Saturday

Bradford (20) v Man City (18)

Bradford manager Jim Jefferies faces central defensive problems as Andy O'Brien and Robert Molenaar have toe injuries. David Wetherall could again take over the captain's armband if Stuart McCall fails to recover from thigh and hamstring problems.

Laurent Charvet returns for Manchester City as Alfie Haaland is suspended. Steve Howey will captain the side in Haaland's absence. Paul Dickov and Mark Kennedy are available again after long-term injuries.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Bradford L L L L L, Man City D D L W L.

Top scorers: Benito Carbone (Bradford) 6; Paulo Wanchope (Man City) 12.

Match odds: H 13/8 A 13/10 A 9/4.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Charlton (9) v Leeds (7)

Charlton striker Matthias Svensson is available after suspension and midfielder Mark Kinsella is set to return after recovering from hamstringtrouble. Goalkeeper Dean Kiely is out with a groin injury but striker Andy Hunt could be among the substitutes.

Leeds captain Lucas Radebe is again sidelined with a knee injury so Gary Kelly will be captain. Nigel Martyn, Rio Ferdinand, Olivier Dacourt and David Batty should all start, while Alan Smith and Robbie Keane will be vying for the second striking role alongside Mark Viduka.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Charlton W D W D D, Leeds W D D W D.

Top scorers: Shaun Bartlett, Jonatan Johansson (Charlton) 14; Mark Viduka (Leeds) 18.

Match odds: H 13/8 A 11/8 D 21/10.

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester).

Chelsea (8) v Sunderland (5)

Defender Mario Melchiot and midfielder Mario Stanic are back in Chelsea's squad. Gianfranco Zola, Celestine Babayaro and Jon Harley have recovered from flu but definitely out are Jody Morris (ankle), Winston Bogarde (knee) and long-term casualties Roberto di Matteo and Jes Hogh.

Sunderland are without Niall Quinn and Alex Rae through injuries. John Oster is banned after getting sent off at Leicester but Stanislav Varga returns having recovered from a groin injury. Loan signing Patrice Carteron is included for the first time.

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

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

Top scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 20; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 14.

Match odds: H 8/15 A 9/2 D 12/5.

Referee: P Durkin (Portland).

Man Utd (1) v Leicester (6)

David Beckham, Wes Brown and Dwight Yorke are in contention to return for Manchester United after being rested for the Champions League win against Sturm Graz. Ryan Giggs has recovered from flu but may not be considered after missing several days of training. Luke Chadwick stands by to continue. Andy Cole misses the game as he completes a three-match ban.

Leicester manager Peter Taylor will be forced to reshuffle his midfield line-up, with Muzzy Izzet and Robbie Savage ruled out through injuries. New signing Junior Lewis is brought back after being cup-tied and Matthew Jones is also in the frame for a recall. Goalkeeper Tim Flowers could be on the bench after a two-month lay-off.

Last season: Leicester 0 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 2 Leicester 0.

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

Top scorers: Teddy Sheringham (Man Utd) 20; Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 11.

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

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).

Newcastle (11) v M'brough (17)

Carl Cort will be in the Newcastle starting line-up for the first time since September. Captain Alan Shearer is unlikely to play any part because of a knee problem. Gary Speed and Clarence Acuna are fit again.

Forward Dean Windass could make his Premiership debut for Middlesbrough. Defenders Ugo Ehiogu and Keith O'Neill are suspended.

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

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

Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 7; Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 10.

Match odds: H 10/11 A 13/5 D 21/10.

Referee: G Barber (Tring).

Southampton (10) v Everton (16)

Southampton midfielder Chris Marsden serves a one-match ban and Hassan Kachloul is struggling to recover from a back injury, which could mean Matthew Le Tissier being recalled after five months out with a knee injury. Captain Jason Dodd (knee) is very doubtful.

Everton will have Richard Gough and Duncan Ferguson back for consideration as well as Paul Gascoigne, Mark Pembridge and Niclas Alexandersson. But Kevin Campbell is extremely doubtful while Francis Jeffers, Alec Cleland, Phil Jevons, Alex Nyarko, Danny Cadamarteri, Gary Naysmith and Joe-Max Moore are all out.

Last season: Southampton 2 Everton 0, Everton 4 Southampton 1.

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

Top scorers: James Beattie (Southampton) 12; Kevin Campbell, Francis Jeffers (Everton) 8.

Match odds: H 8/11 A 3/1 D 12/5.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).

Tottenham (13) v Coventry (19)

Spurs midfielder Darren Anderton's Achilles injury is back in plaster. Tim Sherwood joins Ben Thatcher, Chris Armstrong and Oyvind Leonhardsen on the injured list.

Gordon Strachan has no new injury or suspension problems to contend with.

Last season: Coventry 0 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 3 Coventry 2.

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

Top scorers: Sergei Rebrov (Tottenham) 11; John Hartson (Coventry) 11.

Match odds: H 8/15 A 9/2 D 12/5.

Referee: G Poll (Tring)

West Ham (14) v Ipswich (3)

Hayden Foxe could make his long-awaited debut for West Ham after finally securing a work permit. Ipswich recall Marcus Stewart following a three-match ban. Teenage defender Titus Bramble is suspended. Mark Venus is back in the squad after a groin strain.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

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

Top scorers: Frederic Kanoute (West Ham) 11; Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 17.

Match odds: H 11/10 A 2/1 D 11/5.

Referee: M Dean (Heswall).

Sunday

Aston Villa (12) v Arsenal (2)

Aston Villa midfielder George Boateng could miss his third successive match but Mark Delaney is expected to return. If Villa revert to a 3-5-2 formation Gareth Barry and Alan Wright will be hoping to win recalls.

Dennis Bergkamp returns to the Arsenal squad. But fellow striker Nwankwo Kanu is doubtful. Manager Arsene Wenger will run late fitness tests on skipper Tony Adams and goalkeeper David Seaman.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 1.

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

Top scorers: Julian Joachim (Aston Villa) 8; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 19.

Match odds: H 2/1 A 11/10 D 11/5.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington)

Liverpool (4) v Derby (15)

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier could bring Igor Biscan, cup-tied in Europe, and Gary McAllister into the fray. Striker Emile Heskey, who has been nursing a back problem, is due a game up front while Jari Litmanen and Christian Ziege could also figure. Stefano Eranio and Giorgi Kinkladze return for Derby as goalkeeper Andy Oakes retains his place.

Last season: Derby 0 Liverpool 2, Liverpool 2 Derby 0.

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

Top scorers: Emile Heskey (Liverpool) 19; Malcolm Christie (Derby) 10.

Match odds: H 2/5 A 13/2 D 13/5.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe.)

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill