English Premiership Previews

Today

(Current League positions in brackets)

Charlton (18) v Blackburn (17)

Charlton have centre-back Richard Rufus available after he won his appeal to have a red card, collected against Leeds a fortnight ago, overturned by the Football Association.

Blackburn give fitness tests to Stephane Henchoz (groin), Keith Gillespie (ankle), Damien Johnson (leg) and Lee Carsley (ankle). Ashley Ward and Kevin Gallacher look set to start up front with record signing Kevin Davies again relegated to the bench.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Charlton WLDLL, Blackburn WDLDL.

Top scorers: Graham Stuart (Charlton) 10; Ashley Ward (Blackburn) 20.

Match odds: H 5-4, A 7-4, D 9-4.

Referee: P Durkin (Portland).

Chelsea (3) v Everton (15)

Chelsea are hoping keeper Ed De Goey will recover from a toe injury but Kevin Hitchcock stands by to make his second start of the season. Gustavo Poyet is doubtful because of a rib injury.

Everton will be without Scot Gemmill as well as Italian defender Marco Materazzi, who are both banned.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Everton 0, Everton 3 Chelsea 1.

Last five League matches: Chelsea WWDDD, Everton LLWWW.

Top scorers: Gianfranco Zola, Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 13; Ibrahima Bakayoko (Everton) 7.

Match odds: H 4-9, A 11-2, D 11-4.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).

Coventry (16) v Wimbledon (13)

Coventry will recall Gary McAllister after his one-match ban. Marcus Hall is expected to play on the left side of midfield with Barry Quinn making way for McAllister. Wimbledon winger Gareth Ainsworth has again been struck down by the groin injury which kept him out of football for three months earlier this season. Chris Perry (foot) and Neal Ardley (toe) join long-term victims Efan Ekoku and Michael Hughes on the list of crocks while Andy Roberts is suspended.

Last season: Coventry 0 Wimbledon 0, Wimbledon 1 Coventry 2.

Last five League matches: Coventry WWLLL, Wimbledon DLLLD.

Top scorers: John Aloisi (Coventry) 21; Marcus Gayle (Wimbledon) 11.

Match odds: H 4-6, A 100-30, D 5-2.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Liverpool (9) v Tottenham (10)

Brad Friedel keeps his place in the Liverpool goal but still out injured are Patrik Berger, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. Teenager Steven Gerrard, who has made a big impression in midfield and stand-in full-back, has recovered from an ankle injury and could return.

Spurs are without Les Ferdinand (Achilles) and suspended pair Luke Young and Andy Sinton. Allan Nielsen also misses out having taken a knock playing for Denmark in midweek.

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

Last five League matches: Liverpool DDLLW, Tottenham LDWWL.

Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 23; Chris Armstrong, Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 12.

Match odds: H 4-5, A 3-1, D 9-4.

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).

Man Utd (2) v Aston Villa (5)

United have doubts over Jaap Stam (ankle ligament) and Ryan Giggs (ankle). If Giggs fails to make it Jesper Blomqvist will step in again with Wes Brown or David May lining up with Ronny Johnsen at the centre of the defence should Stam also stand down. United also have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (knee) out and captain Roy Keane suspended.

Villa trio Mark Bosnich (foot), Dion Dublin (knee) and Gareth Southgate (ankle) have all been under treatment this week but should be fit. Ugo Ehiogu is in the running to start his first senior game for three months following his recovery from a fractured eye socket.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 2.

Last five League matches: Man Utd WWDWD, Aston Villa DDWWW.

Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 27; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 15.

Match odds: H 1-3, A 13-2, D 100-30.

Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy).

Newcastle (12) v Middlesbrough (7)

Newcastle striker Duncan Ferguson will start his first game since December 28th. The big Scot, who underwent surgery on a groin injury at the turn of the year, will line up alongside skipper Alan Shearer.

Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Gascoigne's dead leg will again keep him out, and defender Colin Cooper - who damaged a knee during last week's 61 home defeat by Arsenal - has joined Gianluca Festa and Keith O'Neill on the long-term injury list.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Newcastle WDLDD, Middlesbrough WWDWL.

Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 20; Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 18.

Match odds: H Evens A 9-4 D 9-4.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

Nottm Forest (20) v Sheff Wed (14)

Forest boss Ron Atkinson is set to recall Pierre Van Hooijdonk after he relegated the Dutch striker to the bench for last Saturday's date with Aston Villa. Atkinson is also expected to recall Carlton Palmer, Christian Edwards and Richard Gough after suspensions. Midfielder Andy Johnson (Achilles) and Jon Olav Hjelde (groin) look set to miss out.

Left-back Andy Hinchcliffe (knee) is a doubt for Wednesday, and midfielder Phillip Scott is definitely sidelined for the second successive game with an Achilles problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Nottm Forest LDLLL, Sheff Wed LWLDD.

Top scorers: Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 11; Richard Cresswell (Sheff Wed) 19.

Match odds: H 12-5, A 10-11, D 12-5.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).

Southampton (19) v Leicester (11)

Southampton have Matt Le Tissier battling to shake off his lingering calf injury. Norwegian defender Claus Lundekvam is available again following a one-match ban. John Beresford could start his first game for eight months after recovering from a long-term knee injury. Danish keeper Michael Stensgaard is battling to recover from a back injury. Winger Stuart Ripley is unavailable as he starts a three-match ban.

Leicester have skipper Steve Walsh back from an ankle injury but defensive partner Gerry Taggart (hamstring) is definitely out.

Last season: Southampton 2 Leicester 1, Leicester 3 Southampton 3.

Last five League matches: Southampton DLLDD, Leicester DDDWW.

Top scorers: Egil Ostenstad (Southampton) 8; Tony Cottee (Leicester) 15.

Match odds: H 4-6, A 100-30, D 5-2.

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead).

West Ham (6) v Leeds (4)

Defender Rio Ferdinand is almost certain to be out with the ankle injury he picked up for England against Hungary. He will have a late fitness test along with Steve Lomas, who also has an ankle problem sustained while on duty with Northern Ireland.

Leeds are without midfielder David Hopkin, who is sidelined by an ankle injury. Jonathon Woodgate is doubtful due to a foot injury sustained against Manchester United. Alfie Haaland returns from international duty with Norway and is certain to slot in at right-back, while Lee Bowyer is available after escaping a Football Association ban yesterday despite picking up 11 bookings.

Last season: West Ham 3 Leeds 0, Leeds 3 West Ham 1.

Last five League matches: West Ham DLDWW, Leeds WWDDD.

Top scorers: Ian Wright (West Ham) 9; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 18.

Match odds: H 5-4, A 7-4, D 9-4.

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).

Sunday

Arsenal (1) v Derby (8)

Dennis Bergkamp faces a late fitness test on a stomach injury before Arsene Wenger decides whether to break up the Nicolas Anelka-Nwankwo Kanu partnership which was responsible for four of the six goals at Middlesbrough last week.

Derby's hopes of halting Arsenal's championship charge have been hit by injuries to three defenders. Left wing-backs Tony Dorigo and Stefan Schnoor are doubtful and Igor Stimac is still recovering from an ankle problem. But Rory Delap could start at right wing-back.

Last season: Arsenal 1 Derby 0, Derby 3 Arsenal 0.

Last five League matches: Arsenal WDWWW, Derby LLWLD.

Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 17; Deon Burton (Derby) 12.

Match odds: H 1-5, A 10-1, D 4-1.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.