Curbishley is waiting for a final decision on Luke Young's hamstring problem before finalising his side. If Young fails to make it, Curbishley expects to rely on the starting line-up which won 1-0 at West Brom with Tahar El Khalej, the defender signed from Southampton until the end of the season, likely to figure on the bench.
Last season: Charlton 2 Sunderland 2, Sunderland 2 Charlton 2
Last five league matches: Sunderland L L D L L, Charlton W L D W W
Top scorers: Tore Andre Flo (Sunderland) 6; Jason Euell (Charlton) 9
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Sunday, February 2nd
Aston Villa (12) v Blackburn (11)
Long-serving midfielder Ian Taylor is available after being suspended for the midweek 5-2 thrashing of Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium - but he may have to be content with a place on the substitutes' bench after the impressive form of debutant Joey Gudjonsson.
Slovakian defender Vratislav Gresko will make his debut for Blackburn if the club can get international clearance in time, with Lucas Neill and Andy Todd suspended. Damien Duff and David Dunn are out with hamstring problems while Craig Short misses out with a calf problem.
Last season: Blackburn 3 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 2 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W D L W, Blackburn D W D D L
Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 11; Andy Cole & Dwight Yorke (Blackburn) 11
Match odds: H 11-10 A 15-8 D 23-10
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).
West Ham (18) v Liverpool (6)
Rufus Brevett is in line to make his West Ham debut after moving from Fulham if Nigel Winterburn fails a fitness test tomorrow. Steve Lomas serves a one-match suspension against Liverpool dating from his red card at Arsenal, while boss Glenn Roeder must decide whether to keep faith with 18-year-old defender Glen Johnson or recall Sebastien Schemmel.
Dietmar Hamann could rejoin the Liverpool squad after stepping up his recovery from injury with a full 90 minutes for the reserves this week. Boss Gerard Houllier is however unlikely to rush the German straight back into central midfield, where Steven Gerrard and Danny Murphy have paired successfully for the last four games. El Hadji Diouf, who faces an upcoming suspension, will again play down the right with Houllier to choose between Bruno Cheyrou and Vladimir Smicer for the other midfield vacancy.
Last season: West Ham 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 2 West Ham 1
Last five league matches: West Ham D D L L W, Liverpool D L D W D
Top scorers: Jermain Defoe (West Ham) 9; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 16
Match odds: H 12-5 A 10-11 D 9-4
Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).