English FA Premiership Team News

(League positions in brackets)

Arsenal (2) v Tottenham (14)

Tony Adams is back to lead Arsenal but Dennis Bergkamp faces a late fitness test. Adams returns after missing five games with back trouble but Bergkamp's chances of recovering from an ankle injury are slim. Ray Parlour will get the nod over Swede Frederik Ljungberg for a place on the right side of midfield. Gilles Grimandi steps down to accommodate Adams' return.

Spurs boss George Graham may take a gamble on French star David Ginola's fitness. The French winger suffered a calf muscle injury during the League Cup win at Liverpool. Chris Armstrong is also included although Graham admits he remains doubtful with the damaged ankle that kept him out of the last two matches. Les Ferdinand is still out with a foot injury and Steffen Iversen keeps his place up front. Full back Justin Edinburgh has recovered from a groin injury.

Last season: Arsenal 0 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 1 Arsenal 1.

Last five League matches: Arsenal WDWWW, Tottenham WLWDL.

Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 6, Chris Armstrong, Sol Campbell, Steffen Iversen, Allan Nielsen (Tottenham) 4.

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

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)

Charlton (12) v Middlesbrough (4)

Charlton are without Shaun Newton (knee ligaments) and Paul Mortimer (back) while Keith Jones faces a late test on knee and back injuries.

Middlesbrough have keeper Mark Schwarzer in line for a comeback after missing five league and cup games with an ankle injury. Central defender Gary Pallister is ruled out with a knee injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five League matches: Charlton WLWDD Middlesbrough WWDDD.

Top scorers: Clive Mendonca (Charlton) 5, Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 11.

Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 11-5.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Chelsea (5) v Wimbledon (10)

Danish midfielder Bjarne Goldbaek is set to make his Premiership debut after impressing in the 5-0 midweek League Cup defeat of Arsenal. Dennis Wise misses out against his old club as he starts a four-match suspension. In the absence of injured Pierluigi Casiraghi, Chelsea player-manager Gianluca Vialli will compete for a place up front against Gianfranco Zola and Tore Andre Flo.

Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear has plenty of options up front. Mark Kennedy, Michael Hughes and new signing Gareth Ainsworth are all battling for a place and Efan Ekoku, who has been sidelined by injury for six weeks, is also back in contention.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Wimbledon 1, Wimbledon 0 Chelsea 2.

Last five League matches: Chelsea WDWDD, Wimbledon LLDDW.

Top scorers: Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 6, Marcus Gayle, Gareth Ainsworth, Efan Ekoku (Wimbledon) 6.

Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 12-5

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).

Liverpool (11) v Leeds (6)

New Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier will be without injured England pair Steve McManaman and Michael Owen. Phil Babb is still sidelined by an injury to the base of his spine but Houllier is hoping Jamie Redknapp and Patrik Berger will be fit to return.

Leeds have Jonathon Woodgate and Ian Harte available. Woodgate was due to play for England's Under 18s in an Israel tournament but UEFA have cancelled it. Harte can play because of the confusion over the five-day ruling for the Republic of Ireland's rearranged Euro 2000 qualifier against Yugoslavia on Wednesday. Midfielder Stephen McPhail is likely to be ruled out by a calf strain.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Leeds 1, Leeds 0 Liverpool 2.

Last five League matches: Liverpool DDWLL Leeds LDDDW.

Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 10, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 4.

Match odds: H 0-11 A 13-5 D 11-5.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon).

Man Utd (3) v Blackburn (18)

Andy Cole and Jesper Blomqvist have been passed fit for United. Cole has recovered from a slight hamstring strain and Blomqvist has recovered from a recurrence of a foot injury. Denis Irwin and Roy Keane are on Republic of Ireland duty. Nicky Butt looks certain to replace Keane with Phil Neville taking over from Irwin at left full-back.

Kevin Gallacher could return for Blackburn providing he gets the referee's permission to play with strapping on his broken arm. Nathan Blake, cup tied in midweek, is available again and Republic of Ireland duo Jeff Kenna and Damien Duff have been freed to play but England keeper Tim Flowers could be out until Christmas.

Last season: Man Utd 4 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 1 Man Utd 3.

Last five League matches: Man Utd WWDWD, Blackburn WLLDL.

Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 9, Nathan Blake (Blackburn) 9.

Match odds: H 4-9 A 13-2 D 5-2.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

Newcastle (13) v Sheff Wed (16)

Newcastle will be without Nikos Dabizas, who is on international duty with Greece, but Republic of Ireland keeper Shay Given is free to play against Wednesday.

Pavel Srnicek will make his debut for Wednesday following an thigh injury to regular number one Kevin Pressman. Benito Carbone is still sidelined by a persistent ankle problem, while central defender Des Walker should be fit despite a leg injury.

Last season: Newcastle 2 Sheff Wed 1, Sheff Wed 2 Newcastle 1.

Last five League matches: Newcastle LWLLD, Sheff Wed LLDDL.

Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 8, Paolo Di Canio (Sheff Wed) 3.

Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 12-5.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Southampton (20) v Aston Villa (1)

Mark Hughes will serve his second one-match ban of the season and England Under-21 star Matthew Oakley is likely to replace him after recovering from a virus. Jason Dodd is also poised to return at right back after five weeks out with ankle trouble. Winger Stuart Ripley is battling to recover from a dead leg while Wayne Bridge has a hamstring problem and midfielder David Howells is struggling with a knee injury. All three will undergo late fitness tests.

Villa will make a check on the fitness of goalkeeper Mark Bosnich before naming their side. The Australian international has missed the last six games with a shoulder injury.

Last season: Southampton 1 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 1 Southampton 1.

Last five League matches: Southampton LLDWD Aston Villa WWDDW.

Top scorers: Matt Le Tissier, Egil Ostenstad (Southampton) 3, Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 6.

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

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).

West Ham (9) v Leicester (8)

West Ham are without defender Neil Ruddock (suspended), Craig Forrest (elbow), Andy Impey (hip) and Stan Lazaridis (groin). Julian Dicks and Javier Margas could come into consideration. John Moncur, ruled out last week with an ankle problem, and John Hartson, who had a dead leg, are both available.

Leicester boss Martin O'Neill will be without England Under-21 striker Emile Heskey, who is ruled out with ankle trouble, while Tony Cottee (thigh) and Ian Marshall (hamstring) are doubtful. Stuart Wilson may play up front with Steve Walsh moving forward from his usual central defender role. Theo Zagorakis is away on international duty with Greece but Northern Ireland star Neil Lennon has been given leave to play by Lawrie McMenemy.

Last season: West Ham 4 Leicester 3, Leicester 2 West Ham 1.

Last five League matches: West Ham LDLWD, Leicester WWDWD.

Top scorers: Ian Wright (West Ham) 6, Tony Cottee (Leicester) 7.

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

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).