A look ahead to this weekend's fixtures:
Saturday
Birmingham City (17) v Derby County (20)
Defender David Murphy is part of the Birmingham squad after a knee injury.
Alan Stubbs is set to provide cover for defender Claude Davis, who is struggling with a knee problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Birmingham DLDLL; Derby LLLLD. Top scorers: Cameron Jerome, Olivier Kapo & James McFadden (Birmingham) 5; Kenny Miller (Derby) 8. Match odds: H 4-9; A 5-1; D 11-4. Referee: Peter Walton.
Blackburn Rovers (8) v Everton (4)
Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen (hamstring) is out. Paul Gallagher has joined Stoke on loan and South African midfielder Aaron Mokoena is away on Africa Nations Cup duty.
Everton give late tests to Leon Osman (groin) and Tim Cahill (hamstring). Tony Hibbert returns after suspension but Steven Pienaar is at the African Nations Cup.
Last season: Everton 1, Blackburn 0; Blackburn 1, Everton 1. Last five league matches: Blackburn WWWDD; Everton LWWWD. Top scorers: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn) 15; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 12. Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10 Referee: Alan Wiley.
Liverpool (7) v Sunderland (14)
Javier Mascherano returns from suspension for Liverpool, who are still missing injured duo Alvaro Arbeloa and Andriy Voronin.
Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson could return after hamstring trouble but Dwight Yorke (calf) is out, while new signing Andy Reid has a knee problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Liverpool DDDDL; Sunderland WLWLW. Top scorers: Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 17; Rade Prica (Sunderland) 13. Match odds: H 2-9 A 9-1 D 19-5. Referee: Rob Styles.
Manchester City (6) v Arsenal (2)
Ecuador international Felipe Caicedo is not expected to arrive until next week, so Darius Vassell and Daniel Sturridge should continue up front. Micah Richards (knee) is fit to return.
Arsenal are without Manuel Almunia (thumb), so Jens Lehmann gets a rare start in goal. Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Gilberto (back), Robin van Persie (thigh), Johan Djourou (groin) and Denilson (hamstring) are injured, while Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure and Alex Song are at the African Nations Cup.
Last season: Arsenal 3, Man City; Man City 1, Arsenal 0. Last five league matches: Man City DWLDD; Arsenal WWDWW. Top scorers: Elano (Man City) 7; Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 19. Match odds: H 16-5 A 8-11 D 9-4. Referee: Andre Marriner.
Portsmouth (9) v Chelsea (3)
Jermain Defoe is expected to make his Portsmouth debut but centre back Sylvain Distin (hamstring) is out.
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is not match fit. Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien, Mikel John Obi and Didier Drogba are on African Nations Cup duty, John Terry (foot) is out and Ricardo Carvalho is suspended.
Last season: Portsmouth 0, Chelsea 2; Chelsea 2, Portsmouth 1. Last five league matches: Portsmouth LWLWL; Chelsea WWWWW. Top scorers: Benjani Mwaruwari (Portsmouth) 12; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 12. Match odds: H 10-3 A 4-6 D 12-5. Referee: Howard Webb.
Reading (16) v Bolton Wanderers (15)
Reading welcome back strikers Shane Long and Dave Kitson but wingers Jimmy Kebe (hamstring) and Glen Little (heel), midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) and defender Michael Duberry (knee) are out.
Bolton defender Gary Cahill is poised to make his debut, as is striker Grzegorz Rasiak.
Last season: Bolton 1, Reading 3; Reading 1, Bolton 0. Last five league matches: Reading LLLLL; Bolton LWLDD. Top scorers: Simon Cox (Reading) 9; El-Hadji Diouf & Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 4. Match odds: H 19-20 A 5-2 D 21-10. Referee: Phil Dowd.
Tottenham (11) v Manchester Utd (1)
Alan Hutton is set for his Spurs debut and Gilberto is thought to be available after arriving from Hertha Berlin.
Ryan Giggs, Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves are pushing to return to the starting United line-up but Louis Saha (knee) and Gary Neville (ankle) remain sidelined.
Last season: Tottenham 0, Man Utd 4; Man Utd 1, Tottenham 0. Last five league matches: Tottenham WLLWD; Man Utd LWWWW. Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 18; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 27. Match odds: H 14-5 A 4-5 D 9-4. Referee: Mark Clattenburg.
Wigan Athletic (18) v West Ham Utd (10)
Swedish full back Erik Edman (calf) is the only Wigan injury doubt while defender Erik Hagen is awaiting international clearance following his loan move from Zenit St Petersburg.
West Ham's Craig Bellamy and Julien Faubert await fitness tests. Nolberto Solano is available, but Bobby Zamora is set to miss out and James Collins, Calum Davenport, Kieron Dyer and Nigel Quashie are long-term absentees.
Last season: Wigan 0, West Ham 3; West Ham 0, Wigan 2. Last five league matches: Wigan LDWLL; West Ham WLWDW. Top scorers: Marlon King (Wigan) 11; Dean Ashton (West Ham) 6. Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10. Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Sunday
Fulham (19) v Aston Villa (5)
Erik Nevland could make his Fulham debut but Paul Stalteri has a dead leg, Jari Litmanen is not match-fit and Eddie Johnson is returning from America and may be jet-lagged. Brian McBride is back in full training but will need assessment before a decision is made whether he plays. Kasey Keller is also training again.
Villa winger Ashley Young misses his first league game of the season through suspension - new signing Wayne Routledge could come in. Olof Mellberg, who has signed a pre-contract agreement with Juventus, is set to remain at right-back.
Last season: Fulham 1, Aston Villa 1; Aston Villa 1, Fulham 1. Last five league matches: Fulham DLLLD; Aston Villa WWWDD. Top scorers: Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 6; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 7. Match odds: H 19-10 A 23-20 D 11-5. Referee: Chris Foy.
Newcastle Utd (12) v Middlesbrough (13)
Newcastle midfielder Emre is suspension-free and striker Mark Viduka could return from a calf injury but full back Jose Enrique remains a doubt with a similar injury. Joey Barton could figure.
Gareth Southgate will give Afonso Alves his debut if the striker's application for a visa is accepted in time. Jeremie Aliadiere (groin) and Emanuel Pogatetz (ankle) are fitness concerns and Tuncay Sanli (hamstring) is out, meaning Mido could start for the first time this year.
Last season: Newcastle 0, Middlesbrough 0; Middlesbrough 1, Newcastle 0. Last five league matches:Newcastle LLLDL; Middlesbrough WLDDW. Top scorers: Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 7; Stewart Downing & Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough) 5. Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5. Referee: Mike Dean.
On TV: Saturday
Manchester City v Arsenal (Sky Sports 1, kick-off 12.45)
Tottenham v Manchester Utd (Setanta Sports, kick-off 3.0)
Liverpool v Sunderland (Setanta Sports, kick-off 5.15)
Sunday
Newcastle v Middlesbrough (Sky Sports 1, kick-off 1.30)
Fulham v Aston Villa (Sky Sports 1, kick-off 4.0)
