Saturday
Chelsea (5) v Wimbledon (14)
Chelsea are still without three full-backs. Albert Ferrer has not recovered from an ankle problem and Celestine Babayaro is not back from international duty with Nigeria until next week. Andreas Lund is likely to be thrown straight into action for Wimbledon after his £2.5 million move from Molde. He will ease the burden on Egil Olsen, who has John Hartson out with a knee injury and Marcus Gayle on international duty with Jamaica.
Last season: Wimbledon 1 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 3 Wimbledon 0
Last five league matches: Chelsea DWDDW, Wimbledon LWLWL
Top scorers: Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 13; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 15
Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)
Coventry (12) v S'derland (6)
Moroccan internationals Youssef Chippo and Mustapha Hadji return to Coventry's team after playing in the African Nations Cup.
Sunderland look for a first win in eight matches without defenders Steve Bould (hamstring) and Michael Gray who misses his first game of the season because of a sciatica problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Coventry WDWDL, Sunderland DLLLD
Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Coventry) 15; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 22
Match odds: H 6-5 A 7-4 D 9-4
Referee: M Riley (Leeds)
Everton (10) v Derby (17)
Everton, unbeaten at home in the Premiership for nine months, are without the banned David Unsworth so Michael Ball will switch from his stand-in role in midfield to his more familiar left-back slot.
Jim Smith must decide whether to give Georgi Kinkladze his first start in two months. Midfielder Kinkladze has impressed when coming off the bench in the Rams' last two games and now Smith has to determine if he should deploy the Georgian from the kick-off.
Last season: Derby 2 Everton 1, Everton 0 Derby 0
Last five league matches: Everton DDDLW, Derby DWWDD
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 12; Branko Strupar (Derby) 13
Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 9-4
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)
Leeds (2) v Tottenham (7)
Striker Michael Bridges is out after spraining an ankle in training. Manager David O'Leary is likely to retain Harry Kewell and Alan Smith up front as United look to revive their title challenge following three defeats in their last four league matches. David Hopkin completes a three-match suspension, while fellow midfielder David Batty is still another week away from a possible return. Oyvind Leonhardsen and Steffen Freund are back in the Tottenham midfield - but neither is likely to start. George Graham, facing the club he left for Spurs in September 1998, may opt to give Chris Armstrong a lone striking role, with top scorer Steffen Iversen (ankle) joining Les Ferdinand (Achilles) on the sidelines.
Last season: Leeds 2 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 3 Leeds 3
Last five league matches: Leeds WLLWL, Tottenham WLDLL
Top scorers: Michael Bridges (Leeds) 14; Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 13
Match odds: H 8-15 A 4-1 D 13-5
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon)
Newcastle (13) v Man Utd (1)
Newcastle have no new injury problems. Alessandro Pistone broke a leg in the 2-2 draw with Sunderland last weekend and Nolberto Solano is on international duty with Peru. Aaron Hughes and Kevin Gallacher will be hoping to return. Andy Cole is likely to start alongside Teddy Sheringham up front as he bids to reach the milestone of 100 goals for United. With Dwight Yorke on international duty, Alex Ferguson will have to choose between Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to start in attack with Cole.
Last season: Newcastle 1 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 0 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Newcastle WDWLD, Man Utd DDWWW
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 25; Andy Cole (Man Utd) 17
Match odds: H 11-5 A Evs D 11-5
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)
Sheff Wed (19) v S'hampton (16)
Wednesday striker Andy Booth is back in contention for the first time in six weeks, but even if fully fit, he is unlikely to dislodge Gilles De Bilde and Gerald Sibon up front. Doubts surround Niclas Alexandersson (knee), Wim Jonk (groin) and Ian Nolan (tonsillitis), while Philip Scott is out for three weeks. Norwegian defender Claus Lundekvam is available to return for Southampton following a one-match ban. French defender Patrick Colleter is doubtful with a thigh injury, while winger Wayne Bridge is suspended. Moroccan midfielder Hassan Kachloul is back from international duty, but Matthew Le Tissier and Stuart Ripley are ruled out by calf and hamstring injuries.
Last season: Southampton 1 Sheff Wed 0, Sheff Wed 0 Southampton 0
Last five league matches: Sheff Wed DWWLD, Southampton LWLWW
Top scorers: Gilles de Bilde (Sheff Wed) 8; Marian Pahars (Southampton) 9
Match odds: H Evs A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood, Staffs)
Watford (20) v Leicester (9)
Nordin Wooter could make his first start for two months for Watford. The Dutchman returned from an ankle injury as a second-half substitute in the 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa last week, linking up for the first time with £1.5 million Icelander Heidar Helguson and the duo could start against Leicester. Michel Ngonge returns from African Nations Cup duty with Congo.
Stan Collymore is poised for a return to the Premiership after 11 months away from the top flight. Emile Heskey and Tony Cottee both return. But manager Martin O'Neill must decide whether to rest key players Neil Lennon, Robbie Savage, Muzzy Izzet and Gerry Taggart, all of whom have one yellow card against their name. If any of them are booked during the Vicarage Road match they will miss the Worthington Cup Final against Tranmere on February 27th.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Watford WLLLL, Leicester LDDLW
Top scorers: Michel Ngonge (Watford) 5; Tony Cottee, Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 9
Match odds: H 11-5 A Evs D 11-5
Referee: A D'urso (Billericay, Essex)
West Ham (11) v B'ford (18)
West Ham will be without four key players - Paulo Wanchope, Craig Forrest, Javier Margas and Marc-Vivien Foe are all on international duty. Paolo di Canio and Shaka Hislop have both recovered from hamstring problems. Bradford striker Lee Mills will miss the trip as City look to end a run of seven successive away defeats in the Premiership. Mills has a back problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Ham DDDWL, Bradford LDLWW
Top scorers: Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 12; Lee Mills, Dean Saunders (Bradford) 6
Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)
Sunday
Arsenal (3) v Liverpool (4)
Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira should return to the Arsenal starting line-up. Manager Arsene Wenger expects to have to wait at least another week for the return of Marc Overmars. Silvinho is available again and the Brazilian could return at the expense of veteran Nigel Winterburn. Wenger looks sure to pair Bergkamp with French flier Thierry Henry up front. Davor Suker looks like being left out.
Manager Gerard Houllier expects to name an unchanged team following victory over Leeds last weekend. David Thompson is still suspended, while the club's three injured England internationals still view March as their comeback date. Jamie Redknapp has pencilled in a reserve game at Blackburn on March 8th for his first run-out since knee surgery, while Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler both expect to return in March.
Last season: Arsenal 0 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal WDWDL, Liverpool WLWDW
Top scorers: Thierry Henry, Davor Suker (Arsenal) 11; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9
Match odds: H 5-6 A 5-2 D 12-5 Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill
