Weekend Premiership team news

Aston Villa (14) v West Ham (18)

Villa boss Martin O'Neill may decide to include Shaun Maloney in his starting
line-up, although it is six weeks since he last played for Celtic. John Carew
and Ashley Young make their home debuts and Martin Laursen is in the squad after
knee trouble but Isaiah Osbourne (chest) and Jlloyd Samuel (knee) are out.

Matthew Upson is set for his West Ham debut, bolstering a defence hit by injury
- the Hammers have Danny Gabbidon, James Collins (both groin), Anton Ferdinand
(calf) and Lucas Neill (ankle) out. Carlos Tevez (calf) is struggling, and Lee
Bowyer (shoulder) and Dean Ashton (ankle) miss out.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 West Ham 2, West Ham 4 Aston Villa 0

Last five league matches: Aston Villa L D L W L; West Ham L L D D L

Top scorers: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) 9; Kepa Blanco (West Ham) 8

Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 21-10

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).

Blackburn (12) v Sheff Utd (16)

David Dunn is set to make his second debut following his move from Birmingham, with manager Mark Hughes confirming the midfielder will play at some stage. Defender Zurab Khizanishvili is available after missing the midweek defeat at Chelsea through injury but Andy Todd (illness) and Brett Emerton (foot) are doubts.

Blades captain Chris Morgan returns from a four-match ban but defender Matt Kilgallon is carrying an ankle injury and fellow new signing Luton Shelton is short of match fitness. Midfielder Mikele Leigertwood and centre-back Claude Davis remain on the sidelines through injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Blackburn W L W L L; Sheff Utd W L D L W

Top scorers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 15; Luton Shelton (Sheff Utd) 8

Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10

Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands).

Charlton (19) v Chelsea (2)

The Addicks could be unchanged for the visit of the champions. Midfielder Alexandre Song, who joined the club on loan from Arsenal this week, is missing after contracting a bug. New defender Madjid Bougherra has  a calf injury, while Andy Reid (hamstring), Darren Bent and Luke Young (both knee) remain sidelined.

Chelsea welcome back captain John Terry, who has been out since December 13th with back and calf injuries. Fellow defender Ashley Cole has damaged knee ligaments, Wayne Bridge replaces him. Midfielder Joe Cole (foot) and defender Khalid Boulahrouz (knee) are out, while winger Arjen Robben (ankle) remains doubtful.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Charlton 1, Charlton 0 Chelsea 2

Last five league matches: Charlton W L L W D; Chelsea D D W L W

Top scorers: Darren Bent (Charlton) 10; Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 23

Match odds: H 6-1 A 4-11 D 3-1

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).

Fulham (15) v Newcastle (9)

Fulham defender Ian Pearce (leg) is sidelined but Phillippe Christanval and Carlos Bocanegra return to the squad. Christanval is likely to line up in central defence alongside Zat Knight, but there is no place in the squad for midfielder Alexei Smertin, who is still trying to gain match fitness. Forward Vincenzo Montella faces a late fitness test on an abductor injury and is expected to begin as a substitute.

Oguchi Onyewu goes straight into a Magpies squad in which suspension-free Nolberto Solano also figures. Midfielder Nicky Butt could play after making good progress following a knee injury but Celestine Babayaro is short of match fitness after a hamstring problem and Emre (calf), Shay Given (groin), Peter Ramage and Craig Moore (both hamstring), Michael Owen and Charles N'Zogbia (both knee) and Shola Ameobi are all out.

Last season: Fulham 1 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 1 Fulham 1

Last five league matches: Fulham D D D D L; Newcastle L D W D W

Top scorers: Brian McBride (Fulham) 10; Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 10

Match odds: H 5-4 A 15-8 D 2-1

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Liverpool (3) v Everton (8)

Liverpool defender Fabio Aurelio is out because of a foot injury and midfielder Mohamed Sissoko will not be risked because of a dislocated shoulder. Bolo Zenden has fully recovered from an ankle problem, while the hosts will make a late decision on whether new signing Alvaro Arbeloa will be involved.

Everton boss David Moyes will make late decisions on the fitness of Tony Hibbert (groin) and Andrew Johnson (ankle). Moyes will also monitor the fitness of new loan signing Manuel Fernandes, who has not played a competitive match since December.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Everton 1, Everton 1 Liverpool 3

Last five league matches: Liverpool W W W W W; Everton D W L D W

Top scorers: Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 13; Andrew Johnson (Everton) 9

Match odds: H 8-15 A 5-1 D 23-10

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Man City (13) v Reading (7)

City boss Stuart Pearce must decide whether to hand Michael Ball his debut - Ball is vying with Stephen Jordan for the left-back berth. Nedum Onuoha (knee) and Trevor Sinclair (groin) are definitely out.

Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko is out with knee ligament damage, so new signing Michael Duberry should win an instant debut and fellow newcomer Greg Halford should also be in the squad. Kevin Doyle remains on the comeback trail from a hamstring tear, while fellow striker Shane Long (thigh) needs a fitness test.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Man City W W W D L; Reading L W D W W

Top scorers: Georgios Samaras & Joey Barton (Man City) 6; Leroy Lita (Reading)
11

Match odds: H 11-10 A 21-10 D 21-10

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).

Middlesbrough (11) v Arsenal (4)

Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer remains a doubt with a back injury - Brad Jones again stands by - although striker Mark Viduka is expected to return from a hamstring problem.  Manager Gareth Southgate will not include new signing Dong Gook Lee in the 16 as the South Korea international works to build himself up to full match fitness.

Emmanuel Adebayor (knee) is fit for Arsenal but Philippe Senderos, who injured his head in the Carling Cup win over Spurs, may be rested. Johan Djourou returns after hamstring trouble but Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring), Emmanuel Eboue (ankle), Abou Diaby (knee), William Gallas (thigh), Alexander Hleb (hamstring) and Julio Baptista (groin) are out and Robin van Persie (foot) may miss the rest
of the season.

Last season: Arsenal 7 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 2 Arsenal 1

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L W W W D; Arsenal W L W W W

Top scorers: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 12; Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)
13

Match odds: H 7-2 A 4-6 D 23-10

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

Watford (20) v Bolton (5)

Watford welcome back Dan Shittu, Malky Mackay, skipper Gavin Mahon and keeper Ben Foster. Steven Kabba, Lee Williamson, Gareth Williams and Brazilian midfielder Douglas Rinaldi may win home debuts, although French duo Cedric Avinel and Johan Cavalli - signed on transfer deadline day - are not expected to be in the squad. Clarke Carlisle (thigh), James Chambers (ankle) and Marlon King
(knee) are out.

Henrik Pedersen could again be asked to continue up front for Bolton, with Nicolas Anelka (calf) and Kevin Davies (ankle) missing, although El-Hadji Diouf returns after suspension. Abdoulaye Faye is a doubt after injuring a hip during the draw with Charlton but new arrival David Thompson may be handed a debut.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Watford D L L W L; Bolton W L D L D

Top scorers: Will Hoskins (Watford) 16; Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 8

Match odds: H 21-10 A 11-10 D 21-10

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).

Wigan (17) v Portsmouth (6)

Julius Aghahowa is poised to make his Wigan debut after his £2.1million move from Shakhtar Donetsk, with Emile Heskey out with a calf injury. Left-back Leighton Baines is also struggling with a calf problem, but Lee McCulloch is at least available despite limping off with a leg injury in Tuesday's defeat at Reading.

Pompey defender Noe Pamarot is set to return from a groin injury in place of new signing Djimi Traore (ankle). Boss Harry Redknapp is likely to partner Andy Cole and Kanu in attack. Midfielder Sean Davis is also available after dental problems and Niko Kranjcar is challenging for a place after ankle trouble.

Last season: Wigan 1 Portsmouth 2, Portsmouth 0 Wigan 2

Last five league matches: Wigan L L L L L; Portsmouth L D D L D

Top scorers: Caleb Folan (Wigan) 12; Kanu (Portsmouth) 11

Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Sunday, February 4th

Tottenham (10) v Man Utd (1)

Spurs skipper Ledley King has been ruled out for another six to eight weeks with his bruised foot but Aaron Lennon - ruled out of the midweek defeat to Arsenal through illness - is fit and Dimitar Berbatov could return following a groin injury. Jermaine Jenas has picked up a knock to his ankle but it expected to be fit, while Teemu Tainio (throat infection) is still ruled out and Mido is suspended.

Louis Saha is pushing for a return to the United starting line-up after recovering from a knee injury - he is likely to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the forward line alongside Wayne Rooney. Boss Alex Ferguson has no fresh injury concerns.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 1 Tottenham 1

Last five league matches: Tottenham W L D L D; Man Utd W D W L W

Top scorers: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 14; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 14

Match odds: H 3-1 A 5-6 D 2-1

Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).