FA Premiership (League positions in brackets)

Today

Aston Villa (2) v Wimbledon (4)

Paul Merson will make his debut for Aston Villa up front alongside Julian Joachim. Stan Collymore is still doubtful with a thigh injury, and Merson will take over from Riccardo Scimeca, who played as a makeshift striker in midweek.

Transfer-listed Efan Ekoku is likely to start on the bench for Wimbledon in their clash at Aston Villa. Joe Kinnear will give a late fitness test to defender Dean Blackwell (hamstring). Defender Ben Thatcher returns to the squad following a four-match suspension.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 Wimbledon 2, Wimbledon 2 Aston Villa 1.

Last four League matches: Aston Villa DWWW, Wimbledon WDDW.

Top scorers: Julian Joachim (Aston Villa) 2; Efan Ekoku (Wimbledon) 3.

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

Referee: D R Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).

Charlton (10) v Derby (6)

Derby's latest signing Kevin Harper, a £300,000 midweek capture from Hibernian, goes straight into the Rams squad. With Argentinian defender Horacio Carbonari, Derby's record purchase at £2.7million, still recovering from a knee ligament tear, manager Jim Smith is likely to name an unchanged side.

Charlton keep faith with the side beaten 4-1 in midweek at Old Trafford. Richard Rufus completes his threematch ban following his opening day sending-off against Newcastle. Mark Bowen, Mike Salmon, Gary Poole and Matt Holmes are still out with injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last four League matches: Charlton DWDL, Derby DDDW.

Top scorers: Clive Mendonca (Charlton) 3; Dean Sturridge, Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 1.

Match odds: H Evs, A 9-4, D 9-4.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

Chelsea (18) v Nottm Forest (7)

Chelsea captain Dennis Wise will sit out the final game of his three-match ban while Spanish right-back Albert Ferrer is still struggling with an ankle knock. Frenchman Bernard Lambourde is likely to deputise again.

Nottingham Forest boss Dave Bassett will give a fitness test to Alan Rogers before finalising his line-up. Forest are again expected to be without midfield duo Glyn Hodges and Scot Gemmill, both of whom missed Tuesday's defeat at the hands of Everton with hamstring injuries.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last League matches: Chelsea LDD, Nottm Forest LWWL.

Top scorers: Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 2; Steve Stone (Nottm Forest) 2.

Match odds: H 8-15, A 5-1, D 12-5.

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent).

Everton (15) v Leeds (3)

Veteran defender Dave Watson looks likely to retain his place in the Everton side despite Carl Tiler having recovered from flu. Slaven Bilic and Craig Short are still sidelined through injury.

Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has recovered from a slight back injury and continues his partnership with Clyde Wijnhard. Norwegian Gunnar Halle, restricted to a place on the bench so far this season, is doubtful with a hip injury. George Graham is expected to keep an unchanged team for the fourth successive game.

Last season: Everton 2 Leeds 0, Leeds 0 Everton 0.

Last for League matches: Everton DLLW, Leeds DWDW.

Top scorers: Duncan Ferguson (Everton) 2; Lee Bowyer, Ian Harte, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Clyde Wijnhard (Leeds) 1.

Match odds: H 13-8, A 11-8, D 11-5.

Referee: N Barry ((Scunthorpe).

Leicester (13) v Arsenal (5)

Leicester are waiting on the fitness of Steve Walsh before naming their team. The Leicester skipper is recovering from a pulled muscle near his ribs although manager Martin O'Neill is likely to stick with the side that lost at home to Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will give Tony Adams a rest with Steve Bould taking over as centre-back and captain. Emmanuel Petit serves a one-match ban after being sent off against Charlton two weeks ago, so Stephen Hughes stands by to deputise. Nigel Winterburn has passed a test on an ankle injury, but Luis Boa Morte is unfit.

Last season: Leicester 3 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 2 Leicester 1.

Last four League matches: Leicester DWLL, Arsenal WDDD.

Top scorers: Tony Cottee (Leicester) 2; Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit (Arsenal) 1

Match odds: H 2-1, A 11-10, D 9-4.

Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset)

Man Utd (9) v Coventry (16)

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has denied reports that Ryan Giggs is suffering from a recurrence of his hamstring problem and said he is in the squad. Denis Irwin and Dwight Yorke have shrugged off minor knocks, while Nicky Butt is available after having his wisdom teeth removed.

Marc Edworthy, signed from Crystal Palace two weeks ago, will make his first start for Coventry if Swedish international defender Roland Nilsson fails a fitness test on his rib injury.

Last season: Man Utd 3 Coventry 0, Coventry 3 Man Utd 2.

Last League matches: Man Utd DDW, Coventry WLDL.

Top scorers: Dwight Yorke, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Man Utd) 2; Dion Dublin, Darren Huckerby (Coventry) 1.

Match odds: H 4-9, A 13-2, D 5-2.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)

Newcastle (19) v Southampton (20)

Newcastle are without suspended David Batty and injured German midfielder Dietmar Hamann. Defender Nikos Dabizas is still struggling with a groin strain but Northern Ireland winger Keith Gillespie is included in the squad. French striker Stephane Guivarc'h could force his way back into the starting line-up.

Saints defender Francis Benali is available for the first time this season after missing the first four games through suspension. Keeper Paul Jones replaces Neil Moss after a one-match ban. Matthew Le Tissier and Egil Ostenstad may be recalled to the starting line up after being dropped in midweek.

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

Last four League matches: Newcastle DDLL, Southampton LLLL.

Top scorers: Stephane Guivarc'h, Andreas Andersson (Newcastle) 1; Matt Le Tissier, Egil Ostenstad (Southampton) 1.

Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 12-5.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds)

Sheff Wed (17) v Blackburn (14)

Sheffield Wednesday will check on striker Paolo Di Canio (virus) and defender Emerson Thome (thigh) before finalising their side. If Di Canio returns then Guy Whittingham could be the one to miss out after making his first start of the season at Derby in midweek.

Blackburn have four injury doubts - Stephane Henchoz, Kevin Gallacher, Chris Sutton and Billy McKinlay will all need late fitness checks. Manager Roy Hodgson must also decide whether to recall skipper Tim Sherwood who was left out at Spurs in midweek.

Last season: Sheff Wed 0 Blackburn 0, Blackburn 7 Sheff Wed 2.

Last four League matches: Sheff Wed LWLL, Blackburn DLWL.

Top scorers: Andy Hinchcliffe, Peter Atherton, Paolo Di Canio (Sheff Wed) 1; Kevin Gallacher (Blackburn) 2.

Match odds: H 13-8, A 11-8, D 11-5.

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).

West Ham (11) v Liverpool (1)

West Ham are still without England international Rio Ferdinand with a groin strain and Steve Lomas with an ankle injury.

Steve McManaman is doubtful for Liverpool with the Achilles injury that forced him out of England contention last week. There are slight injury doubts over Paul Ince, Jamie Carragher and Vegard Heggem, but all are expected to play. Robbie Fowler has travelled with the party of 20, but is not expected to be involved.

Last season: West Ham 2 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 5 West Ham 0.

Last four League matches: West Ham WDDL, Liverpool WDWW.

Top scorers: Ian Wright (West Ham) 3; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 4.

Match odds: H 7-4, A 11-8, D 2-1.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).

Tomorrow

Spurs (8) v Middlesbrough (12)

Spurs captain Sol Campbell returns to the squad after shaking off the leg injury he received playing for England in Sweden last Saturday. Striker Chris Armstrong is also included after recovering from an ankle injury - just as well for Spurs as there are doubts over Les Ferdinand (calf) and David Ginola (hamstring).

Middlesbrough skipper Andy Townsend has recovered from a migraine and could return. Central defender Colin Cooper aggravated an ankle injury in the 1-0 midweek win at Leicester and is rated doubtful. Striker Marco Branca is included in the squad for the first time since a knee operation last April and could be on the bench.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last four League matches: Tottenham LLWW, Middlesbrough DLDW.

Top scorers: Les Ferdinand (Tottenham) 2; Paul Gascoigne, Mikkel Beck, Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 1.

Match odds: H 5-6, A 13-5, D 12-5.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hills.