English FA Premiership: Weekend team news

Saturday

Aston Villa (3rd) v Bolton (6th) - Olof Mellberg is set to miss out with an ankle injury and John Gregory has targeted next weekend's clash with Newcastle for his comeback. Juan Pablo Angel hopes to return after being rested in midweek.

Goalkeeper Steve Banks makes his Premiership debut for Bolton with Jussi Jaaskelainen suspended. Central defender Mike Whitlow is also banned and Colin Hendry could be drafted in.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

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

Top scorers: Angel, Vassell (Aston Villa) 6; Ricketts (Bolton) 6.

Match odds: H 4/6, A 7/2, D 23/10.

Referee: E Wolstenholme (Blackburn).

Charlton (15th) v Liverpool (5th) - Andy Todd will not be considered by Alan Curbishley following Tuesday's training ground fracas with Dean Kiely which left the goalkeeper nursing a black eye. Graham Stuart, who was available for the midweek defeat at Aston Villa after serving a three-match ban only to miss out through injury, could return to the bench.

Caretaker boss Phil Thompson (left) must decide whether to plunge Michael Owen into action after his hamstring troubles. Owen's England team-mate Steven Gerrard, who is having treatment on a slight back problem, comes into contention at The Valley.

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

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

Top scorers: Bartlett, Euell, Johansson (Charlton) 2; Owen (Liverpool) 9.

Match odds: H 3/1, A 4/5, D 21/10.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Everton (8th) v Newcastle (10th) - The loss of Welsh international Mark Pembridge with a calf injury should be countered by the return of Scot Gemmill to midfield after five weeks out with a back injury. Paul Gascoigne, Joe-Max Moore, David Unsworth and Alan Stubbs all came through a midweek reserve game unscathed after injuries.

Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee is a major doubt so boss Bobby Robson has added Frenchman Olivier Bernard to the squad as cover for Lee, who picked up a back injury in training after recovering from the illness which kept him out of the 2-0 defeat by Tottenham last Sunday. Again there is no place for out-of-favour full-back Warren Barton.

Last season: Everton 1 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 0 Everton 1.

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

Top scorers: Campbell (Everton) 4; Bellamy (Newcastle) 7.

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

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Fulham (16th) v Southampton (18th) - Fulham have employed six different combinations up front in as many matches but Barry Hayles impressed last week alongside record £11.5million signing Steve Marlet, scoring the goal in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich and that could mean Louis Saha, scorer of 32 goals last season, remaining on the bench.

Southampton are without Stuart Ripley (hamstring) and James Beattie is a major doubt after limping out of the midweek draw with Ipswich while midfielder Chris Marsden is banned for one match.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

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

Top scorers: Hayles, Saha (Fulham) 4; Beattie, Pahars (Southampton) 5.

Match odds: H 4/6, A 7/2, D 23/10.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).

Man Utd (4th) v Leeds (1st) - Roy Keane is a doubt for the champions and faces a fitness test on a knee injury with Nicky Butt on standby. Andy Cole is another doubtful starter because of a hamstring problem. Alex Ferguson has hinted he could start the game with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left) partnering Ruud van Nistelrooy in attack. If that happens and Keane returns Paul Scholes could be the one to stand down.

Leeds manager David O'Leary is poised to name an unchanged side for the fourth successive match, with Robbie Keane partnering Mark Viduka and Alan Smith starting on the bench. The Premiership leaders have no fresh injury worries as O'Leary's side look to retain the top-flight's only remaining unbeaten record.

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

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

Top scorers: Van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 8; Keane (Leeds) 6.

Match odds: H 4/5, A 3/1, D 21/10.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).

Sunderland (12th) v Arsenal (2nd) - Niall Quinn will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness as he bids to shake off back and ankle problems. Brazilian defender Emerson Thome is back in contention following knee surgery, while former Blackburn midfielder Jason McAteer is likely to make his home debut.

Ashley Cole has failed to recover from a hamstring injury and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has also omitted Gilles Grimandi from the squad of players who were on duty for Wednesday night's Champions League victory over Real Mallorca at Highbury.

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

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

Top scorers: Phillips (Sunderland) 6; Henry (Arsenal) 13.

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

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Tottenham (9th) v Middlesbrough (13th) - Mauricio Taricco (ankle ligaments) is a doubtful starter for Tottenham. Glenn Hoddle is ready to switch to an orthodox back-four, possibly giving left back Ben Thatcher his first Premiership start of the season and moving Ledley King from centre half to the right flank. Goran Bunjevcevic is back in the squad after fracturing a cheekbone against Chelsea last month and could be among the substitutes.

Middlesbrough could be unchanged following their 2-0 win over Sunderland on Monday. Argentinian teenager Carlos Marinelli could continue in midfield after recovering from a touch of sciatica.

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

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

Top scorers: Ziege (Tottenham) 5; Boksic (Middlesbrough) 3.

Match odds: H 8/13, A 7/2, D 5/2.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral).

Sunday

Derby (19th) v Chelsea (7th) - Keeper Mart Poom returns to the Derby squad for the first time in nine weeks after being sidelined with cracked ribs and manager Colin Todd will make a late decision on whether he will replace Ian Feuer. Defender Steve Elliott could also return to the starting line-up after missing the 1-1 draw with Charlton.

Chelsea skipper Marcel Desailly (left) is hoping to shake off an Achilles injury and the Blues are looking to bounce back from Wednesday night's 2-1 defeat at West Ham, when they surrendered their unbeaten run in the Premiership this season.

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

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

Top scorers: Ravanelli (Derby) 6; Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 9;

Match odds: H 11/4, A 10/11, D 2/1.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

Ipswich (17th) v West Ham (14th) - Ipswich will again be without Finidi George (depressed fracture of the cheekbone), and Titus Bramble (ankle) and expect to start with the formation that recovered from a 3-1 deficit to draw 3-3 at Southampton on Wednesday.

West Ham's Czech Republic defender Tomas Repka misses the trip due to a two-match suspension so Australian defender Hayden Foxe is set to replace him in the Hammers' starting line-up.

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

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

Top scorers: Stewart (Ipswich) 5; Kanoute (West Ham) 4.

Match odds: H Evs, A 11/5, D 11/5.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Odds courtesy of William Hill.