Saturday, December 13th
Chelsea (1) v Bolton (13)
Claudio Ranieri will be hoping to have Hernan Crespo available after the Argentinian striker missed Tuesday's Champions League win over Besiktas in Germany with a calf strain. Adrian Mutu could also return to the starting line-up after the Romanian striker was rested in midweek because he was one booking away from suspension.
Bolton are without defender Emerson Thome, who is suffering from a chest infection. Simon Charlton has shaken off the same illness though and central defender Danny Livesey has been called into the squad after returning from a loan spell at Notts County.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W W D; Bolton W D W W L
Top scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 10; Kevin Davies (Bolton) 5
Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2
Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).
Leicester (15) v Birmingham (9)
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has mixed injury news with striker Christophe Dugarry ruled out with his recurring knee problem but central defender Matthew Upson set to return providing he suffers no late reaction in training to the calf muscle injury.
Leicester defender Ben Thatcher will have a late fitness test. Billy McKinlay is ruled out with a groin strain suffered but fellow midfielder Muzzy Izzet will return.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leicester W W D W D; Birmingham L D L L L
Top scorers: Paul Dickov (Leicester) 6; Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) 6
Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
Liverpool (5) v Southampton (8)
Michael Owen's recovery from a thigh injury is unlikely to be complete in time. Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, left out completely at Newcastle, could find himself behind Patrice Luzi in the pecking order again.
Midfielder Chris Marsden is back in contention for a Southampton recall after recovering from an ankle injury. Marian Pahars should also be included in the starting line-up but left-back Graeme Le Saux is ruled out for a fourth successive game with a hamstring strain.
Last season: Southampton 0 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 3 Southampton 0
Last five league matches: Liverpool W L D W D; Southampton L D L L W
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9; James Beattie (Southampton) 10
Match odds: H 8-15 A 5-1 D 9-4
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
Man Utd (3) v Man City (10)
Roy Keane and Tim Howard are set to return after both were rested for Tuesday's Champions League win over Stuttgart. Cristiano Ronaldo should also return to the squad after failing to even win a place on the bench against the German side.
David Seaman has been passed fit to play for City. The former England keeper limped out of Sunday's goalless draw with Everton after suffering a recurrence of a rib injury. Midfield trio Eyal Berkovic, Antoine Sibierski and Paul Bosvelt all impressed on reserve team duty in midweek, although boss Kevin Keegan is not expected to make too many changes despite his side going seven games without a win.
Last season: Man Utd 1 Man City 1, Man City 3 Man Utd 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W L W; Man City W L L L D
Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 15; Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 11
Match odds: H 4-11 A 7-1 D 11-4
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Middlesbrough (11) v Charlton (6)
Veteran defender Colin Cooper has withdrawn from the squad through illness, and despite the return of Ugo Ehiogu after a long-term knee injury, Chris Riggott is likely to get the nod in his place.
Jonatan Johansson is ready to return after overcoming a thigh problem but boss Alan Curbishley still has several injury problems. Striker Kevin Lisbie (back) and full-back Luke Young (ankle) are still out and Mark Fish (groin) is doubtful. Left-back Chris Powell (ankle) hopes to return. Long-term defensive casualties Richard Rufus and Gary Rowett remain on the sidelines.
Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Charlton 1, Charlton 1 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W W D W D; Charlton W W D L L
Top scorers: Szilard Nemeth (Middlesbrough) 3; Kevin Lisbie (Charlton) 5
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
Newcastle (7) v Tottenham (12)
Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer has been ruled out after failing to recover from a hip injury. The former Leeds player will now travel to Cambridge on Monday to see a specialist about the problem. Only Craig Bellamy (knee) otherwise remains on the casualty list, although full-back Andy Griffin starts a three-match ban after being sent off for the reserves.
Tottenham are set to name an unchanged squad. Bobby Zamora (Achilles) is still ruled out again, along with skipper Jamie Redknapp, Christian Ziege (both knee) and Simon Davies (thigh).
Last season: Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 2 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle D L W D D; Tottenham L L W L W
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 14; Frederic Kanoute (Tottenham) 9
Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Portsmouth (16) v Everton (17)
Midfielder Patrik Berger and defender Arjan De Zeeuw are both banned for Portsmouth. Jason Roberts is poised to return after five games out with an ankle injury while Vincent Pericard is also back after a thigh problem. Dejan Stefanovic will return to the starting line-up after missing last weekend's draw at Middlesbrough because of a virus.
Everton have injury doubts over full-back Tony Hibbert (ankle) and centre half Joseph Yobo (neck). If they fail to make it, David Moyes faces severe defensive problems with David Weir, Richard Wright and Alessandro Pistone also out. Everton are expected to recall Kevin Campbell and Steve Watson after injuries.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Portsmouth L W L L D; Everton L L W L D
Top scorers: Teddy Sheringham (Portsmouth) 6; Steve Watson (Everton) 5
Match odds: H 11-10 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: B Knight (Kent).
Sunday, December 14th
Arsenal (2) v Blackburn (14)
Thierry Henry has been cleared to face Blackburn after coming through his side's midweek Champions League victory against Lokomotiv Moscow. Henry missed last weekend's trip to Leicester with a knee injury but Arsene Wenger revealed that his leading scorer had "responded quite well" since Wednesday night's game. Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and Sylvain Wiltord are pushing for recalls but Lauren is still injured.
Paul Gallagher remains a doubt after picking up an injury in training. Garry Flitcroft is back in the squad after a groin injury but is likely to start on the bench. Andy Cole should regain his place in the starting line-up after an impressive performance as a substitute in last week's 4-0 drubbing of Birmingham.
Last season: Blackburn 2 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 1 Blackburn 2
Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W D D; Blackburn L W L W W
Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 14; Andy Cole (Blackburn) 5
Match odds: H 3-10 A 15-2 D 16-5
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).
Aston Villa (18) v Wolves (20)
Peter Crouch is back in the Villa squad after a three-month loan spell at Norwich. Central defender Ronny Johnsen is still sidelined with a pelvic problem so Dion Dublin will continue to deputise alongside Olof Mellberg.
Wolves striker Nathan Blake is set to miss out with a calf strain following a scan. Fellow striker Dean Sturridge is pushing for a recall after completing his own recovery from a hamstring problem but Hassan Kachloul - on loan from Villa - is unlikely to figure as he battles a back problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D L L W L; Wolves L D L D L
Top scorers: Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 8; Alex Rae (Wolves) 5
Match odds: H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
Leeds (19) v Fulham (4)
Leeds midfielder David Batty is rated as "touch and go" so Stephen McPhail could again play. Roque Junior (Achilles) and Lamine Sakho (cracked rib) are missing, while Jason Wilcox is also out after recently having a minor knee operation.
Fulham winger Luis Boa Morte is back from suspension. Striker Barry Hayles and right-back Moritz Volz have both missed training sessions this week, due to an ankle injury and flu respectively, but will make the trip. Midfielder Mark Pembridge, suffering from a calf injury, faces another fortnight on the sidelines.
Last season: Leeds 2 Fulham 0, Fulham 1 Leeds 0
Last five league matches: Leeds L L L W D; Fulham L L W D W
Top scorers: Alan Smith (Leeds) 5; Louis Saha (Fulham) 8
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10
Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).