Premiership previews

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Aston Villa (2) v Middlesbrough (5)

Paul Merson is expected to retain a place in midfield after making his first start of the season in Tuesday's 1-0 win at Watford. Boss John Gregory could name an unchanged team, with Steve Stone set for a place on the bench. Middlesbrough are facing a deepening injury crisis with wing-back Christian Ziege and midfielder Keith O'Neill joining the casualty list. Paul Gascoigne and Colin Cooper are still unfit.

Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 3 Middlesbrough 1

Last five league matches: Aston Villa WWDLW, Middlesbrough LWWWL

Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 3; Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 3

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

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City)

Bradford (17) v West Ham (9)

Bradford will give late fitness tests to defenders Andrew O'Brien and David Wetherall, who picked up ankle injuries in the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal midweek. Neil Redfearn is also battling to be fit, but Bradford will again be without injured defender Ashley Westwood.

Marc-Vivien Foe is out of the game with a dead leg. Steve Lomas will move from the back three to his more customary midfield role to replace him while Stuart Pearce comes into the back three. Left-back Scott Minto is still out, as are centre-backs Neil Ruddock, Chris Coyne, and long-term victim Ian Pearce.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Bradford WWDLL, West Ham LWWDW

Top scorers: Gunnar Halle 2; Paulo Wanchope 3

Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 9-4

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)

Derby (18) v Everton (7)

Deon Burton (hamstring) and Tony Dorigo (calf) hope to be fit in time to come into the reckoning for Derby. Francesco Baiano is added to the 16 on duty at Hillsborough.

Everton have John Collins available again after suspension and he is likely to return with Mitch Ward dropping down to the subs' bench in the only change from the midweek win over Wimbledon.

Last season: Derby 2 Everton 1, Everton 0 Derby 0

Last five league matches: Derby DLLLW, Everton DLLWW

Top scorers: Rory Delap (Derby) 2; David Unsworth (Everton) 3

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

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay, Essex)

Liverpool (12) v Arsenal (3)

Fit-Again Michael Owen is likely to be on the bench with Gerard Houllier sticking with the side that beat Leeds on Monday. Vegard Heggem is also fit but Rigobert Song will hold his right back slot.

Tony Adams is set to lead Arsenal's old guard back into action. Nigerian star Kanu and Emmanuel Petit are still injured. Arsene Wenger must to decide whether to switch £10 million buy Thierry Henry from the flank and give winger Marc Overmars his first start of the campaign - or hand a full debut to £3.5 million Croat striker Davor Suker.

Last season: Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

Last five league matches: Liverpool WWLLW, Arsenal WWDLW

Top scorers: Titi Camara (Liverpool) 2; Dennis Bergkamp, Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal) 2

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

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon)

Southampton (14) v Sheff Wed (20)

Luis Boa Morte is in contention to make his Southampton debut after completing his £2 million move from Arsenal this week. Jason Dodd hopes for a recall while Kevin Davies makes his home debut. Francis Benali is battling to recover from a hamstring strain but Matt Le Tissier and Chris Marsden are definitely out. Sheffield Wednesday have doubts over Gilles de Bilde, who suffered a head injury in the 2-0 midweek defeat by Derby, Des Walker (hamstring) and Wim Jonk (ankle). Danny Wilson intends leaving his team selection as late a possible.

Last season: Southampton 1 Sheff Wed 0, Sheff Wed 0 Southampton 0

Last five league matches: Southampton WWLWL, Sheff Wed LLDLL

Top scorers: Hassan Kachloul, Marians Pahars (Southampton) 2; Benito Carbone (Sheff Wed) 2

Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 9-4

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent)

Tottenham (4) v Leeds (10)

Willem Korsten is still out for Spurs, while Sol Campbell's calf injury keeps him out. John Scales, who has been deputising for Campbell, is also a big doubt. Defender Justin Edinburgh (hamstring) and striker Chris Armstrong (groin) are also still unavailable.

Leeds boss David O'Leary may be tempted to bring Michael Duberry in to make a back five, leaving Michael Bridges alone up front. Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith have ankle injuries and face late fitness tests.

Last season: Leeds 2 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 3 Leeds 3

Last five league matches: Tottenham LLWWW, Leeds DWLWL

Top scorers: Les Ferdinand, Steffen Iversen, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Tim Sherwood (Tottenham) 2; Michael Bridges (Leeds) 3

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

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)

Wimbledon (15) v Chelsea (6)

Egil Olsen is waiting on the fitness of Tore Pedersen and John Hartson before naming his Wimbledon team. Hartson has been ruled out of the last two games with an ankle injury and Pedersen had a stomach upset. Olsen expects Ben Thatcher back. Didier Deschamps returns to the Chelsea squad after recovering from a calf injury. Albert Ferrer is also fit, but Graeme Le Saux is out with a calf problem and Roberto Di Matteo is still sidelined. Frank Leboeuf, Chris Sutton and Gianfranco Zola should return after being rested, while Gabriele Ambrosetti could also feature.

Last season: Wimbledon 1 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 3 Wimbledon 0

Last five league matches: Wimbledon WLDDL, Chelsea DWWDW

Top scorers: Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 3; Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 3

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

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)

Tomorrow

Sunderland (11) v Coventry (16)

Sunderland have no injury problems, but manager Peter Reid has still to confirm a first unchanged team of the season. Skipper Kevin Ball and German international Thomas Helmer will probably be on the bench again.

Coventry striker Noel Whelan faces a late fitness test with John Aloisi on standby to start alongside Robbie Keane. Boss Gordon Strachan also has to decide whether to play Gary Breen or Bosnian international centreback Mo Konjic.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Sunderland LWDLW, Coventry LLDWL

Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 4; Robbie Keane (Coventry) 4

Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 9-4

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley) Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill