Today

(League positions in brackets)

Blackburn (18) v Newcastle (13)

Blackburn skipper Tim Sherwood is available again after suspension and Gary Croft's full-back position looks in jeopardy now Jeff Kenna is back. There is also a chance of winger Jason Wilcox returning, but new boss Brian Kidd will be without injured strikers Kevin Gallacher and Chris Sutton.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has failed to recover from a shoulder injury picked up a fortnight ago so Steve Harper, man of the match at Middlesbrough last week, will continue to deputise. Skipper Rob Lee serves a one-match suspension while a question mark still hangs over hamstring victim Alan Shearer.

Last season: Blackburn 1-0 Newcastle, Newcastle 1-1 Blackburn.

Last five League matches - Blackburn L L L L W, Newcastle D D L W D.

Top scorers: Nathan Blake (Blackburn) 10. Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 8.

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

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent).

Derby (10) v Chelsea (3)

Midfielder Stefano Eranio made his comeback against Arsenal last Saturday and now fellow Italian Francesco Baiano is ready to join him in the starting line-up. The former Fiorentina striker has recovered from a groin injury and could return to boost Derby's bid for their first home win since September.

Chelsea are close to full strength with only longterm casualties Eddie Newton and Pierluigi Casiraghi still on the injured list. Skipper Dennis Wise is available as his three-match ban following his sending-off against Everton does not take effect until next week.

Last season: Derby 0-1 Chelsea, Chelsea 4-0 Derby.

Last five League matches - Derby W D L W D, Chelsea W W D D W.

Top scorers: Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 5. Gianfranco Zola, Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 8.

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

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Everton (15) v Southampton (20)

Mikael Madar looks like being given the chance to start his first senior game of the season for Everton as a replacement for suspended Danny Cadamarteri. Michael Branch, just back from a loan spell at Manchester City, and Nick Barmby are also in the squad, together with Slaven Bilic and Dave Unsworth, who has completed a one-match ban.

Moroccan midfielder Hassan Kachloul is in contention to start his second game for Southampton as Carlton Palmer serves a one-match ban. Defender Richard Dryden is fit after a groin injury and Scott Hiley is likely to switch from right to left-back.

Last season: Everton 0-2 Southampton, Southampton 2-1 Everton.

Last five League matches - Everton L L W W D, Southampton D L W L L.

Top scorers: Daniel Cadamarteri (Everton) 3. Matt Le Tissier (Southampton) 4.

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4.

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

Leicester (12) v Nottingham Forest (19)

Leicester's Frank Sinclair misses out through suspension while veteran fellow defender Steve Walsh is rated as doubtful with a leg injury. Pontus Kamark will return.

Jesper Mattsson could be poised for a quick introduction to Forest's Premiership survival battle. Manager Dave Bassett is toying with thrusting his new £300,000 signing into the limelight after indicating he would give the 30-year-old central defender time to settle down before drafting him in.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches - Leicester D L L D W, Nottm Forest L D L D L.

Top scorers: Emile Heskey (Leicester) 8. Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 6.

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Middlesbrough (7) v West Ham (6)

Home defender Curtis Fleming is out of the Riverside Stadium match after a recurrence of a knee ligament problem. Youngster Robbie Stockdale replaces him in the starting line-up.

Chilean international defender Javier Margas has a damaged hip so Richard Hall returns to the West Ham squad after 18 months out of action. Rio Ferdinand is also back after injury. Paul Kitson (toe) and Eyal Berkovic (calf) remain on the treatment table while young striker Lee Boylan (medial ligaments) and defender Tim Breacker (flu) do not travel either.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches - Middlesbrough D D W D D, West Ham D W W W L.

Top scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 12. Ian Wright (West Ham) 6.

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

Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy).

Sheffield Wed (14) v Charlton (16)

Defender Des Walker and midfielder Petter Rudi are uncertain for Wednesday after suffering with flu. Yugoslav international Dejan Stefanovic is possibly in contention for his first start of the season, while Ritchie Humphreys could be among the options in midfield.

Paul Mortimer has failed a fitness test on an ankle injury sustained during last weekend's 1-0 defeat against Blackburn. Shaun Newton continues his comeback after knee ligament damage.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches - Sheff Wed L D W D W, Charlton D D L L L.

Top scorers: Paolo Di Canio, Niclas Alexandersson (Sheff Wed) 3. Clive Mendonca (Charlton) 6.

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon).

Tottenham (11) v Manchester Utd (2)

Les Ferdinand is set to return for Spurs in place of injured striker Steffen Iversen, who will be out until the New Year after suffering a broken jaw against Liverpool last week.

Alex Ferguson will wait until the last minute before naming his side. Dwight Yorke is the main doubt as United chase a win that will take them to the top of the Premiership for the first time this season. The striker picked up a knock against Bayern Munich in the midweek Champions' League draw.

Last season: Tottenham 0-2 Man Utd, Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham.

Last five League matches - Tottenham L D W L W, Man Utd D W L W D.

Top scorers: Chris Armstrong (Tottenham) 8. Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 12.

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

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).

Tomorrow

Wimbledon (8) v Liverpool (9)

With no suspensions to worry about, Carl Leaburn remains the only headache for Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear. The striker missed out on the victory over Coventry last weekend and is rated as 50-50.

Jamie Redknapp, Paul Ince and Vegard Heggem return for Liverpool following midweek suspensions. There could also be a place in the squad for new French signing Jean-Michel Ferri, who made his club debut in the reserves on Thursday when playing for 76 minutes against Birmingham.

Last season: Wimbledon 1-1 Liverpool, Liverpool 2-0 Wimbledon.

Last five League matches - Wimbledon W L W L W, Liverpool L L W W L.

Top scorers: Marcus Gayle, Efan Ekoku (Wimbledon) 7. Michael Owen (Liverpool) 12.

Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 11-5.

Referee: G Willard (Worthing).

Aston Villa (1) v Arsenal (5)

Villa will make a late check on the fitness of England midfielder Paul Merson, who has missed the last two games with a back injury. Striker Stan Collymore will be pressing for a return to the starting line-up after making his comeback as a substitute in the midweek defeat against Chelsea.

Arsenal expect to have Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars and Martin Keown all back from injury. Lee Dixon, Ray Parlour and Fredrik Ljungberg, who were suspended or ineligible for the midweek Champions' League tie at Panathinaikos, will also be available. But there are still doubts over Patrick Vieira, who faces a late fitness test on his hamstring injury, while Stephen Hughes, Nigel Winterburn, Emmanuel Petit and Tony Adams are definitely ruled out.

Last season: Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal, Arsenal 0-0 Aston Villa.

Last five League matches - Aston Villa W L D D L, Arsenal W D L D D.

Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 11. Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 7.

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

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill