English FA Premiership: Team news and statistics

Arsenal have Ashley Cole back from a knee injury but Robert Pires is ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and the Gunners are also missing Lauren (knee) and Ray Parlour (ankle). Thierry Henry is back from suspension, while Tony Adams makes his 500th league appearance for the club. Sunderland have slight injury doubts over Jason McAteer and Patrick Mboma - but both expect to be fit. Only Emerson Thome (knee) and Julio Arca (groin) remain on the casualty list, but the Brazilian is back in training

Today

Arsenal (3) v Sunderland (15)

Last season: Arsenal 2 Sunderland 2, Sunderland 1 Arsenal 0.

Last five league matches: Arsenal W W W W W, Sunderland L L W L D.

Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 28; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 11.

Match odds: H 1-4; A 9-1; D 7-2.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Bolton (16) v Aston Villa (7)

Greek defender Kostas Konstantinidis is poised to make his debut for Bolton. With goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen suspended, Jeff Cassar could be added to the squad after signing a short-term contract.

Aston Villa's new signing Peter Crouch will make his debut. Crouch's fellow striker Juan Pablo Angel is set to return to the squad after missing the last two games with a toe injury and may take the place of Paul Merson on the bench, because the former England international is struggling with a sore Achilles.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Bolton D D L L W, Aston Villa L W L L D.

Top scorers: Michael Ricketts (Bolton) 15; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 15.

Match odds: H 6-4; A 6-4; D 21-10.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).

Chelsea (6) v Derby (19)

Graeme le Saux returns from suspension for Chelsea. John Terry has been back in reserve action after recovering from a broken bone in his foot - and Boudewijn Zenden is also back from a two-month lay-off.

Derby forward Branko Strupar could be rewarded for his two stunning strikes against Everton last week with a starting place at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian hitman is set to replace Malcolm Christie up front because the youngster is still suffering with a hamstring injury. Defender Chris Riggott expects to pass a late fitness test - as do goalkeeper Andy Oakes and midfielder Giorgi Kinkladze.

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

Last five league matches: Chelsea L W W W L, Derby W D L W L.

Top scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 27; Fabrizio Ravanelli (Derby) 11.

Match odds: H 4-11; A 6-1; D 3-1.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral).

Leeds Utd (5) v Manchester Utd (2)

(live on Sky Sports 1, kick-off 12.0)

Leeds skipper Rio Ferdinand and midfielder Eirik Bakke will have early-morning fitness tests. Ferdinand is struggling with a knee injury, which sidelined him for last week's victory at Leicester, along with England's midweek friendly defeat against Italy. Norway international Bakke has a thigh problem, but Leeds are boosted in midfield with the return of Lee Bowyer following the completion of a six-match ban.

United skipper Roy Keane and striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are set to return. Leading goalscorer Ruud van Nistelrooy has also recovered from the slight groin strain which forced him to miss this week's internationals and he will join Solskjaer in attack.

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

Last five league matches: Leeds Utd D D W W W, Man Utd W D W W L.

Top scorers: Mark Viduka (Leeds Utd) 13; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 32.

Match odds: H 21-10; A 11-10; D 21-10.

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

Leicester (20) v Blackburn (17)

Leicester midfielder Robbie Savage is expected to be fit despite picking up a leg injury in midweek action for Wales against the Czech Republic. Frank Sinclair is expected to return in place of defender Jacob Laursen, who has joined Wolves on loan. James Scowcroft and wing-back Andrew Impey are still sidelined through injury.

Blackburn midfielder David Dunn will have a late fitness check on his hip injury but should be back. Apart from the suspended Andy Cole and injured goalkeeper Alan Kelly, Rovers have defender Craig Short, suspended for five games, back.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Leicester L L D D L, Blackburn L D W W L.

Top scorers: James Scowcroft (Leicester) 7; Matt Jansen (Blackburn) 14.

Match odds: H 11-5; A evs; D 11-5.

Referee: G Barber (Tring)

Liverpool (1) v Charlton (8)

Liverpool are set to recall Vladimir Smicer, the last-gasp matchwinner against Chelsea, to their starting line-up. Smicer is ready to replace Steven Gerrard, who has a groin injury. Abel Xavier is sidelined by a hamstring strain which caused him to miss Portugal's midweek match with Finland.

Luke Young and Paul Konchesky have recovered from the virus that kept them out of England Under-21 duty in midweek. Jorge Costa and Jonatan Johansson went through light training after returning from Portugal's friendly with Finland.

Last season: Charlton 0 Liverpool 4, Liverpool 3 Charlton 0.

Last five league matches: Liverpool D W W W W, Charlton D W D W L.

Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 23; Jason Euell (Charlton) 12.

Match odds: H 3-10; A 15-2; D 11-5.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).

Middlesbrough (10) v Tottenham (9)

(Live on Premiership Plus, kick-off 5.35 p.m.) Middlesbrough's Paul Ince and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer have both been struck down by a virus. Back-up goalkeeper Mark Crossley is also a doubt with a knee injury, and Marlon Beresford has been recalled from a loan spell at Burnley as a precaution - while midfielder Jonathan Greening will undergo a late fitness test on a groin problem. Defender Gianluca Festa completes a two-match ban.

Captain Teddy Sheringham and Christian Ziege are Tottenham's two main doubts. Sheringham aggravated a groin injury during England's defeat against Italy, while Ziege also picked up a knock as he captained Germany for the first time in their friendly against the USA. Leading scorer Les Ferdinand (Achilles) and defender Dean Richards (groin) hope to return.

Last season: Tottenham 0 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 1.

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L W D L W, Tottenham W L L L W.

Top scorers: Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 8; Les Ferdinand (Tottenham) 15.

Match odds: H 5-4; A 7-4; D 11-5.

Referee: P Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).

Southampton (11) v Fulham (14)

Republic of Ireland international Rory Delap is back after being sent off against Bolton last month. Midfielder Chris Marsden is a doubt as he struggles to recover from a calf strain but captain Jason Dodd is in contention after overcoming a knee problem.

Fulham manager Jean Tigana, desperate to end the run of six Premiership defeats which have left his side hovering just three points above the Premiership relegation zone, has no new injury problems. The only casualty is midfielder Lee Clark with his long-running Achilles problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Southampton D W D D D, Fulham L L L L L.

Top scorers: Marian Pahars (Southampton) 15; Barry Hayles (Fulham) 11.

Match odds: H evs; A 23-10; D 21-10.

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

West Ham (12) v Ipswich (18)

All West Ham's international brigade returned unscathed this week following the midweek friendlies so Glenn Roeder has a virtually full squad to select from. Long-term injury victim Don Hutchison is the only notable absentee.

Argentinian midfielder Sixto Peralta should be fit after his thigh injury to start for Ipswich and at right-full Fabian Wilnis looks set to replace the injured Chris Makin. There is a doubt about Finidi George, who faces a late fitness test on a sore back and 19-year-old striker Darren Bent has been added to the squad.

Last season: West Ham 0 Ipswich 1, Ipswich 1 West Ham 1.

Last five league matches: West Ham L W L W L, Ipswich L L L D D.

Top scorers: Jermain Defoe (West Ham) 11; Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 10.

Match odds: H 8-11; A 10-3; D 11-5.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).