English FA Premiership Previews

Saturday

Blackburn (16) v Tottenham (12)

Blackburn have Tim Sherwood suspended and Brian Kidd could give debuts to two of his new recruits, Matt Jansen and Jason McAteer. Kidd must also decide who plays in goal because John Filan, who injured his neck in the FA Cup tie with Sunderland last week, is fit. Tim Flowers is also ready for action.

Andy Sinton looks the most likely Tottenham stand-in for the suspended David Ginola, who would have missed the game anyway after suffering a hamstring injury in midweek. Luke Young is back in the squad after illness, but Ramon Vega is expected to keep his place.

Last season: Blackburn 0 Tottenham 3, Tottenham 0 Blackburn 0.

Last five league matches: Blackburn: D W D W L, Tottenham L D W D D.

Top scorers: Ashley Ward (Blackburn) 15; Chris Armstrong (Tottenham) 11

Match odds: H 6-5 A 11-5 D 15-8

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)

Coventry (17) v Liverpool (6)

Roland Nilsson is restored to Coventry's defence after missing last weekend's FA Cup win at Leicester with 'flu. Scottish midfielder Paul Telfer is suspended.

Liverpool expect to have Steve Staunton back from a groin injury and Phil Babb and Karlheinz Riedle are available after completing suspensions. Jamie Carragher serves a one-match ban. Steve McManaman is still out.

Last season: Coventry 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 Coventry 0.

Last five league matches: Coventry D D L W L, Liverpool W W W D W.

Top scorers: John Aloisi (Coventry) 18; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 18.

Match odds: H 15-8 A 6-5 D 11-5.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Everton (15) v Nottm Forest (20)

Everton have Ibrahima Bakayoko, Olivier Dacourt, Richard Dunne and Dave Watson back in contention, but will be without John Collins, Alex Cleland, Craig Short and Slaven Bilic.

Ron Atkinson is ready to hand Forest debuts to Carlton Palmer, Hugo Porfirio and John Harkes.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Everton L D L D L; Nottm Forest D L D L L.

Top scorers: Ibrahima Bakayoko (Everton) 5; Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 7.

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4.

Referee: G Barber (Pyrford).

Middlesbro' (9) v Leicester (11)

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has recovered from a virus and will play, while central defender Colin Cooper could return.

Leicester will be without influential midfield pair Muzzy Izzet and Neil Lennon. Izzet has a groin strain and Lennon is serving a one-match suspension. Garry Parker is expected to replace Lennon in midfield, while Theo Zagorakis and Stuart Campbell are vying to take over from Izzet.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W L L D L, Leicester L W D D L.

Top scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 13; Tony Cottee (Leicester) 11.

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon).

Newcastle (14) v Aston Villa (2)

NewcastlE defenders Laurent Charvet and Andy Griffin face late fitness tests after picking up knocks during the FA Cup win over Bradford. Steve Howey is still battling against the 'flu virus and Rob Lee will miss out again with a troublesome Achilles injury.

Dion Dublin is still sidelined by a groin strain, and with Stan Collymore absent for stress counselling, Villa manager John Gregory will once again turn to Paul Merson and Julian Joachim to lead the attack.

Last season: Newcastle 1 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 0 Newcastle 1.

Last five league matches: Newcastle W L L L D, Aston Villa W L W D W.

Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 10; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 13.

Match odds: H 13-8 A 6-4 D 2-1.

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).

Sheff Wed (13) v Derby (10)

Midfielder Danny Sonner (suspended) is Wednesday manager Danny Wilson's only absentee. Dejan Stefanovic is likely to be recalled.

Igor Stimac could make his Derby comeback after three months out with an ankle injury. Russell Hoult is set to make his first start since mid-November after Mart Poom cracked a bone in his finger at Swansea last Saturday. Paulo Wanchope is suspended and Deon Burton faces a fitness test on an ankle injury. Kevin Harper stands by to partner Dean Sturridge.

Last season: Sheff Wed 2 Derby 5, Derby 3 Sheff Wed 0.

Last five league matches: Sheff Wed L L L D W, Derby D D W L W.

Top scorers: Benito Carbone (Sheff Wed) 6; Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 6.

Match odds: H 6-5 A 15-8 D 11-5.

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).

Southampton (19) v Leeds (5)

Matt Le Tissier could return for Southampton after missing five matches with a calf strain. Jason Dodd could also be back following an ankle injury, but young defender Gary Monk continues in defence with Ken Monkou still banned. Leeds welcome back Lucas Radebe, who was on international duty with South Africa last week, while Alan Smith, Lee Bowyer and Alfie Haaland are all free from suspension. Leftback Danny Granville is out with a hamstring strain, while Stephen McPhail is also sidelined with a knee injury.

Last season: Southampton 0 Leeds 2, Leeds 0 Southampton 1.

Last five league matches: Southampton W L D W L Leeds L W D L W.

Top scorers: Egil Ostenstad (Southampton) 7; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 12.

Match odds: H 13-5 A Evs D 2-1.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Wimbledon (7) v West Ham (8)

John Hartson is set to face his former club, but Marcus Gayle is losing his fitness battle. Robbie Earle is also doubtful with a bad back, Jason Euell is struggling with an ankle injury and Andy Roberts is suspended. Mark Kennedy and Ceri Hughes are tipped to return.

West Ham manager Harry Redknapp has injury, illness and suspension problems. Ian Pearce and Trevor Sinclair are suspended, Ian Wright (knee) and Marc Keller (hamstring) are injured, and Samassi Abou, Eyal Berkovic and Richard Hall are ill.

Last season: Wimbledon 1 West Ham 2, West Ham 3 Wimbledon 1.

Last five league matches: Wimbledon L W D W D, West Ham W L W L L.

Top scorers: Marcus Gayle, Jason Euell (Wimbledon) 8; Ian Wright (West 7.

Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 9-4

Referee: P Durkin (Portland).

Sunday

Arsenal (4) v Chelsea (1)

Arsenal's new £2.5 million French striker Kaba Diawara is on stand-by for a debut if Dennis Bergkamp's groin injury rules him out. Martin Keown is back after a one-match ban. Patrick Vieira completes his three-match suspension. Emmanuel Petit plays despite an ankle injury and David Seaman is available after missing seven matches with a shoulder injury.

Chelsea hope Albert Ferrer will overcome a a slight calf problem. Defender Bernard Lambourde also has a groin problem, but should recover in time, leaving long-term injury victims Tore Andre Flo, Pierluigi Casiraghi and Gustavo Poyet as the only likely absentees at Highbury.

Last season: Arsenal 2 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 2 Arsenal 3.

Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W D W, Chelsea W W D W W.

Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 7; Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 11.

Match odds: H 11-8 A 7-4 D 2-1.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Charlton (18) v Man Utd (3)

Charlton have Danny Mills suspended, but Neil Redfearn is available again after serving a onematch ban. Paul Mortimer is still ruled out with an ankle injury.

United manager Alex Ferguson is considering playing with three strikers. He could add Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole partnership. Jesper Blomqvist is back in the squad after being ruled out last weekend when he picked up an injury in training.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Charlton L L L L D, Man Utd L W D W W.

Top scorers: Clive Mendonca (Charlton) 6; Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 17.

Match odds: H 9-2 A 4-7 D 12-5.

Referee: G Willard (Worthing).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hills.