English FA Premiership Previews

(League positions in brackets)

Bradford (18) v Southampton (16)

Bradford's midweek League Cup win at Darlington came at a price with both David Hopkin (ankle ligament) and Ian Nolan (hamstring) ruled out. But Benito Carbone and Dan Petrescu are expected to return and Peter Beagrie may also be back, although Andy Myers and Andy O'Brien are still out alongside long-term injury casualty Dean Saunders.

Southampton's Latvian striker Marian Pahars is a major injury doubt with a hamstring injury. Uwe Rosler stands by.

Last season: Bradford 1 Southampton 2, Southampton 1 Bradford 0

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

Top scorers: Benito Carbone, Stuart McCall, Gareth Whalley, Dean Windass (Bradford) 1; Marian Pahars (Southampton) 5

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

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)

Coventry (13) v West Ham (20)

Coventry will await the result of a fitness check on striker Cedric Roussel, who has a shoulder injury, before naming their side. Youssef Chippo, who took a finger in the eye from a team-mate during Coventry's goal celebrations in the League Cup at Preston and had to be substituted, is fit to play.

French striker Kaba Diawara goes straight into West Ham's squad after signing on loan for the rest of the season. He will provide cover for strikers Paolo di Canio and Frederic Kanoute, who both have nagging hamstring problems, while Davor Suker has a groin injury. Teenage striker Jermaine Defoe keeps his place in the squad after coming off the bench to score the winner at Walsall in Tuesday's League Cup tie.

Last season: West Ham 5 Coventry 0, Coventry 1 West Ham 0

Last five league matches: Coventry W W L D L, West Ham L D D L D

Top scorers: Craig Bellamy (Coventry) 2; Paolo di Canio (West Ham) 3

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

Referee: R Harris (Oxford)

Derby (19) v Leeds (9)

Scotland midfielder Craig Burley played one hour in the reserves this week and is set to start for the first time this season. Burley is slowly returning to full fitness following a calf injury.

Eirik Bakke and Dominic Matteo suffered no adverse reactions after returning from injury in Leeds' 10 Champions League victory over AC Milan. Mark Viduka is still on his way back from Olympic duty in Sydney so Darren Huckerby, who scored a hat-trick for the reserves this week, will push for a place. Stephen McPhail is also back in the reckoning after an Achilles injury but Lucas Radebe, who trained for the first time yesterday since his sickening neck injury in Barcelona, will not be risked until Tuesday's match against Besiktas at the earliest. Harry Kewell, Jason Wilcox, Jonathan Woodgate and David Batty are all still out.

Last season: Derby 0 Leeds 1, Leeds 0 Derby 0

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

Top scorers: Malcolm Christie, Branko Strupar (Derby) 4; Alan Smith (Leeds) 5

Match odds: H 6-4 A 13-10 D 12-5

Referee: B Knight (Sheffield)

Ipswich (11) v Arsenal (3)

Ipswich defender Titus Bramble has recovered from a hip injury but James Scowcroft and Fabian Wilnis face late fitness checks after picking up knocks in the midweek League Cup defeat at Millwall. Striker Richard Naylor is back in contention for the first time since surgery on both knees following the Division One play-off final against Barnsley at Wembley in May.

Skipper Tony Adams (back), French winger Robert Pires (hamstring), and Patrick Vieira all miss out for Arsenal. Ray Parlour returns from injury and Dennis Bergkamp may make only his third start of the season.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Ipswich D W L L W, Arsenal W W D D W

Top scorers: Titus Bramble, Jim Magilton, James Scowcroft, Marcus Stewart, Mark Venus, Fabian Wilnis, Jermaine Wright (Ipswich) 1; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 4

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

Referee: P Durkin (Portland)

Liverpool (4) v Sunderland (14)

Robbie Fowler will have to be content with a place on the bench after scoring five in the reserves in midweek, but boss Gerard Houllier will take a softly, softly, line with the England striker and continue with the front partnership of Emile Heskey and the Premiership's top scorer, Michael Owen.

Sunderland boss Peter Reid is set to keep faith with the side that beat Derby last week. Darren Holloway is ruled out after suffering an ankle injury in the midweek League Cup win over Luton. Young defender Mark Maley is also out of contention as he suffered concussion in the same match, but Paul Butler has recovered from an ankle injury and is set to be named on the bench.

Last season: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2

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

Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 7; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 3

Match odds: H 2-5 A 6-1 D 11-4

Referee: M Riley (Leeds)

Manchester Utd (1) v Chelsea (17)

Teddy Sheringham is likely to be recalled in place of Dwight Yorke. He could start alongside Andy Cole with Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the bench.

New Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri is already without the services of four first-team squad members - Ed de Goey, Gustavo Poyet and Mario Stanic, who are still out through injury, while Celestine Babayaro is away on Olympic Games duty with Nigeria. Frank Leboeuf is back in contention.

Last season: Man Utd 3 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 5 Man Utd 0

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

Top scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 6; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 3

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

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)

Middlesbrough (15) v Aston Villa (7)

Middlesbrough will be without French midfielder Christian Karembeu (knee) as well as defenders Gary Pallister (groin) and Steve Vickers (Achilles). But on-loan Gary Walsh will return in goal and Argentinian youngster Carlos Marinelli is included as one of eight strikers in the squad.

Winger David Ginola, who has been taken off in each of his two appearances this season, will again start for Villa as he bids to build up his match fitness following a back problem.

Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Aston Villa 4, Aston Villa 1 Middlesbrough 0

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

Top scorers: Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 3; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 2

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

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City)

Newcastle (6) v Charlton (8)

Newcastle's new £2.25 million signing Lomana Tresor Lua Lua goes straight into the squad but striker Carl Cort is a doubt after suffering a minor reaction to a hamstring problem. Shay Given returns in goal while Dutch keeper John Karelse provides the cover on the bench for the injured Steve Harper.

Charlton centre-half Richard Rufus has recovered from the injury that kept him out of the midweek League Cup defeat at Stoke, while fellow defender Steve Brown has served his one-match ban following his sending off against Southampton.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Daniel Cordone, Carl Cort, Gary Speed (Newcastle) 2; Jonatan Johansson (Charlton) 4

Match odds: H 1-2 A 9-2 D 13-5

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay)

Tottenham (5) v Man City (12)

With Luke Young recovering from a foot injury in Spurs' last home game, the 1-0 win over West Ham, and fellow-under-21 international Ledley King still not ready to return after an ankle operation in the summer, Ramon Vega will make only his second start this season alongside Chris Perry. Mauricio Taricco remains doubtful with a groin injury but Tim Sherwood is likely to return in midfield.

Kevin Horlock is Manchester City's biggest doubt with an ankle problem but boss Joe Royle is optimistic the midfielder will be available, while Danny Tiatto has recovered from the bout of illness he suffered in midweek. Royle will also check on Steve Howey (achilles), Gerard Wiekens (calf) and Paul Ritchie (groin) before finalising his line-up.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Tottenham D L W W L, Man City W L W L D

Top scorers: Les Ferdinand, Sergei Rebrov (Tottenham) 2; Paulo Wanchope (Man City) 6

Match odds: H 8-15 A 9-2 D 12-5

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington)

Tomorrow

Leicester (2) v Everton (10)

Northern Ireland central defender Gerry Taggart is hoping to return to the Leicester side after missing the Chelsea game with a knee injury. Ade Akinbiyi has been troubled with a groin strain but is expected to play. Frank Sinclair is likely to miss out because of a hamstring problem.

Everton have injury doubts over Alessandro Pistone (knee) and Thomas Gravesen (bruised foot) but Niclas Alexandersson, who came off during the League Cup tie with Bristol Rovers with a stomach upset, should have recovered. Richard Gough, Mark Pembridge and Duncan Ferguson are all still out.

Last season: Leicester 1 Everton 1, Everton 2 Leicester 2

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

Top scorers: Gerry Taggart (Leicester) 2; Francis Jeffers (Everton) 6

Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood)

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill