English FA Premiership

(Current league positions in brackets)

Today

Charlton (9) v Chelsea (10)

Richard Rufus should return after injury to the centre of Charlton's defence for today's London derby. Mark Fish, a recent signing from Bolton, could make his home debut alongside Rufus after starting his Addicks career at Portman Road.

Defender John Terry is the only new player on the Chelsea injury list - although Graeme Le Saux, Mario Stanic, Roberto di Matteo and Jes Hogh are all still sidelined. The six players selected for international duty in midweek are said to have reported back fit. Reserve goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has a sore throat, so third-choice Kevin Hitchcock travels as cover.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

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

Top scorers: Jonatan Johansson (Charlton) 8; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 12.

Match odds: H 12-5, A 10-11, D 9-4.

Referee: P Durkin (Portland).

Derby (19) v Bradford (20)

Nigerian centre-back Taribo West will make his debut for Derby after securing a work permit following his loan deal from AC Milan. Scotland defender Brian O'Neil is also included after his move from Wolfsburg. But Simo Valakari has been sidelined with an ankle injury, and Craig Burley is doubtful because of a thigh problem.

Bradford caretaker manager Stuart McCall is suspended, but centre-back Andy O'Brien could return after three months out recovering from a broken collarbone. Andy Myers is back in training after 10 weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury but is unlikely to be included in the squad.

Last season: Bradford 4 Derby 4, Derby 0 Bradford 1.

Last five league matches: Derby L L L D D, Bradford L L D L L.

Top scorers: Malcolm Christie (Derby) 5; Benito Carbone, Dean Windass (Bradford) 3.

Match odds: H 5-6, A 5-2, D 12-5.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).

Everton (14) v Arsenal (2)

Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen starts a two-match suspension for Everton. Walter Smith has also lost Portuguese defender Abel Xavier, who has had a cartilage operation and will not play again until Christmas. Paul Gascoigne is still doubtful with a thigh problem, while Gary Naysmith is recovering from flu. Defender Steve Watson is struggling with a groin injury, and the long-term sick list includes Duncan Ferguson, Francis Jeffers, Richard Gough, Niclas Alexandersson and Alessandro Pistone.

Arsenal are missing eight first-team regulars. Manager Arsene Wenger already had an injury-hit squad, and he has not been helped by the midweek international fixtures. He travels to Merseyside without David Seaman (ankle), Tony Adams (hamstring), Patrick Vieira (ankle), Gilles Grimandi (knee), Thierry Henry (groin), Lauren (knee), Silvinho (Achilles) and Nelson Vivas (thigh). On top of that, England's Ray Parlour is rated 50-50 because of a hamstring strain.

Last season: Everton 0 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 4 Everton 1.

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

Top scorers: Francis Jeffers (Everton) 7; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 9.

Match odds: H 3-1, A 8-11, D 12-5.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Leeds (8) v West Ham (13)

Leeds strikers Mark Viduka and Alan Smith have been given the all-clear to play. Both suffered knocks in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday, forcing them out of international duty with Australia and England respectively in midweek. Jonathan Woodgate is no nearer a return since limping out of the win over Liverpool two weeks ago with a thigh strain and remains on the sidelines with Nigel Martyn, Harry Kewell, David Batty, Michael Bridges, Michael Duberry and Stephen McPhail. Jason Wilcox came through a reserves game in midweek after six months out following two knee operations and a broken ankle and could be in line for a place on the bench.

England under-21 midfielder Joe Cole has recovered from the ankle injury that has kept him out of the last two matches and is included in the West Ham squad. Defender Igor Stimac has also recovered from a gashed leg and is in the party.

Last season: West Ham 0 Leeds 0, Leeds 1 West Ham 0.

Last five league matches: Leeds W L D W D, West Ham D L W D W.

Top scorers: Mark Viduka (Leeds) 11; Paolo di Canio (West Ham) 7.

Match odds: H 4-7, A 4-1, D 5-2.

Referee: P Taylor (Cheshunt).

Man City (16) v Man Utd (1)

Paulo Wanchope is set to lead Manchester City's attack just 24 hours after arriving back from international duty. The Costa Rican did some light training before going to bed and is expected to partner Paul Dickov, who returns from suspension along with Danny Tiatto. Striker Shaun Goater could recover from his hamstring injury to make the bench, while midfielder Gerard Wiekens hopes to shake off a hamstring problem to play.

Ryan Giggs, Wes Brown and Paul Scholes will have fitness tests. Giggs missed Saturday's match against Middlesbrough with a hamstring injury; Scholes pulled out of the England squad with a thigh injury, and Brown - who limped off with a knee injury against Middlesbrough - could also make it. Roy Keane, who missed Ireland's win over Finland in Dublin on Wednesday with of a tight hamstring, is fit.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Man City W W L L L, Man Utd W W W W W.

Top scorers: Paulo Wanchope (Man City) 6; Teddy Sheringham (Man Utd) 13.

Match odds: H 4-1, A 8-13, D 9-4.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Middlesbrough (18) v Leicester (4)

Paul Ince and Ugo Ehiogu will undergo late fitness tests after playing 70 minutes for the reserves in midweek following knee and calf injuries respectively. Striker Alen Boksic is likely to make his first start since October 16th - but Colin Cooper, Mark Summerbell and Mark Crossley are suspended.

Leicester wing-back Callum Davidson is expected to be fit after recovering from the hamstring strain that forced him to miss Scotland's midweek defeat by Australia. Arnar Gunnlaugsson may be recalled to the starting line-up after scoring a spectacular free-kick in the draw with Newcastle last week.

Last season: Leicester 2 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 0 Leicester 3.

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

Top scorers: Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 6; Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 3.

Match odds: H 11-8, A 13-8, D 21-10.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).

Newcastle (7) v Sunderland (12)

Newcastle's French defender Alain Goma will undergo a late fitness test on a calf injury. Captain Alan Shearer and midfielder Rob Lee have shaken off knocks to take their places in a 17-man squad, while Warren Barton and Nolberto Solano return from groin and hamstring injuries respectively - and striker Lomana Lua Lua is back after suspension.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid must decide whether to recall Julio Arca or stick with the side that drew with Southampton last week. Arca will probably return to the starting line-up with Kevin Kilbane switching to the right flank. Reid has resisted the temptation to involve Stefan Schwarz and Gavin McCann, who returned to action in midweek after recovering from long-term injuries.

Last season: Sunderland 2 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 1 Sunderland 2.

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

Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 7; Don Hutchison, Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 5.

Match odds: H 8-11, A 10-3, D 11-5.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Southampton (15) v Aston Villa (5)

Southampton will be without Moroccan international defender Tahar El Khalej who is serving a one-match ban. Glenn Hoddle will check on midfielder Chris Marsden who has a neck injury. Former Aston Villa midfielder Mark Draper is named in the squad but is likely to be on the bench. Matthew Le Tissier is ruled out with knee trouble, and Trond Soltvedt has a groin injury.

Alpay hopes to shake off a hamstring strain after missing Turkey's midweek international against France. Winger David Ginola, who has yet to complete a Premiership game following his £3 million summer move from Spurs, is likely to be on the bench.

Last season: Southampton 2 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 0 Southampton 1.

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

Top scorers: Marian Pahars (Southampton) 6; Julian Joachim, Paul Merson, Ian Taylor (Aston Villa) 3.

Match odds: H 13-8, A 11-8, D 21-10.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Tomorrow

Tottenham (11) v Liverpool (3)

Tottenham will be without £5 million left-back Ben Thatcher, who is serving a one-match ban after being sent off against Sunderland two weeks ago. Stephen Clemence could be switched from midfield with manager George Graham retaining a three centre-back line-up of Chris Perry, Ramon Vega and Luke Young.

Striker Emile Heskey is serving a one-match ban, while Michael Owen is struggling with the back injury that ruled him out for England against Italy. Steven Gerrard is doubtful with hamstring trouble, and German defender Christian Ziege has returned from international duty with an Achilles injury.

Last season: Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 1 Liverpool 0.

Last five league matches: Tottenham L W L W L, Liverpool W W W L W.

Top scorers: Sergei Rebrov (Tottenham) 5; Emile Heskey (Liverpool) 10.

Match odds: H 7-4, A 5-4, D 11-5.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.