English Premiership Previews

Today

(Current league positions in brackets)

Arsenal (3) v Watford (14)

Alex Manninger will continue in goal for Arsenal even though England keeper David Seaman is fit again after a thigh injury that has kept him out all season. Gilles Grimandi is ruled out after damaging a thigh muscle against AIK Solna. Dennis Bergkamp, who is ready to travel by train to next Wednesday's Champions League date in Barcelona, could be rested with Nigerian star Kanu likely to return to the starting line-up along with winger Ray Parlour.

Watford's record signing Nordin Wooter is fit to face the Gunners but strike partner Tommy Mooney misses out. He hasn't recovered from a knee injury picked up against Chelsea and won't play.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Arsenal L W L W W, Watford W L L L W.

Top scorers: Kanu, Davor Suker (Arsenal) 3; Peter Kennedy, Tommy Mooney (Watford) 2.

Match odds: H 2-9 A 9-1 D 4-1.

Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset).

Coventry (17) v West Ham (8)

Robbie Keane returns for Coventry but manager Gordon Strachan has ruled out Noel Whelan and John Aloisi, who are injured, and it looks as though Moroccan midfielder Mustapha Hadji will move up front. Carlton Palmer, on loan from Nottingham Forest, makes his Premiership debut and Swedish goalkeeper Magnus Hedman is expected to be fit to take over from teenager Chris Kirkland.

West Ham have major injury problems. They are without Javier Margas, Stuart Pearce, Ian Pearce, Rio Ferdinand, Neil Ruddock, Scott Minto and Joe Cole.

Last season: West Ham 2 Coventry 0, Coventry 0 West Ham 0.

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

Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Coventry) 8; Paulo Wanchope (West Ham) 5.

Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 11-5.

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).

Derby (15) v Bradford (18)

Dean Sturridge is set to partner Esteban Fuertes up front after coming off the bench to score in the midweek League Cup win over Swansea. Lars Bohinen has been suspended by manager Jim Smith, so Rory Delap should line up in midfield alongside the recalled Seth Johnson in the likely absence of new captain Darryl Powell (knee). Horacio Carbonari is back at the heart of the Derby defence in place of the injured Jacob Laursen, who has an ankle injury, and Steve Elliott may make his first League start of the season.

Bradford midfielder Neil Redfearn has yet to recover from the ankle problem sustained in training a week ago and joins Jamie Lawrence, Isaiah Rankin and Lee Sharpe on the sidelines. Defender Darren Moore is the only other doubt.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

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

Top scorers: Rory Delap, Esteban Fuertes, Dean Sturridge (Derby) 2; Dean Saunders (Bradford) 2.

Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 12-5.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City, Herts).

Leeds (2) v Newcastle (19)

Leeds midfielder David Hopkin is manager David O'Leary's only doubt. The Scottish international sustained a dead leg during the win over Middlesbrough last Saturday, restricting his training this week. Striker Michael Bridges is fit despite picking up a groin strain in the same match, but O'Leary is again without Michael Duberry (thigh) and Stephen McPhail (ankle), while Martin Hiden is out with the bruised ribs sustained in a midweek reserve game.

Rob Lee is a doubt for Newcastle after picking up a calf injury in training but Spanish defender Marcelino could return from a thigh injury which has limited him to just two games so far this season in the absence of the suspended Nikos Dabizas. Duncan Ferguson is out for up to three weeks with the hamstring problem he picked up against CSKA Sofia.

Last season: Leeds 0 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 0 Leeds 3.

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

Top scorers: Michael Bridges (Leeds) 5; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 9.

Match odds: H 8-11 A 3-1 D 5-2.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington, Kent).

Leicester (11) v Aston Villa (4)

Tim Flowers is in line for a surprise return for Leicester after a swift recovery from a rib injury sustained against Crystal Palace last week. Matt Elliott, Steve Guppy, Muzzy Izzet and Tony Cottee are back after being rested in midweek but Gerry Taggart is out through suspension.

Julian Joachim is hoping to win a Villa recall against his old club after being left out for the League Cup victory over Chester. His place was taken by rookie Darius Vassell, who could retain his starting spot if he can shake off a slight hamstring strain. Right-back Mark Delaney, who has missed the last three games with a shoulder injury, is hoping to return but goalkeeper David James and defender Alan Wright could miss their fourth successive games due to their injury problems.

Last season: Leicester 2 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 1 Leicester 1.

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

Top scorers: Emile Heskey, Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 4; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 5.

Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 11-5.

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

Man Utd (1) v Southampton (13)

Manchester United are without skipper Roy Keane and Andy Cole. Keane has suffered a recurrence of his knee injury, which may require surgery, while Cole is suspended. Nicky Butt could return from his groin injury, while Massimo Taibi and Mickael Silvestre are available again. The Italian will replace Raimond van der Gouw in goal.

Southampton have Marians Pahars doubtful with the virus, Kevin Davies has still not recovered from an ankle injury and Luis Boa Morte starts a one-match ban. Marco Almeida is out with a thigh problem and Hassan Kachloul faces a late fitness test on a dead leg. Matt Le Tissier is in contention for a place, despite suffering a split lip after being punched in a reserve team game this week, while Claus Lundekvam is hopeful of recovering from ankle trouble.

Last season: Man Utd 2 Southampton 1, Southampton 0 Man Utd 3.

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

Top scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 7; Hassan Kachloul (Southampton) 4.

Match odds: H 1-4 A 10-1 D 7-2.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Middlesbrough (10) v Chelsea (6)

Juninho and Paul Gascoigne could team up in Middlesbrough's midfield for the first time. Juninho made his second debut for the club in the 2-1 League Cup midweek win over Chesterfield, while Gascoigne has recovered from a calf injury.

Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli has no major injury concerns. Mikael Forssell is the only notable absentee having returned to Finland to sit exams.

Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Chelsea 0, Chelsea 2 Middlesbrough 0.

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

Top scorers: Brian Deane, Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 3; Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 3.

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

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent).

Sunderland (5) v Sheff Wed (20)

Kevin Phillips, who scored a hat-trick in last Saturday's 5-0 win at Derby, missed training earlier in the week with a thigh strain but returns to partner Niall Quinn in attack.

Wednesday striker Benito Carbone misses the trip as he has been hit by flu. The Italian joins Wim Jonk, Andy Hinchcliffe, Peter Atherton, Jon Newsome, Phillip Scott and Phil O'Donnell - all injured - on the sidelines. Goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek keeps his place in the side ahead of Kevin Pressman.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Sunderland L W D W W, Sheff Wed L L L L L.

Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 8; Niclas Alexandersson, Benito Carbone (Sheff Wed) 2.

Match odds: H 4-9 A 13-2 D 5-2.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood, Staffs).

TOMORROW

Wimbledon (16) v Tottenham (9)

Marcus Gayle has recovered from a groin strain and Michael Hughes has shaken off a knee injury, but Gareth Ainsworth remains out for at least another month.

Spurs expect to have Les Ferdinand available again. He has not played since picking up an ankle injury in the Bradford game a fortnight ago. Skipper Sol Campbell has spent the week recovering at Lilleshall, while Ramon Vega and John Scales both resumed training this week. The long-term casualties are still Darren Anderton and Willem Korsten.

Last season: Tottenham 0 Wimbledon 0, Wimbledon 3 Tottenham 1.

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

Top scorers: Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 5; Steffen Iversen, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Tim Sherwood (Tottenham) 4.

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

Referee: G Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire).

Odds supplied by William Hill.