Arsenal defender Martin Keown has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a fractured leg and is set to be replaced by Matthew Upson. Tony Adams (foot) Fredrik Ljungberg (rib) and Stuart Taylor (broken finger) are also still ruled out. Kanu and Lauren are away on international duty at the African Nations' Cup.
SATURDAY
Arsenal (2) v Southampton (11): Midfielder Chris Marsden is available for Southampton following a one-match ban. Rory Delap (calf) is very doubtful and defender Tahar El Khalej (shoulder) is not fully fit. Strikers Brett Ormerod and Agustin Delgado (both knee) are sidelined and James Beattie (ankle) is also out.
Last season: Southampton 3 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 1 Southampton 0.
Last five league matches: Arsenal W D D W W, Southampton W W L D W.
Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 25; James Beattie, Marian Pahars (S'hampton) 12.
Match odds: H 3/10; A 7/1; D 10/3.
Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester).
Derby (19) v Tottenham (8)
Warren Barton is set to make his debut for Derby after moving from Newcastle for a nominal fee. Defender Luciano Zavango is available after suspension.
Spurs' Les Ferdinand has missed the last two matches with a neck problem, while central defender Anthony Gardner has a knee injury.
Last season: Derby 2 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 3 Derby 1.
Last five league matches: Derby W L L L L, Tottenham D W L D L.
Top scorers: Fabrizio Ravanelli (Derby) 10; Les Ferdinand (Tottenham) 14.
Match odds: H 9/5; A 6/5; D 11/5.
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).
Everton (12) v Ipswich (15)
Everton hope to have Paul Gascoigne, Jesper Blomqvist and Tomas Radzinski back from injury and David Weir, who missed the midweek draw at Aston Villa after the birth of his second child, is also expected to return. Walter Smith is likely to include new Swedish signing Tobias Linderoth in his squad.
Ipswich's Jermaine Wright (groin) and Alun Armstrong (ankle) are doubtful.
Last season: Ipswich 2 Everton 0, Everton 0 Ipswich 3.
Last five league matches: Everton L L W D D, Ipswich W L W W W.
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 6; Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 9.
Match odds: H 11/10; A 2/1; D 11/5.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).
Fulham (10) v Aston Villa (7)
Lee Clark (Achilles) misses out for Fulham. Sean Davis (broken nose) will be sidelined for a week. Jon Harley is expected to start, as regular left-back Rufus Brevett will serve a one-match ban. Luis Boa Morte, who missed the 1-0 defeat at Ipswich on Wednesday with an ankle problem, is now fit.
Villa will check on Peter Schmeichel, who has a finger injury. Peter Enckelman may continue to deputise.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Fulham L W W D L, Aston Villa D D W W D.
Top scorers: Barry Hayles (Fulham) 9; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 14.
Match odds: H evens; A 23/10; D 21/10.
Referee: M Messias (York).
Leicester (20) v Chelsea (6)
Leicester City midfielder Matthew Jones will be out of action for at least nine months after suffering cruciate ligament damage against Liverpool, while Jordan Stewart could be out for six weeks with a dislocated shoulder.
William Gallas (knee) is Chelsea's main doubt. Celestine Babayaro is on international duty and Boudewijn Zenden, Jesper Gronkjaer and Roberto di Matteo are injured.
Last season: Leicester 2 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 0 Leicester 2.
Last five league matches: Leicester D L D L L, Chelsea W L D W W.
Top scorers: James Scowcroft (Leicester) 4; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 20.
Match odds: H 7/2; A 8/13; D 5/2,
Referee: G Barber (Tring).
Manchester Utd (1) v Sunderland (13)
With Juan Sebastian Veron still sidelined with a knee injury, Alex Ferguson looks likely to stick to the Manchester United side which beat Bolton 4-0 on Tuesday.
Sunderland's new signing Joachim Bjorklund stands by to make his debut but Stefan Schwarz is suspended, and with Paul Thirlwell (ankle) ruled out and Gavin McCann (knee) struggling, Darren Williams comes into contention.
Last season: Sunderland 0 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 3 Sunderland 0.
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W L W, Sunderland L D L D L.
Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 25; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 10.
Match odds: H 1/5; A 10/1; D 4/1.
Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).
Newcastle (3) v Bolton (18)
Newcastle midfielder Gary Speed could return to action just two weeks after breaking a toe but Kieron Dyer is out for six-to-eight weeks.
Defender Bruno N'Gotty should return for Bolton. However, midfield men Paul Warhurst and Per Frandsen are still on the sick list.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Newcastle L L W D W, Bolton D D D D L.
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 15; Michael Ricketts (Bolton) 15.
Match odds: H 4/11; A 7/1; D 11/4.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
West Ham (14) v Blackburn (17)
Trevor Sinclair is set to return from injury for West Ham in place of Michael Carrick, who could face a prolonged spell on the sidelines with an abdominal problem. Don Hutchison (calf) should be fit.
Blackburn are missing David Dunn (calf).
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: West Ham D L W L L, Blackburn L L W L L.
Top scorers: Jermain Defoe (West Ham) 8; Matt Jansen (Blackburn) 11.
Match odds: H 10/11; A 12/5; D 9/4.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
SUNDAY
Leeds Utd (5) v Liverpool (4)
LEEDS' Jonathan Woodgate is out for six weeks with a hamstring strain, so Dominic Matteo will switch from left-back to the centre of defence, with Ian Harte recalled in his place. Seth Johnson (thigh) could be replaced by Olivier Dacourt or Harry Kewell. Alan Smith and Danny Mills are both banned.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard should return from a neck injury. New signing Abel Xavier is in the squad and Michael Owen could return. Danny Murphy and John Arne Riise can also expect to start after being on the bench in midweek.
Last season: Liverpool 1 Leeds 2, Leeds 4 Liverpool 3.
Last five league matches: Leeds W W L D L, Liverpool L D D W W.
Top scorers: Mark Viduka (Leeds) 12; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 20.
Match odds: H 13/10; A 13/8; D 11/5.
Referee: G Poll (Tring).
Middlesbrough (16) v Charlton (9)
Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu (groin)is likely to miss out and striker Alen Boksic is still sidelined by a calf problem.
Charlton's Claus Jensen is out with a knee injury but but Mark Fish should return following a stomach bug.
Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Charlton 0, Charlton 1 Middlesbrough 0.
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L W L D W, Charlton W W L L W.
Top scorers: Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 6; Jason Euell (Charlton) 9.
Match odds: H evens; A 11/5; D 11/5.
Referee: M Riley (Leeds).
