Saturday

Aston Villa (3) v Blackburn (17)

Villa have John Hendrie suspended and Ugo Ehiogu is ruled out by a fractured eye socket. There are fitness battles for Alan Thompson and Mark Draper (both ankle) and Mark Bosnich (shoulder). Dion Dublin is available again after missing the last two games with a groin strain. Simon Grayson is on stand-by to make a rare first-team start.

Chris Sutton returns to the Blackburn squad after a knee injury and will probably start on the bench. Kevin Gallacher faces another month on the sidelines with a calf injury. Billy McKinlay and Christian Dailly will both take late fitness tests, while Keith Gillespie (ankle), Nathan Blake (neck) and Damian Johnson (knee) are all out. Defenders Jeff Kenna and Stephane Henchoz are both suspended so Darren Peacock should be recalled.

Last season: Aston Villa 0 Blackburn 4, Blackburn 5 Aston Villa 0.

Last five League matches: Aston Villa LWDWL, Blackburn WDWLD.

Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 13; Ashley Ward (Blackburn) 15.

Match odds: H 4-6, A 4-1, D 11-5.

Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy)

Chelsea (2) v Southampton (18)

Defender Albert Ferrer is Chelsea's main doubt with a calf injury that has ruled him out of the club's last two matches. Bernard Lambourde definitely misses the game with a groin problem but Michael Duberry is back in contention after being injured at Arsenal last weekend. Player-manager Gianluca Vialli must also decide whether to restore himself up front or keep faith in teenager Mikael Forssell.

New Southampton signing Chris Marsden is in line for a debut with Matt Le Tissier (hamstring) expected to be out for the next month. Mark Hughes is expected to recover from a heel injury in time to face his old side and Stuart Ripley should be fit after a calf problem but Scott Marshall is out with a stomach bug. Ken Monkou is unavailable as he serves the final game of a three-match ban.

Last season: Chelsea 4 Southampton 2, Southampton 1 Chelsea 0.

Last five League matches: Chelsea WDWWL, Southampton LDWLW

Top scorers: Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 11; Egil Ostenstad (Southampton) 8.

Match odds: H 4-11, A 8-1, D 11-4.

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).

Leeds (5) v Newcastle (13)

Leeds manager David O'Leary will be without suspended leading scorer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Clyde Wijnhard may make a rare start alongside 18-year-old Alan Smith. Left-back Danny Granville is close to full fitness after missing last week's defeat at Southampton with a hamstring injury, while winger Willem Korsten is also available again after being given time off to get married last weekend.

Newcastle's French defender Didier Domi is a major doubt with a hamstring injury. In-form Alan Shearer and Nikos Dabizas are both suspended while skipper Rob Lee is still suffering from an Achilles injury. But Laurent Charvet, Andy Griffin and on-loan Metz striker Louis Saha are all in the squad after recovering from knocks.

Last season: Leeds 4 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 1 Leeds 1.

Last five League matches: Leeds WDLWL, Newcastle LLLDW.

Top scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 12; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 11.

Match odds: H 8-11, A 100-30, D 9-4.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).

Leicester (11) v Sheff Wed (14)

Arnar Gunnlaugsson goes straight into Leicester's squad after completing a £2 million move from Bolton. The Icelandic international could be in line for a starting place if Emile Heskey (groin) is ruled out. Neil Lennon returns from suspension while Frank Sinclair and Muzzy Izzet have recovered from injuries that kept them out at Middlesborough last week.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson has virtually a full squad to choose from, with the exception of longterm knee-injury victims, Earl Barrett and Ian Nolan. Midfielder Danny Sonner is available after a one-match ban.

Last season: Leicester 1 Sheff Wed 1, Sheff Wed 1 Leicester 0.

Last five League matches: Leicester WDDLD, Sheff Wed LLDWL.

Top scorers: Tony Cottee (Leicester) 11; Benito Carbone (Sheff Wed) 6.

Match odds: H 10-11, A 5-2, D 9-4.

Referee: G Willard (Worthing).

Liverpool (6) v Midd'brough (10)

Steve McManaman will start only his second game for Liverpool since the beginning of November because Patrik Berger is ruled out by a hamstring injury. Jamie Redknapp is expected to have recovered from a slight groin strain, and Jamie Carragher will return after a one-match ban. Rigobert Song will probably have to wait for his full Anfield debut as Gerard Houllier does not consider him fully match fit.

Striker Hamilton Ricard is an injury doubt for Middlesbrough. The Colombian damaged an ankle during last week's 0-0 draw with Leicester at the Riverside Stadium, and will be replaced by Dane Mikkel Beck if he fails a late fitness test. Manager Bryan Robson has no other injury worries and has named a squad of 17.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Liverpool WWDWL, Middlesbrough LLDLD.

Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 18; Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 13.

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

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Nottm Forest (20) v Man Utd (1)

Forest striker Pierre van Hooijdonk is a cause for concern. Earlier in the week he was complaining of being in discomfort and it was discovered he had air trapped between a lung and his ribs. Winger Steve Stone and defender Stale Stensaas are both nursing thigh injuries and face let fitness tests.

Manchester United welcome back Andy Cole and David Beckham after Alex Ferguson rested them for Wednesday's win over Derby. Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be rested and United will definitely be without Ryan Giggs, who is having treatment on a hamstring strain. Jesper Blomqvist could start.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Nottm Forest LDLLW, Man Utd DWWWW.

Top scorers: Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 7; Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 19.

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

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead).

Tottenham (12) v Coventry (16)

David Ginola has been named in a 19-man Tottenham squad but manager George Graham may decide it is too soon to recall him after a hamstring injury. Tim Sherwood is challenging for a place after his £4 million move from Blackburn but is likely to start on the bench.

Coventry have midfield dynamo George Boateng suspended along with full-back David Burrows. Paul Telfer steps into the breach after his one-match ban. Marc Edworthy is expected to take over from Burrows at left-back.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Coventry 1, Coventry 0 Tottenham 4.

Last five League matches: Tottenham DWDDD, Coventry DLWLW.

Top scorers: Chris Armstrong (Tottenham) 11; John Aloisi (Coventry) 18.

Match odds: H 8-11, A 100-30, D 9-4.

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).

West Ham (9) v Arsenal (4)

Ian Wright misses out for West Ham against his old club - he is still recovering from a knee operation. Eyal Berkovic and Samassi Abou have both recovered from the illness which ruled them out of the trip to Wimbledon last week, while Ian Pearce and Trevor Sinclair are both eligible after suspension. Steve Lomas and Stan Lazaridis are both suffering from flu.

Arsenal welcome back midfielder Patrick Vieira from suspension but new Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu does not figure in manager Arsene Wenger's plans as he is only due to arrive in England today. Steve Bould (knee), Gilles Grimandi (ankle) and Fredrik Ljungberg (ankle) are being given another week to fully recover from their injuries. Portuguese forward Luis Boa Morte is still out after a cartilage operation last month.

Last season: West Ham 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 4 West Ham 0.

Last five League matches: West Ham LWLLD, Arsenal WWDWW.

Top scorers: Ian Wright (West Ham) 7; Dennis Bergkamp, Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 7.

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

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

Sunday

Derby (8) v Everton (15)

Jamaican striker Deon Burton could be recalled by Derby to partner Paulo Wanchope as Dean Sturridge is doubtful with a hamstring strain. Italian duo Stefano Eranio and Francesco Baiano could also be in line for a return.

Everton will be without the suspended pair Danny Cadamarteri and Marco Materazzi. Striker Michael Branch and veteran Craig Short are also out through injury with John Collins, Alex Cleland and Slaven Bilic still long-term absentees. Olivier Dacourt and Ibrahima Bakayoko are expected to start after sitting on the bench for last week's 1-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest.

Last season: Derby 3 Everton 1, Everton 1 Derby 2.

Last five League matches: Derby WLWWL, Everton DLDLL.

Top Scorers: Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 6; Ibrahima Bakayoko (Everton) 5.

Match odds: H 4-6, A 4-1, D 11-5.

Referee: G Poll (Tring). Match odds supplied courtesy of William Hill