English Premiership Previews

Saturday

Aston Villa (6) v Bradford (18)

VILLA GOALKEEPER David James has failed to recover from injury, so Finn Peter Enckelman again deputises. Defender Gareth Southgate and top scorer Dion Dublin return. Bradford manager Paul Jewell is again without long-term injured Jamie Lawrence, Isiah Rankin and Lee Sharpe, while defender Lee Todd is on loan at Walsall.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Aston Villa DLWWL, Bradford DLLLD

Top scorers: D Dublin (Aston Villa) 4; P Beagrie, R Blake, S McCall, D Saunders (Bradford) 1.

Match odds: H 4-11 A 13-2 D 3-1

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)

Derby (14) v Sunderland (8)

DERBY MANAGER Jim Smith welcomes back Darryl Powell, Jacob Laursen, Stefano Eranio and Stefan Schnoor. He is hopeful Rory Delap will also be available. Dean Sturridge and Deon Burton are still out.

Manager Peter Reid is expected to utilise his usual Premiership starting line-up with the possible inclusion of Alex Rae.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Derby LLWWD, Sunderland DLWDW

Top scorers: R Delap (Derby) 2; K Phillips (Sunderland) 5

Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 9-4

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)

Leicester (11) v Liverpool (12)

LEICESTER BOSS Martin O'Neill is sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Pegguy Arphexad. With Tim Flowers definitely out, onloan keeper Alan Fettis may have to make his debut. Michael Owen could make his first Premiership start of the season. Liverpool expect skipper Jamie Redknapp back, but Vladimir Smicer is still struggling with a hamstring strain. Steve Staunton could return.

Last season: Liverpool 0 Leicester 1, Leicester 1 Liverpool 0

Last five league matches: Leicester DLWWL, Liverpool LLWWL

Top scorers: E Heskey (Leicester) 4; P Berger (Liverpool) 3

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

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)

Man Utd (1) v Wimbledon (16)

ALEX FERGUSON brings in goalkeeper Massimo Taibi and French under-21 defender Mickael Silvestre. The new boys were ineligible for Tuesday's Champions league game. John Hartson missed training yesterday but will check his injured ankle today, while Kenny Cunningham has been receiving treatment for a groin strain.

Last season: Wimbledon 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 5 Wimbledon 1

Last five league matches: Man Utd WWWWW, Wimbledon DDLLD

Top scorers: A Cole (Man Utd) 6; C Cort (Wimbledon) 3

Match odds: H 1-5 A 11-1 D 4-1

Referee: R Harris (Oxford)

Southampton (13) v Arsenal (5)

WINGER Luis Boa Morte (hamstring) and striker Kevin Davies (ankle) are doubtful for Southampton while striker Marian Pahars, defender Francis Benali and midfielder Trond Soltvedt face late tests. Matthew Le Tissier could return, but winger Stuart Ripley is out. Arsenal are without David Seaman and Emmanuel Petit, who are not expected to return to action for a further two weeks. Dennis Bergkamp may be while Lee Dixon and Ray Parlour should return after being suspended in the European game.

Last season: Southampton 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 1 Southampton 1

Last five league matches: Southampton LWLWL, Arsenal DLWLW

Top scorers: H Kachloul (Southampton) 4; N Kanu (Arsenal) 3

Match odds: H 10-3 A 8-11 D 9-4

Referee: G Barber (Tring)

Watford (15) v Chelsea (2)

WATFORD HAVE fitness doubts over Micah Hyde and Nick Wright, who picked up knocks in the 2-0 Worthington Cup victory over Wigan in midweek.

Defender Frank Leboeuf, captain Dennis Wise and midfielder Gustavo Poyet are Chelsea's main injury doubts.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures

Last five league matches: Watford WWLLL, Chelsea WDWWW

Top scorers: T Mooney (Watford) 2; G Poyet (Chelsea) 3

Match odds: H 5-1 A 8-15 D 12-5

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)

SUNDAY

Everton (9) v West Ham (3)

PORTUGUESE new boy Abel Xavier could make his full Everton debut. Richard Dunne is available after a two-match suspension, Dave Watson should also be available in defence but Mark Pembridge and Terry Phelan are injured. Paolo Di Canio and Shaka Hislop should both be fit for West Ham. Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand, both have outside chances of recovering from their injuries.

Last season: Everton 6 West Ham 0, West Ham 2 Everton 1

Last five league matches: Everton LWWLW, West Ham WDWWW

Top scorers: F Jeffers, D Unsworth (Everton) 3; P Wanchope (West Ham) 4

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

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington, Kent)

Leeds (4) v Middlesbrough (7)

LEEDS ARE without Michael Duberry (thigh) and Stephen McPhail (ankle). David Hopkin is fit, while Lee Bowyer will also play after shaking off a tight hamstring.

Middlesbrough will be without midfielder Paul Gascoigne (calf) and full-back Phil Stamp (hamstring).

Last season: Leeds 2 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 0 Leeds 0

Last five league matches: Leeds LWLWW, Middlesbrough WWLLW

Top scorers: L Bowyer, M Bridges (Leeds) 4; B Deane, H Ricard (Middlesbrough) 3

Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 12-5

Referee: G Willard (Worthing)

Newcastle (19) v Sheff Wed (20)

NEWCASTLE HAVE injury worries over Duncan Ferguson, Marcelino and Frank Dumas. Nikos Dabizas is suspended. Wednesday's Philip Scott is out for two months, while skipper Peter Atherton is likely to be sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Last season: Sheff Wed 1 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 1 Sheff Wed 1

Last five league matches: Newcastle LDLLL, Sheff Wed DLLLL

Top scorers: A Shearer (Newcastle) 4; B Carbone (Sheff Wed) 2

Match odds: H 8-13 A 7-2 D 13-5

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)

Tottenham (10) v Coventry (17)

LES FERDINAND is hoping to shake off an ankle injury but is still not guaranteed a place in the starting line-up as Chris Armstrong is on form.

Spurs are still Sol Campbell, Darren Anderton, Ramon Vega, John Scales and Willem Korsten.

Coventry boss Gordon Strachan has Robbie Keane, Youssef Chippo, Mustapha Hadji and Magnus Hedman, back in the side.

Last season: Tottenham 0 Coventry 0, Coventry 1 Tottenham 1

Last five league matches: Tottenham WWWLD, Coventry DWLDL

Top scorers: S Iversen, T Sherwood (Tottenham) 3; R Keane (Coventry) 5

Match odds: H 8-13 A 7-2 D 13-5

Referee: A P D'Urso (Billericay)