Saturday
Aston Villa (5) v Leicester (19)
Villa manager John Gregory will recall left back Alan Wright, midfielders George Boateng and Paul Merson and strikers Juan Pablo Angel and Darius Vassell after they were rested for the midweek League Cup defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.
Leicester midfielder Muzzy Izzet is doubtful after picking up a neck injury in training on Tuesday.
Last season: Aston Villa 2 Leicester 1, Leicester 0 Aston Villa 0.
Last five league matches: Villa W W L D D, Leicester L D W L D.
Top scorers: Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 8 Ade Akinbiyi (Leicester) 2.
Match odds: H 1/2; A 11/2; D 23/10.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent)
Blackburn (10) v Middlesbrough (14)
Lucas Neill and Corrado Grabbi have returned to the Blackburn squad but skipper Garry Flitcroft is still out. Henning Berg, Craig Short, Stig Inge Bjornebye and Matt Jansen are back after missing the midweek League Cup win over Manchester City.
Middlesbrough will again be without Paul Ince, who completes a three-match suspension. They could be unchanged if full back Robbie Stockdale recovers from a slight ankle injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Blackburn D D W D D, Middlesbrough W L W D D.
Top scorers: Matt Jansen (Blackburn) 4 Alen Boksic (MIddlesbrough) 5.
Match odds: H 5/6; A 3/1; D 2/1.
Referee: B Knight (Orpington).
Charlton (16) v Newcastle (4)
Charlton are likely to welcome Mark Fish back to their defence after he missed Tuesday's League Cup defeat at Watford with a shin injury. Fish is likely to replace transfer-listed Andy Todd, while Jon Fortune has recovered from flu.
Newcastle boss Bobby Robson is waiting on striker Craig Bellamy, defender Aaron Hughes and full back Robbie Elliott, who are all suffering from a virus, while goalkeeper Shay Given may return after sitting out on Tuesday night's League Cup win over Ipswich with a shoulder problem.
Last season: Charlton 2 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 0 Charlton 1.
Last five league matches: Charlton L L W D L, Newcastle L W W L W.
Top scorers: Jason Euell (Charlton) 5 Craig Bellamy (Newcastle) 10.
Match odds: H 6/4; A 6/4; D 21/10.
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).
Derby (18) v Liverpool (1)
Derby midfielder Giorgi Kinkladze returns to the squad as Craig Burley is sidelined with a knee injury. Striker Malcolm Christie could also return.
Liverpool are likely to have Michael Owen available following a recent thigh injury, and the England striker is set to play on a ground where last season he was knocked unconscious during Liverpool's 4-0 victory.
Last season: Liverpool 1 Derby 1, Derby 0 Liverpool 4.
Last five league matches: Derby D D L W L, Liverpool W W W D W.
Top scorers: Fabrizio Ravanelli (Derby) 8; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 14.
Match odds: H 7/2; A 4/6; A 23/10.
Referee: G Barber (Tring).
Ipswich (20) v Arsenal (3)
Ipswich recall defenders Mark Venus and Titus Bramble and midfielder Sixto Peralta after they missed the League Cup defeat at Newcastle. Alun Armstrong (hamstring) is rated 50-50, but Marcus Bent, signed from Blackburn last week, will make his home debut. Finidi George will be on the bench.
Arsenal are without Sylvain Wiltord (thigh). Stuart Taylor (21), continues in goal with David Seaman (shoulder) and Richard Wright still sidelined. Martin Keown is fit again after a rib injury.
Last season: Arsenal 1 Ipswich 0, Ipswich 1 Arsenal 1.
Last five league matches: Ipswich D L L L D, Arsenal D D L D W.
Top scorers: Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 8; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 17.
Match odds: H 3/1; A 4/5; D 21/10.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)
Manchester Utd (6) v Chelsea (8)
Alex Ferguson is staying tight-lipped about whether he will rest goalkeeper Fabien Barthez following his blunders against Arsenal on Sunday. Andy Cole is ready to step back after five games out with a thigh injury.
Chelsea's Marcel Desailly (Achilles) and Emmanuel Petit (calf) face fitness tests.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 3 Chelsea 3.
Last five league matches: Man Utd L D L W L, Chelsea L D W D D.
Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 10; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 10
Match odds: H 4/6; A 4/1; D 21/10.
Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood)
Sunderland (13) v West Ham (15)
Sunderland boss Peter Reid will again be without influential defender Jody Craddock, who suffered a nasty gash to his shin in the 1-0 defeat at Leicester on November 3rd.
England under-21 midfielder Michael Carrick returns for West Ham after missing the home loss to Spurs last weekend with a hamstring strain.
Last season: West Ham 0 Sunderland 2, Sunderland 1 West Ham 1.
Last five league matches: Sunderland L D L W L, West Ham W W L D L.
Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 7 Frederic Kanoute (West Ham) 5.
Match odds: H 4/5; A 3/1; D 21/10.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
Sunday
Everton (12) v Southampton (17)
Everton strikers Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell are still injured and manager Walter Smith will again have to field a makeshift strike force.
Southampton defender Claus Lundekvam is facing a battle to recover from a foot injury. Midfielder Matthew Oakley is hoping to recover from a bruised toe.
Last season: Southampton 1 Everton 0, Everton 1 Southampton 1.
Last five league matches: Everton W L D D D, S'hampton D L L L W.
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 4 Marian Pahars (Southampton) 7.
Match odds: H 8/11; A 10/3; D 11/5.
Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
Fulham (11) v Leeds (2)
Fulham boss Jean Tigana is set to bring back Edwin van der Sar, Rufus Brevett, Andy Melville, Steed Malbranque and Louis Saha, who were all rested in Thursday's defeat to Tottenham. Steve Marlet is still out with a fractured leg, but Sylvain Legwinski could feature after starting the last seven games.
Robbie Fowler (pictured above at yesterday's news conference) is likely to go straight into the starting line-up for Leeds his move from Liverpool. Mark Viduka, despite picking up a stomach bug on the way home from Australia's World Cup play-off in Uruguay, is certain to partner him.
Last season: No corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Fulham D W W W D, Leeds D D W L D.
Top scorers: Barry Hayles, Steed Malbranque, Louis Saha (Fulham) 5 Robbie Keane (Leeds) 7.
Match odds: H 7/4; A 13/10; D 21/10.
Referee: G Poll (Tring).
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.
