FA Premiership Team News

Today (Current league positions in brackets)

Arsenal (7) v Aston Villa (2)

Arsenal have Nigerian striker Kanu back in their squad after a thigh injury. But goalkeeper David Seaman and midfielder Emmanuel Petit are still out. Aston Villa are confident Ugo Ehiogu and Lee Hendrie will be fit but Steve Stone (back) is expected to be absent.

Last season: Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 0, Aston Villa 3 Arsenal 2.

Last five league matches: Arsenal WDLWL, Aston Villa WDLWW.

Top scorers: Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu (Arsenal) 2; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 4.

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

Referee: G Willard (Worthing, West Sussex).

Chelsea (3) v Newcastle (19)

Chelsea's League of Nations have all reported back from international duty in good health for their return to Premiership action.

But Newcastle boss Bobby Robson is facing a fresh defensive crisis. Central defenders Marcelino and Franck Dumas are both ruled out with injury while goalkeeper Steve Harper is not fully fit.

Last season: Newcastle 0 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 1 Newcastle 1.

Last five league matches: Chelsea WWDWW, Newcastle LLDLL.

Top scorers: Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 3; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 4.

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

Referee: G Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire).

Coventry (16) v Leeds (6)

Coventry have Paul Telfer, Youssef Chippo, Gary Breen and former Leeds player Noel Whelan ruled out through injury while David Burrows is suspended.

Leeds midfielder David Hopkin (ankle) and defender Jonathon Woodgate (back) are David O'Leary's major doubts.

Last season: Coventry 2 Leeds 2, Leeds 2 Coventry 0.

Last five league matches: Coventry LDWLD, Leeds WLWLW.

Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Coventry) 5; Michael Bridges (Leeds) 3.

Match odds: H 15-8, A 6-5, D 11-5.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Liverpool (9) v Man Utd (1)

Liverpool are likely to be without Jamie Redknapp but Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen reported back fit from international duty.

Roy Keane and Gary Neville are ruled out for United and Ronny Johnsen, David May, Jesper Blomqvist and Wes Brown are all sidelined, with Denis Irwin doubtful. Goalkeeper Massimo Taibi will make his debut.

Last season: Liverpool 2 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 2 Liverpool 0.

Last five league matches: Liverpool WLLWW, Man Utd WWWWW.

Top scorers: Patrik Berger, Titi Camara, Robbie Fowler (Liverpool) 2; Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 5.

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

Referee: G Barber (Tring, Hertfordshire).

Middlesbrough (11) v Southampton (10)

Paul Gascoigne and Colin Cooper will return from injury for Middlesbrough and Southampton have James Beattie, Kevin Davies and Chris Marsden back with veteran striker Mark Hughes expected to revert to a place in midfield.

Last season: Middlesbrough 3 Southampton 0, Southampton 3 Middlesbrough 3.

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough WWWLL, Southampton WLWLW.

Top scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 3; Hassan Kachloul (Southampton) 3.

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

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Sheff Wed (20) v Everton (13)

Five Wednesday players who were struggling with injury - Andy Hinchcliffe, Des Walker, Danny Sonner, Wim Jonk and Phil O'Donnell - should all be in contention after the two-week lay-off.

Francis Jeffers is a serious doubt but new Portuguese defender Abel Xavier is included in the squad for the first time.

Last season: Everton 1 Sheff Wed 2, Sheff Wed 0 Everton 0.

Last five league matches: Sheff Wed LDLLL, Everton LLWWL.

Top scorers: Benito Carbone, Ritchie Humphreys (Sheff Wed) 2; Francis Jeffers, David Unsworth (Everton) 3.

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

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

Sunderland (12) v Leicester (5)

Eric Roy is set to make his Sunderland debut. The £200,000 signing from Marseilles contests the vacancy in central midfield with captain Kevin Ball following Alex Rae's suspension.

Tim Flowers will replace Pegguy Arphexad in the Leicester goal after recovering from a badly gashed knee and striker Emile Heskey, who injured a groin playing for England Under-21s, should also be fit enough to start.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Sunderland WDLWD, Leicester WDLWW.

Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 5; Emile Heskey (Leicester) 4.

Match odds: H Evs, A 9-4, D 9-4.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay, Essex).

West Ham (4) v Watford (15)

West Ham have Rio Ferdinand (ankle), Marc-Vivien Foe (thigh), Joe Cole (knee), Neil Ruddock (hamstring), Scott Minto (Achilles) and Chris Coyne (knee) all ruled out. Igor Stimac will make his Hammers debut.

Watford's Wembley goal heroes Allan Smart and Nick Wright could return to first-team action for the first time this season.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: West Ham WWDWW, Watford LWWLL.

Top scorers: Paulo Wanchope (West Ham) 4; Tommy Mooney (Watford) 2.

Match odds: H 4-9, A 6-1, D 5-2.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxfordshire).

Wimbledon (17) v Derby (14)

Wimbledon manager Egil Olsen expects top scorer Carl Cort and Tore Pedersen to be fit after the pair picked up slight injuries on international duty in midweek. John Hartson could also return.

Derby goalkeeper Mart Poom is troubled by a wrist injury. If he misses out then Andy Oakes, who returned from a loan spell with Port Vale this week, will be on the bench with Russell Hoult continuing in goal.

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

Last five league matches: Wimbledon LDDLL, Derby LLLWW

Top scorers: Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 3; Rory Delap (Derby) 2.

Match odds: H 6-5, A 15-8, D 11-5.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood, Staffordshire).

Tomorrow

Bradford (18) v Tottenham (8)

New on loan signing Bruno Rodriguez looks set to make his Bradford debut after being granted international clearance.

Chris Armstrong, who has not played this season following an operation on his ankle, is ready to return for Spurs after coming through two reserve matches.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Bradford WDLLL, Tottenham LWWWL.

Top Scorers: Peter Beagrie, Dean Saunders (Bradford) 1; Tim Sherwood (3).

Match Odds: H 11-4, A 5-6, D 9-4.

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.