Saturday (Current positions in brackets)
Arsenal (3) v Sunderland (4)
Flu victim Emmanuel Petit has been virtually ruled out of the Arsenal side. It is another blow for manager Arsene Wenger, already without injured Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars plus Nigerian ace Kanu, who is on African Nations Cup duty. Ray Parlour is available to replace Petit in midfield after six weeks out with ankle trouble. Irish teenage striker Graham Barrett, who has only two minutes of first-team experience, will be on the bench.
Sunderland will be at full strength as they bid to improve on a dismal return of only one point from three Premiership games. Niall Quinn missed last week's controversial FA Cup defeat at Tranmere with an ankle injury but returns to face his former club alongside Kevin Phillips. Steve Bould and Michael Gray have also overcome injury while Kevin Kilbane comes into contention after being cup-tied at Tranmere.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures.
Last five league matches: Arsenal WDLWD, Sunderland WWLDL.
Top scorers: Kanu, Marc Overmars (Arsenal) 10; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 18.
Match odds: H 8-15, A 9-2, D 12-5.
Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent).
Chelsea (6) v Leicester (8)
Gianfranco Zola is waiting anxiously to see whether he is restored to the Chelsea side after being dropped for the first time in his Stamford Bridge career on Wednesday. On-loan newcomer George Weah is set to start his first 90 minutes for the Blues.
Leicester have been hit by a spate of injuries. Gerry Taggart and Robbie Savage are doubtful starters. Muzzy Izzet, Neil Lennon, Steve Walsh and Andy Impey are definitely out of contention while Tony Cottee will need a late fitness test.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Leicester 2, Leicester 2 Chelsea 4.
Last five league matches: Chelsea WWDDW, Leicester LLLLD.
Top scorers: Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 13; Tony Cottee, Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 9.
Match odds: H 4-7, A 4-1, D 5-2.
Referee: G Barber (Tring, Herts).
Coventry (13) v Wimbledon (14)
Coventry must do without Moroccan pair Mustapha Hadji and Youssef Chippo, who are on African Nations Cup duty. They should be replaced by Noel Whelan and Tomas Gustafsson. Otherwise Coventry expect to be unchanged from the side which beat Burnley in the FA Cup last weekend.
Wimbledon boss Egil Olsen's injury crisis has deepened with striker Marcus Gayle missing due to an ankle complaint. Alan Kimble returns following an injury absence and the veteran full-back will be drafted into the starting line-up.
Last season: Coventry 2 Wimbledon 1, Wimbledon 2 Coventry 1.
Last five league matches: Coventry LDLWD, Wimbledon WDDLW.
Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Coventry) 14; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 15.
Match odds: H 8-11, A 10-3, D 11-5.
Referee: S Bennett (Orpington, Kent).
Everton (9) v Tottenham (7)
Richard Gough is a doubtful starter for Everton because of a leg injury and Dave Watson stands by. Richard Dunne, who suffered a muscle strain against Birmingham in the FA Cup, is another worry.
Oyvind Leonhardsen (groin), Steffen Freund (hamstring) and Les Ferdinand (Achilles) are still not ready to return for Spurs and Mauricio Taricco is out again with flu after missing Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at Chelsea. But George Graham is set to include Dutch signing Willem Korsten among his substitutes with the opportunity of making his first appearance since moving from Vitesse Arnhem in the summer. Justin Edinburgh continues at left-back in place of Taricco.
Last season: Tottenham 4 Everton 1, Everton 0 Tottenham 1.
Last five league matches: Everton LWWDD, Tottenham LWDWL.
Top scorers: Kevin Campbell (Everton) 9; Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 13.
Match odds: H 11-10, A 2-1, D 11-5.
Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood, Staffs)
Middlesbrough (12) v Derby (17)
Middlesbrough welcome back experienced trio Paul Ince, Paul Gascoigne and Gary Pallister. Ince is fit again after surgery on a hernia, while Pallister and Gascoigne return from back and thigh injuries respectively. Colin Cooper (knee), Keith O'Neill (back) and Christian Ziege (knee) are still out and striker Brian Deane is suspended.
Mikkel Beck could return for Derby against his old club. Beck and Deon Burton are vying for the opportunity to play up front alongside Marvin Robinson in the absence of the suspended Branko Strupar. Jacob Laursen and Spencer Prior are also banned, while Tony Dorigo (calf) and Dean Sturridge (hamstring) are definitely out. But Seth Johnson is likely to line up at left wing-back after he was suspended for last week's game with Watford.
Last season: Derby 2 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 1 Derby 1.
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough LDDWL, Derby LWLDW.
Top scorers: Brian Deane, Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 8; Branko Strupar (Derby) 12.
Match odds: H 8-11, A 10-3, D 11-5.
Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City, Herts).
Sheff Wed (20) v Bradford (18)
Simon Donnelly could start his first game for Sheffield Wednesday for almost four months after recovering from an ankle injury. Winger Mark McKeever (foot) is definitely out, while striker Andy Booth (groin) and midfielder Petter Rudi (Achilles) are unlikely to play. Gilles De Bilde, Des Walker and Ian Nolan should all have recovered from flu.
Bradford manager Paul Jewell will recall central defender David Wetherall, who sat out Tuesday's humiliating FA Cup fourth-round loss at Gillingham due to a one-match suspension. He replaces Ashley Westwood.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures.
Last five league matches: Sheff Wed LLWLD, Bradford WLDLD.
Top scorers: Gilles De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 7; Lee Mills (Bradford) 6.
Match odds: H 10-11, A 9-4, D 12-5.
Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).
Watford (19) v Liverpool (5)
Watford's record signing Heidar Helguson looks poised to make his debut. The £1.5million striker has not played since the end of October but Graham Taylor is willing to throw him in because they have seven senior players sidelined through injury and Neil Cox and Micah Hyde suspended. Allan Smart has recovered from a knee injury but is unlikely to start.
Michael Owen is in the frame for a Liverpool recall after resuming full training following his hamstring injury on Thursday. Robbie Fowler, Jamie Redknapp and Erik Meijer are out injured and are likely to be joined by Veggard Heggem on the sidelines. Rigobert Song is on international duty with Cameroon.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures.
Last five league matches: Watford LLLWL, Liverpool WWDWL.
Top scorers: Michel Ngonge (Watford) 5; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9.
Match odds: H 10-3, A 8-11, D 11-5.
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).
West Ham (11) v Aston Villa (10).
Trevor Sinclair and Paulo Wanchope, who were both missing for West Ham's League Cup replay against Aston Villa in midweek, have come through a training session. Goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is doubtful with flu but Craig Forrest is back from international duty with Canada.
Villa recall Italian striker Benito Carbone as they bid for their second win of the week against West Ham. Carbone was cup-tied for the triumph against the Hammers. He is set to rejoin Julian Joachim in attack with former England international Steve Stone in danger of losing his place.
Last season: Aston Villa 0 West Ham 0, West Ham 0 Aston Villa 0.
Last five league matches: West Ham DLDDD, Aston Villa LWWDW.
Top scorers: Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 10; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 12.
Match odds: H 11-10, A 2-1, D 11-5.
Referee: G Poll (Tring, Herts).
Sunday
Newcastle (15) v Southampton (16)
Rob Lee, struggling to shake off a hip injury, is Newcastle's only real doubt. Achilles victims Steve Howey and Alain Goma, Portuguese defender Helder, who has been out with a groin problem, and Andy Griffin (back) are all back in contention.
Defenders Dean Richards and Claus Lundekvam are battling to be fit for Southampton. Richards is hopeful of recovering from the ankle injury that forced him to miss last weekend's FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa but Lundekvam, who has been playing with a broken toe for the last month, is a major doubt after damaging his back picking up a frying pan.
Last season: Southampton 2 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 4 Southampton 0.
Last five league matches: Newcastle WLDWD, Southampton DLLLW.
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 23; Marian Pahars (Southampton) 8.
Match odds: H 1-2, A 5-1, D 12-5.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill
