SOCCER: A look at each of this weekend's English Premiership fixtures.

SATURDAY

Birmingham (5) v Arsenal (1) Birmingham will be without striker Christophe Dugarry, who has not recovered from a twisted knee. Clinton Morrison, Stern John or possibly David Dunn are vying to partner Mikael Forssell.

Arsenal right-back Lauren begins a four-game ban, centre-back Martin Keown starts a three-match absence and midfielders Patrick Vieira and Ray Parlour are suspended. Arsene Wenger, who will counter Lauren's absence by recalling Pascal Cygan or promoting Justin Hoyte, is also without midfielder Gilberto Silva, due to international commitments and striker Sylvain Wiltord (groin).

Last season: Birmingham 0 Arsenal 4, Arsenal 2 Birmingham 0 Last five league matches: Birmingham D D W L D; Arsenal W W D W W Top scorers: Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) 5; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 12 Match odds: H 16-5 A 8-11 D 9-4 Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).

Everton (18) v Wolverhampton (19)

Duncan Ferguson is unavailable after a dispute with boss David Moyes and Everton will also be without long-term injury victims Steve Watson, Alessandro Pistone, Scot Gemmill, Richard Wright and Lee Carsley. Wayne Rooney, Alan Stubbs and Li Tie are all back in the squad after recovering from flu.

Colin Cameron is out with a stomach muscle injury but Nathan Blake is back from his hamstring problem and to push Steffen Iversen for a starting place.

On-loan goalkeeper Andy Marshall will be on the bench for the first time as understudy to Michael Oakes.

Last season: No corresponding fixture Last five league matches: Everton L D D L L; Wolverhampton W D W L D Top scorers: Steve Watson (Everton) 5; Colin Cameron, Alex Rae (Wolves) 3 Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5 Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

Leeds (20) v Bolton (14)

Leeds are without skipper Dominic Matteo and striker Alan Smith, who both serve one-match bans, while defenders Roque Junior and Salomon Olembe may also be unavailable as they were on international duty in midweek and are not expected to return until today. Jody Morris has been told by the club he can continue to play pending the outcome of legal proceedings into a charge of rape, while striker Mark Viduka and midfielder Seth Johnson have been struggling with flu and a knee injury respectively.

Bolton forward Youri Djorkaeff returns after seven-week absence with a nagging calf strain. Defender Emerson Thome (hamstring) is likely to miss the game.

Last season: Bolton 0 Leeds 3, Leeds 2 Bolton 4 Last five league matches: Leeds W L L L L; Bolton D L L W D Top scorers: Alan Smith (Leeds) 5; Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 4 Match odds: H 11-10 A 15-8 D 23-10 Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Leicester (15) v Charlton (4)

Goalkeeper Ian Walker is winning his fitness battle against a shoulder injury. Frank Sinclair (achilles) is Leicester's only long-term injury victim.

Midfield duo Scott Parker and Claus Jensen, missing due to a one-game ban and knee ligament niggle respectively join defensive trio Richard Rufus, Gary Rowett (both knee) and Luke Young (ankle) on Charlton's absentee list. Striker Shaun Bartlett underwent an ankle injury this week which will rule him out for three months - his place in the squad is taken by Carlton Cole, recovered from a hip problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture Last five league matches: Leicester L L L W W; Charlton W W D W W Top scorers: Paul Dickov (Leicester) 6; Kevin Lisbie (Charlton) 5 Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10 Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).

Man Utd (3) v Blackburn (16) (12.30 kick-off)

United boss Alex Ferguson plans to play Diego Forlan, who scored twice for Uruguay against Brazil in midweek, despite his tiring trip. Gary Neville has shaken off a hamstring strain and Ryan Giggs has also recovered from a minor knee injury he picked up in Wales' defeat to Russia.

Andy Cole and Lucas Neill are suspended for Rovers while David Thompson is likely to be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Corrado Grabbi has returned to Italy for treatment on a foot injury.

Last season: Man Utd 3 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 1 Man Utd 0 Last five league matches: Man Utd W W L W W; Blackburn L L L L W Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 11; Andy Cole (Blackburn) 5 Match odds: H 2-9 A 17-2 D 4-1 Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).

Middlesbrough (12) v Liverpool (8)

Middlesbrough will be without suspended full-back Danny Mills - Andrew Davies or Chris Riggott will take his place. Mark Schwarzer returns in goal after missing the 2-0 victory at Aston Villa because his daughter was ill, while Franck Queudrue will continue at left-back after being cleared of violent conduct following a clash with Southampton striker Kevin Phillips.

Liverpool's Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Steve Finnan are back in full training. Dietmar Hamann and Stephane Henchoz are also pushing for a recall after recovery from long-term injuries.

Last season: Liverpool 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 0 Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L L D W W; Liverpool L L W W L Top scorers: Szilard Nemeth (Middlesbrough) 3; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9 Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5 Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Newcastle (10) v Man City (6)

Jonathan Woodgate, who has missed Newcastle's last 11 games after undergoing surgery for a double hernia, is back in the squad, while Kieron Dyer - out for six with a hamstring problem - also returns. Alan Shearer is back after a throat infection but there is no Nolberto Solano (international duty) or Hugo Viana (flu), so midfielder Bradley Orr is drafted in.

Kevin Keegan is set to recall Trevor Sinclair to City's starting line-up after recovering from a dead leg. With Claudio Reyna (flu), Danny Tiatto (hamstring) and Shaun Wright-Phillips (suspension) ruled out, he is likely to be plunged straight back into the fray.

Last season: Newcastle 2 Man City 0, Man City 1 Newcastle 0 Last five league matches: Newcastle W W W D L; Man City L W L W L Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 10; Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 11 Match odds: H 4-5 A 11-4 D 23-10 Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).

Southampton (9) v Chelsea (2)

Defender Danny Higginbotham is favourite to replace suspended Southampton centre-back Michael Svensson, while long-term injury victim Marian Pahars could return after making his comeback for Latvia in midweek. Fellow striker Agustin Delgado is still not fully fit after back surgery and midfielder Matthew Oakley is out for the season with a knee ligament injury.

Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly's hip injury has not recovered while Hernan Crespo, Juan Sebastian Veron and Geremi's midweek internationals may reduce their roles. Striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is available after choosing not to play for Iceland but midfielder Emmanuel Petit (knee) is still on the sidelines.

Last season: Chelsea 0 Southampton 0, Southampton 1 Chelsea 1 Last five league matches: Southampton L D W L D; Chelsea D L W W W Top scorers: James Beattie (Southampton) 8; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 8 Match odds: H 7-2 A 4-6 D 23-10 Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).

SUNDAY

Tottenham (13) v Aston Villa (17)

Anthony Gardner has recovered from the back injury which denied him a possible first full England cap last week. Frederic Kanoute is making good progress on his ankle injury but Simon Davies, Christian Ziege and Jamie Redknapp remain absent.

Aston Villa will be without suspended midfielder Gavin McCann - Thomas Hitzlsperger is likely to deputise. Manager David O'Leary will check on the fitness of striker Darius Vassell, who was forced to withdraw from the England squad to face Denmark last weekend because of a knee injury - Marcus Allback is on stand-by to partner Juan Pablo Angel.

Last season: Aston Villa 0 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 0 Last five league matches: Tottenham W W D L L; Aston Villa D D D D L Top scorers: Frederic Kanoute (Tottenham) 7; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 7 Match odds: H 1-1 A 23-10 D 21-10 Referee: J Winter (Cleveland)