Premiership Team News

Saturday

Aston Villa (9) v Coventry (14)

Villa captain Benito Carbone and midfielder George Boateng return after completing one-match suspensions. Carbone will re-join Julian Joachim in attack but Boateng may miss out.

Coventry welcome back Mustapha Hadji from suspension and Robbie Keane from a knee injury. Tomas Gustafsson is also due to return after a calf injury.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 Coventry 4, Coventry 1 Aston Villa 2

Last five league matches: Aston Villa D W W D D, Coventry L W L L L

Top scorers: Dublin (Aston Villa) 12; Keane (Coventry) 17

Match odds: H 8-13 A 7-2 D 5-2

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)

Chelsea (3) v Everton (7)

Striker George Weah is still out with a hamstring injury but midfielder Dan Petrescu has recovered from a foot problem. Emerson Thome may replace either Marcel Desailly or Frank Leboeuf in defence. Chris Sutton will also be looking for a recall if either Tore Andre Flo or Gianfranco Zola are rested, and Jon Harley will contest the left-back spot with Celestine Babayaro, while recent Georgian signing Rati Aleksidze makes his first squad appearance.

Everton have been hit by a 'flu bug so Michael Ball, Scot Gemmill and David Unsworth face late fitness tests. Danny Cadamarteri and Phil Jevons could link-up with Joe Max Moore in attack.

Last season: Chelsea 3 Everton 1, Everton 0 Chelsea 0

Last five league matches: Chelsea D W W W W, Everton L W W W D

Top scorers: Flo (Chelsea) 14; Campbell (Everton) 12

Match odds: H 8-15 A 4-1 D 13-5

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

Liverpool (5) v Sunderland (8)

New signing Emile Heskey is expected to start up front alongside Titi Camara with Erik Meijer joining Jamie Redknapp and Michael Owen on the bench. Vladimir Smicer has an ankle injury and Vegard Heggem has a hamstring problem leaving Gerard Houllier with the option of either recalling Steven Gerrard or handing Danny Murphy a starting role. Defender Sami Hyypia faces a late fitness test with Steve Staunton on stand-by. Sunderland manager Peter Reid has decided not to risk captain Steve Bould (hamstring) and German international Thomas Helmer (Achilles). Michael Gray (calf) and John Oster (groin) are also ruled out but Paul Thirlwell is available again.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Liverpool W D W W D, Sunderland L D L D L

Top scorers: Owen (Liverpool) 9; Phillips (Sunderland) 24

Match odds: H 4-9 A 5-1 D 11-4

Referee: G Poll (Tring)

Manchester United (1) v Derby (17)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be the first name on Alex Ferguson's team-sheet following his match-winning heroics against Bordeaux in midweek. Paul Scholes remains doubtful because of his persistent hip problem, while Ferguson must decide whether to keep faith with Raimond Van der Gouw in goal following his midweek clanger. Derby boss Jim Smith is expected to start with Georgi Kinkladze after his recovery from a knock sustained against Wimbledon last weekend.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Derby 0, Derby 1 Man Utd 1

Last five league matches: Man Utd W L W D D, Derby D D L D W

Top scorers: Cole (Man Utd) 19; Strupar (Derby) 14

Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Newcastle (12) v Watford (20)

England midfielder Kieron Dyer is a doubt for Newcastle. He missed training through illness this week and will not be risked if he is not fully fit, but Kevin Gallacher has recovered from the thigh injury. Graham Taylor is likely to make changes after Watford's home defeat against West Ham. Midfielder Richard Johnson should make his first start since January.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Newcastle L D W W L, Watford L L D L L

Top scorers: Shearer (Newcastle) 28; Ngonge (Watford) 5

Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood)

Sheffield Wednesday (19) v West Ham (6)

Wednesday are hoping Dutch playmaker Wim Jonk will pass a late fitness test on his groin injury. If Jonk plays, Danny Sonner could be the player to make way. Paolo di Canio could replace Joe Cole in West Ham's starting line-up on his return to Hillsborough. Stuart Pearce suffered a broken leg against Southampton and joins Shaka Hislop, Ian Pearce and Michael Carrick on the sidelines.

Last season: West Ham 0 Sheff Wed 4, Sheff Wed 0 West Ham 1

Last five league matches: Sheff Wed L D L L D, West Ham L W L W W

Top scorers: De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 8; Di Canio (West Ham) 13

Match odds: H 7-5 A 6-4 D 9-4

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)

Tottenham (10) v Southampton (15)

Les Ferdinand has asked Spurs boss George Graham to start with him on the bench. The striker is working his way back from a six-month lay-off and regards himself as only 70 per cent fit. Still sidelined are Tim Sherwood and Ledley King. Southampton manager Glenn Hoddle hopes to have central defender Dean Richards back after recent injury problems.

Last season: Tottenham 3 Southampton 0, Southampton 1 Tottenham 1

Last five league matches: Tottenham L L L W D, Southampton W W L D L

Top scorers: Iversen (Tottenham) 14; Pahars (Southampton) 10

Match odds: H 8-13 A 7-2 D 5-2

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City)

Wimbledon (16) v Leicester (11)

Stand-in captain Kenny Cunningham is the only major injury doubt for Wimbledon. Cunningham, deputising as captain for the absent Robbie Earle, picked up a slight training ground knock earlier this week. John Hartson has not recovered from the long-term knee injury that derailed his proposed Spurs move.

Leicester boss Martin O'Neill will draft in Tony Cottee to partner Stan Collymore up front following Emile Heskey's departure to Liverpool. Stefan Oakes is still sidelined by a neck injury and Darren Eadie is also ruled out with a groin injury.

Last season: Wimbledon 0 Leicester 1, Leicester 1 Wimbledon 1

Last five league matches: Wimbledon W L L D L, Leicester D L W D W

Top scorers: Cort (Wimbledon) 16; Cottee, Izzet (Leicester) 9

Match odds: H 7-5 A 6-4 D 9-4

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead)

Sunday

Bradford (18) v Leeds United (2)

Fit again goalkeeper Matt Clarke returns to the Bradford side as Aidan Davison's loan spell is up and he has rejected a permanent move. Bradford are without striker Lee Mills after he joined Manchester City on loan.

Leeds will be without Harry Kewell through suspension. Centre back Jonathan Woodgate is still struggling with a calf injury.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Bradford W W L D D, Leeds L W L D W

Top scorers: Mills, Saunders, Windass (Bradford) 6; Bridges (Leeds) 15

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

Referee: P Durkin (Portland)

Middlesbrough (13) v Arsenal (4)

Middlesbrough captain Paul Ince has recovered from a groin injury but defenders Gary Pallister and Gianluca Festa are suspended.

Arsenal are without Martin Keown who has broken a bone in his hand but captain Tony Adams could be back. Dennis Bergkamp returns after missing the UEFA Cup trip to Deportivo La Coruna. Arsene Wenger will make a late decision on whether Marc Overmars makes his first League start since January 3rd.

Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Arsenal 6, Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1

Last five league matches: Middlesbro' L L W D D, Arsenal D L L W D

Top scorers: Ricard (Middlesbrough) 10; Henry (Arsenal) 13

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

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)