English Premiership Previews

League positions in brackets

Arsenal (6) v Leicester (8)

Ian Wright plays his last game before starting a two-match ban and Emmanuel Petit is suspended. Tony Adams is sidelined by a back injury.

Leicester boss Martin O'Neill is set to name an unchanged side. Tony Cottee could be called back from his loan spell at Birmingham.

Last season: Arsenal 2-0 Leicester, Leicester 0-2 Arsenal.

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

Top scorers: Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) 12; Ian Marshall (Leicester) 7.

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

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

Aston V (12) v Tottenham (18)

Villa are likely to stick to the team that drew 1-1 with Southampton last Saturday, although Lee Hendrie is pushing hard for a first start after recent substitute appearances.

England striker Les Ferdinand hopes to recover from a virus which forced him to miss the second-half against Barnsley last Saturday to lead the Spurs attack. Jurgen Klinsmann will not receive clearance in time to make his Spurs debut second time around.

Last season: Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham, Tottenham 10 Aston Villa.

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

Top scorers: Dwight Yorke, Ian Taylor (Aston Villa) 6; David Ginola (Tottenham) 7.

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

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).

Bolton (17) v Barnsley (20)

Mark Fish, back from South Africa duty, and Gerry Taggart, who has recovered from a groin injury on the back of a six-game ban, are in contention. Mike Whitlow is on standby to replace Jimmy Phillips, Dean Holdsworth and Alan Thompson are serving suspensions, and keeper Keith Branagan is doubtful because of a groin injury.

Barnsley will have a fully-fit squad to choose from, with the exception of long-term casualty Steve Davis, as Yugoslav midfielder Jovo Bosancic should play after being rested for the 30 defeat at Spurs as a precaution due to a knee injury.

Last season: Bolton 2-2 Barnsley, Barnsley 2-2 Bolton.

Last five league matches: Bolton W W L D L, Barnsley W L L D L.

Top scorers: Nathan Blake (Bolton) 9; Neil Redfearn (Barnsley) 8.

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

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Chelsea (3) v Wimbledon (11)

Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris is struggling with flu but is expected to be available for selection. Mark Hughes continues his three-match ban.

Wimbledon will be without suspended duo Chris Perry and Ceri Hughes. Strikers Efan Ekoku, Jason Euell and Jon Goodman and defender Brian McAllister are injured.

Last season: Chelsea 2-4 Wimbledon, Wimbledon 0-1 Chelsea.

Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W D W, Wimbledon W L L W D.

Top scorers: Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea) 11; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 6.

Match odds: H 1/2 A 11/2 D 12/5.

Referee: G Willard (Worthing).

Crystal P (13) v S'thampton (15)

Palace could welcome back England under-21 strikers Bruce Dyer and Neil Shipperley but wingback Jamie Smith and Italian stars Attilio Lombardo and Michele Padovano seem certain to miss out through injury.

Egil Ostenstad, who has not started a game for more than two months, is on standby to return in place of Kevin Davies who is doubtful because of a thigh injury. Australian midfielder Robbie Slater is available for the first time in three weeks.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Crystal Palace L L D L D, Southampton L L L W D.

Top scorers: Neil Shipperley (Crystal Palace) 5; Kevin Davies (Southampton) 10.

Match odds: H 11/10 A 2/1 D 9/4.

Referee: P Alcock (Redhill).

Derby (7) v Newcastle (9)

Derby have Jacob Laursen and Dean Sturridge under treatment. Laursen has been out for a month with a knee injury while Sturridge strained a hamstring at Newcastle last Wednesday. Defender Steve Elliott, who has a thigh strain, is another doubtful starter.

Newcastle's Belgium international defender Philippe Albert hopes to be fit despite injuring a hamstring in Sunday's match against Manchester United. Albert will have treatment over Christmas, as will club captain Rob Lee for a calf strain.

Last season: Derby 0-1 Newcastle, Newcastle 3-1 Derby.

Last five league matches: Derby L W D D D, Newcastle L L D D L.

Top scorers: Francesco Baiano (Derby) 11; John Barnes, Faustino Asprilla (Newcastle) 6.

Match odds: H 5/4 A 7/4 D 9/4.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

Liverpool (5) v Leeds (4)

Liverpool captain Paul Ince is fighting to be fit after a groin problem kept him out of the last two Premiership matches. Jamie Carragher will stand in if the England midfielder fails a fitness test.

Leeds centre back Lucas Radebe completes a two-match ban which provides another chance for Robert Molenaar. Harry Kewell will come into contention if he recovers from the knee injury.

Last season: Liverpool 4-0 Leeds, Leeds 0-2 Liverpool.

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

Top scorers: Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9; Rod Wallace (Leeds) 10.

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

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).

Manchester United (1) v Everton (19)

United will be virtually at full strength and Alex Ferguson seems certain to stick with the squad that travelled to Newcastle on Sunday for the 1-0 win at St James' Park. David May is having treatment on a knee injury.

Danny Williamson could be back in the Everton squad after an ankle problem kept him out at Leicester last Saturday. Duncan Ferguson completes his three-match ban while Slaven Bilic still has three more games to go. Dave Watson (knee) and Gary Speed (ankle) are doubtful starters.

Last season: Man Utd 2-2 Everton, Everton 0-2 Man Utd.

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

Top scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 16; Gary Speed (Everton) 6.

Match odds: H 4/11 A 13/2 D 3/1.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).

Sheff Wed (14) v Blackburn (2)

Wednesday have skipper Peter Atherton back from suspension but record signing Paolo Di Canio starts a two-match ban and fellow Italian Benito Carbone is likely to replace him.

Blackburn striker Chris Sutton is available after a one-match ban. Damien Duff is likely to keep his place in attack after filling Sutton's boots at West Ham on Saturday. That would mean winger Jason Wilcox being demoted to the substitutes' bench.

Last season: Sheff Wed 1-0 Blackburn, Blackburn 4-1 Sheff Wed.

Last five league matches: Sheff Wed W W W L L, Blackburn W L W W W.

Top scorers: Paolo Di Canio (Sheff Wed) 9; Chris Sutton (Blackburn) 12.

Match odds: H 15/8 A 6/5 D 9/4.

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

West Ham (10) v Coventry (16)

West Ham are hoping for last minute international clearance to enable Bernard Lama to play against the Sky Blues. Australian winger Stan Lazaridis is back in the squad after returning from international duty in the Confederations Cup.

Coventry have Gary Breen, Paul Williams and David Burrows suspended, Gary McAllister and John Salako are on the long-term injury list and now Roland Nilsson (ankle) and Marcus Hall (flu) are doubtful. Dion Dublin is likely to line up at centre back again.

Last season: West Ham 1-1 Coventry, Coventry 3-1 West Ham.

Last five league matches: West Ham W W L W L, Coventry L L L W L.

Top scorers: John Hartson (West Ham) 17; Dion Dublin (Coventry) 8.

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

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Odds supplied by William Hill.