English FA Premiership Previews

Today

Aston Villa (5) v Nottm For (20)

Paul Merson is standing by to start his first game for Aston Villa for more than a month. On the bench for the last five games, he is on alert to take over from Lee Hendrie (ankle) while Alan Thompson is definitely out injured. Forest will be without suspended trio Carlton Palmer, Richard Gough and Christian Edwards. Jon Olav Hjelde, Nigel Quashie, Geoff Thomas, Thierry Bonalair and Hugo Porfirio are nursing injuries while defender Stale Stensaas is facing a late fitness test. Ron Atkinson is likely to hand winger Ian Woan his first start of the campaign while Jesper Mattsson and Chris BartWilliams are also set to return.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Aston Villa LDDWW, Nottm Forest LLDLL

Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 15; Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 11

Match odds: H 2-5 A 11-2 D 3-1

Referee: P Durkin (Portland)

Blackburn (17) v Liverpool (10)

Blackburn are awaiting last-minute fitness checks on Stephane Henchoz, Christian Dailly and Gary Croft. Left-back Callum Davidson serves a one-match ban, and Keith Gillespie is also suspended.

Liverpool are without Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Patrik Berger and Steven Gerrard, but David Thompson - injured in the 1-0 home defeat by Leicester on Wednesday - should have recovered from a calf problem. Liverpool are in danger of their lowest top-flight finish since they were relegated in 1953-54.

Last season: Blackburn 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 0 Blackburn 0

Last five league matches: Blackburn DWDLD, Liverpool WDDLL

Top scorers: Ashley Ward (Blackburn) 20; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 23

Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 12-5

Referee: R Harris (Oxford)

Derby (8) v Southampton (19)

Derby midfielder Stefano Eranio returns after missing five weeks with a calf injury. The Italian will be joined by goalkeeper Mart Poom and striker Deon Burton on the comeback trail. Tony Dorigo is Smith's latest casualty, joining Igor Stimac, Vas Borbokis and Rory Delap on the sidelines.

Ken Monkou returns for Southampton in place of Claus Lundekvam, who is suspended. Matt Le Tissier is expected to play, while Latvian striker Marians Pahars has been granted permission to join up late for international duty next week. Mark Hughes has a back injury, while midfielder David Hughes (knee) faces a fitness test. Long-term knee injury victims David Hirst and John Beresford could be back, but goalkeeper Paul Jones and defender Richard Dryden will both miss the remainder of the season.

Last season: Derby 4 Southampton 0, Southampton 0 Derby 2

Last five league matches: Derby WLLWL, Southampton WDLLD

Top scorers: Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 10; Egil Ostenstad (Southampton) 8

Match odds: H Evens A 2-1 D 5-2

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)

Everton (15) v Charlton (18)

Everton have Nick Barmby available again after suspension and are also boosted by Olivier Dacourt's escape from an FA ban earlier this week. Craig Short and Kevin Campbell have both shaken off knocks and should play. Italian defender Marco Materazzi is not being considered as he is out for the rest of the season with a three-match ban from next weekend.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has rightback Danny Mills available again after suspension. Goalkeeper Simon Royce is not fully fit so Andy Petterson continues in goal, while centre-half Richard Rufus could be playing his last game of the season unless the club manage to overturn his ban for being sent off against Leeds last Saturday. Joint leading scorer Clive Mendonca could return to the starting line-up in place of either Andy Hunt and Martin Pringle.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Everton LLLWW, Charlton LWLDL

Top scorers: Ibrahima Bakayoko (Everton) 7; Graham Stuart (Charlton) 9

Match odds: H 8-11 A 3-1 D 5-2

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead)

Leicester (12) v Coventry (16)

Emile Heskey returns for Leicester celebrating an England call-up. Martin O'Neill is without broken leg victim Rob Ullathorne, while Gerry Taggart (hamstring) and Muzzy Izzet (hamstring) face late fitness tests.

Coventry are forced into changes by suspensions. Gary McAllister and Noel Whelan are banned, and Belgian international Philippe Clement and Marcus Hall are in the squad as back-up.

Last season: Leicester 1 Coventry 1, Coventry 0 Leicester 2

Last five league matches: Leicester WDDDW, Coventry LWWLL

Top scorers: Tony Cottee (Leicester) 15; John Aloisi (Coventry) 21

Match odds: H 11-10 A 15-8 D 12-5

Referee: G Barber (Pyrford)

Middlesbrough (7) v Arsenal (2)

Middlesbrough will be without Paul Gascoigne (dead leg) and Gianluca Festa (hamstring strain), while defender Gary Pallister and midfielder Keith O'Neill are both rated at 50/50. Dennis Bergkamp is a major doubt for Arsenal with a groin injury. Nicolas Anelka will return if Bergkamp misses out to partner Nwankwo Kanu in attack. Right-back Lee Dixon also returns after an ankle injury but centreback Martin Keown is suspended and veteran Steve Bould steps in.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough DWWDW, Arsenal WWDWW

Top scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 18; Dennis Bergkamp, Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 15

Match odds: H 100-30 A 4-5 D 2-1

Referee: M Riley (Leeds)

Tottenham (9) v West Ham (6)

Steve Potts is out for the season after suffering a knee injury last week to give boss Harry Redknapp a headache over defenders. Marc-Vivien Foe and Neil Ruddock are suspended and Redknapp is hoping that Rio Ferdinand passes a fitness test. Tottenham boss George Graham has virtually a full squad to chose from, but Les Ferdinand and Andy Sinton will miss out through injury.

Last season: Tottenham 1 West Ham 0, West Ham 2 Tottenham 1

Last five league matches: Tottenham WLDWW, West Ham WDLDW

Top scorers: Chris Armstrong (Tottenham) 12; Ian Wright (West Ham) 8

Match odds: H Evens A 9-4 D 9-4

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)

Wimbledon (13) v Newcastle (11)

Faltering Wimbledon must cope again without key defender Chris Perry as they search for their first win in seven games. Perry has broken a bone in his foot and joins Michael Hughes, Neal Ardley, Efan Ekoku and Jon Goodman on the sidelines. Irish defender Kenny Cunningham has missed training this week but hopes to be fit.

Newcastle will be without long-term injury victims Laurent Charvet (knee) and Duncan Ferguson (groin). But French defender Didier Domi could be back and goalkeeper Shay Given will return after being rested at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

Last season: Wimbledon 0 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 1 Newcastle 3

Last five league matches: Wimbledon LDLLL, Newcastle LWDLD

Top scorers: Marcus Gayle (Wimbledon) 11; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 18

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

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)

Tomorrow

Leeds (4) v Man Utd (1)

Leeds could be without leading scorer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and midfielder David Hopkin (ankle). Hasselbaink has a hamstring problem, which is likely to lead to 18-year-old Alan Smith partnering 20-year-old Harry Kewell up front. With Alfie Haaland on international duty with Norway, Gunnar Halle out (knee) and Bruno Ribeiro (knee) also struggling it could lead to a recall for Ireland's Stephen McPhail. Ryan Giggs (ankle) and Jaap Stam (Achilles) are major doubts for Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ronny Johnsen are on international duty with Norway, while Paul Scholes and Andy Cole are struggling with injuries.

Last season: Leeds 1 Man Utd 0, Man Utd 3 Leeds 0

Last five league matches: Leeds WWWDD, Man Utd WWWDW

Top scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 17; Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 27

Match odds: H 9-4 A Evens D 9-4

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury)

Sheff Wed (14) v Chelsea (3)

Wednesday will be without Petter Rudi who is on international duty with Norway. Philip Scott looks set to take his place for his first start since his £75,000 move from St Johnstone. Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli could return after injury kept him out of the Cup Winners' Cup defeat by Real Mallorca. Tore Andre Flo is on international duty with Norway but Mikael Forssell is available. Bjarne Goldbaek should return but Graeme Le Saux serves a one-match ban for his bust-up with Liverpool's Robbie Fowler.

Last season: Sheff Wed 1 Chelsea 4, Chelsea 1 Sheff Wed 0

Last five league matches: Sheff Wed LLWLD, Chelsea WWWDD

Top scorers: Richard Cresswell (Sheff Wed) 19; Gianfranco Zola, Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 13

Match odds: H 7-2 A 4-6 D 12-5

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)

Match odds supplied courtesy of William Hill