Saturday
Derby (17) v Wimbledon (15)
Lars Bohinen is set to return to Derby's midfield. The Norwegian is likely to replace Craig Burley, who is rated very doubtful with a hamstring injury. With Belgian ace Branko Strupar also likely to miss out because of a calf problem, 20-year-old Malcolm Christie could operate as a lone striker with Georgi Kinkladze behind him.
Wimbledon's Egil Olsen is likely to stick with the players who did so well in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United last week.
Last season: Wimbledon 2 Derby 1, Derby 0 Wimbledon 0.
Last five league matches: Derby W D D L D, Wimbledon L W L L D.
Top scorers: Branko Strupar (Derby) 14; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 16.
Match odds: H 11-10, A 2-1, D 11-5.
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).
Everton (7) v Sheff Wed (19)
Richard Gough is Everton's only injury doubt. He is struggling to recover from a thigh injury. Francis Jeffers is still out with his knee problem while Alex Cleland faces an operation on his damaged calf and is likely to be out for the rest of the season. Wim Jonk faces a late fitness test as he bids to recover from a groin injury. If Jonk is fit he is likely to relegate Danny Sonner to the bench. With Andy Booth and Simon Donnelly still out, Jonk's possible return is the only likely change to the side which was beaten by Newcastle last week.
Last season: Everton 1 Sheff Wed 2, Sheff Wed 0 Everton 0.
Last five league matches: Everton D L W W W, Sheff Wed W L D L L.
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 12; Gilles De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 8.
Match odds: H 1-2, A 9-2, D 13-5.
Referee: G Barber (Tring).
Man Utd (1) v Liverpool (4)
United will give skipper Roy Keane a late fitness test on a hamstring problem before finalising their side. With Paul Scholes also doubtful, United could face Liverpool with the same midfield they used at Wimbledon last Saturday.
Michael Owen figures in Liverpool's squad for the first time in six weeks and Gerard Houllier has to decide whether he starts or figures on the bench. Steven Gerrard and David Thompson are suspended but Rigobert Song returns after winning the African Nations Cup and Vegard Heggem and Dominic Matteo have shaken off injuries.
Last season: Liverpool 2 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 2 Liverpool 0.
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W L W D, Liverpool L W D W W.
Top scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 19; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9.
Match odds: H 4-5, A 11-4, D 9-4.
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).
Newcastle (12) v Chelsea (5)
Peruvian midfielder Nolberto Solano is back in the Newcastle squad after being disciplined for aggravating a thigh injury while on international duty. There is also a return for keeper Steve Harper, who damaged an ankle in training before the FA Cup quarterfinal at Tranmere.
Chelsea striker George Weah has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury and there is a doubt over fullback Jon Harley, who has a badly bruised toe following the defeat at Marseille. Celestine Babayaro is on stand-by. Graeme Le Saux is still out with an ankle injury but Dennis Wise and Frank Leboeuf are available after domestic bans.
Last season: Newcastle 0 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 1 Newcastle 1.
Last five league matches: Newcastle W L D W W, Chelsea D D W W W.
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 28; Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 14.
Match odds: H 7-5, A 6-4, D 9-4.
Referee: M Riley (Leeds).
Southampton (16) v Midd'bro (14)
Southampton have fitness doubts over Claus Lundekvam and Dean Richards. Lundekvam has a thigh strain while Richards is suffering from the effects of a calf muscle injury and an Achilles tendon problem. James Beattie is ruled out by an ankle injury suffered in training this week. Marian Pahars hopes to recover from a hamstring injury but Stuart Ripley is definitely ruled out because of Achilles problems.
Middlesbrough skipper Paul Ince will undergo a late fitness test on a groin injury. Gianluca Festa is suspended.
Last season: Middlesbrough 3 Southampton 0, Southampton 3 Middlesbrough 3.
Last five league matches: Southampton L W W W L, Middlesbrough L L L W D.
Top scorers: Marian Pahars (Southampton) 9; Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 9.
Match odds: H 11-10, A 2-1, D 11-5.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)
Tottenham (9) v Bradford (18)
Steffen Iversen has recovered from an ankle injury and is available to boost the Tottenham attack. Tim Sherwood is missing after having surgery on a groin injury.
Bradford are likely to have new recruit Jorge Cadete starting on the substitutes' bench again. He is still short of full match fitness.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Tottenham D L L L W, Bradford L W W L D.
Top scorers: Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 13; Lee Mills, Dean Windass and Dean Saunders (Bradford) 6.
Match odds: H 1-2, A 9-2, D 13-5.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
Watford (20) v West Ham (11)
Australian midfielder Richard Johnson returns to the Watford squad after hamstring and facial injuries but manager Graham Taylor may resist throwing him back into the Premiership with very little match practice. Neil Cox is available again after missing the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea through suspension.
West Ham look like having to do without striker Paolo di Canio who is struggling for fitness after a hamstring strain. Steve Potts is also ruled out for the Hammers but Craig Forrest returns from international duty and relegates on-loan Sasa Ilic to the bench.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Watford L L L D L, West Ham D W L W L.
Top scorers: Michel Ngonge (Watford) 5; Paolo di Canio (West Ham) 13.
Match odds: H 2-1, A 11-10, D 11-5.
Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).
Sunday
Aston Villa (8) v Arsenal (3)
Villa are without midfielder George Boateng and striker Benito Carbone. The duo are serving one-match bans.
Skipper Tony Adams faces a fitness test on a groin muscle strain which ruled him out of the UEFA Cup victory over Deportivo La Coruna but is likely to replace Ukrainian Oleg Luzhny at centre-half. Kanu and Ray Parlour could return to the starting line-up and Martin Keown and Gilles Grimandi both look likely starters as they are unavailable for the second leg of the UEFA Cup tie in Spain next Thursday through European suspensions.
Last season: Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 3 Arsenal 2.
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D D W W D, Arsenal W D L L W.
Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 12; Thierry Henry and Davor Suker (Arsenal) 11.
Match odds: H 6-4, A 7-5, D 9-4.
Referee: G Poll (Tring).
Leeds (2) v Coventry (13)
Leeds welcome Jason Wilcox back from suspension and his return on the left side of midfield is likely to mean Harry Kewell partnering Michael Bridges up front. Stephen McPhail is struggling to overcome his hamstring injury which means Matthew Jones is likely to continue in midfield. Alfie Haaland is likely to drop down to the substitutes' bench.
Coventry hope to have Cedric Roussel, Carlton Palmer and Stephen Froggatt back from injury. The trio missed out on the club's working break in Spain to continue with medical treatment.
Last season: Coventry 2 Leeds 2, Leeds 2 Coventry 0.
Last five league matches: Leeds W L W L D, Coventry D L W L L.
Top scorers: Michael Bridges (Leeds) 14; Robbie Keane (Coventry) 17.
Match odds: H 4-9, A 6-1, D 5-2.
Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
Leicester (10) v Sunderland (6)
The spotlight could focus on a player not involved in last Sunday's League Cup triumph - striker Stan Collymore. The former England star will be out to impress after City's infamous trip to Spain but manager Martin O'Neill may leave him on the bench. Winger Darren Eadie and defender Steve Walsh are also available.
Stefan Schwarz and Chris Makin are added to Sunderland's squad after missing last week's draw against Derby through suspension and are expected to return instead of Eric Roy and Darren Williams. Thomas Helmer is not considered match fit after just one reserve outing since recovering from an Achilles tendon injury while on loan with Hertha Berlin. Nicky Summerbee is in contention to return to the starting line-up after being dropped against Derby.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture.
Last five league matches: Leicester D D L W D, Sunderland L L D L D.
Top scorers: Tony Cottee and Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 9; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 23.
Match odds: H 10-11, A 9-4, D 12-5.
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill
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