Premiership Team News

Saturday

Coventry (14) v Bradford (18)

Coventry manager Gordon Strachan is expected to stick with the side which beat Everton on Wednesday. Ruled out are Robbie Keane (knee), Steve Froggatt (ankle), John Aloisi (knee), Carlton Palmer (hamstring), Marc Edworthy (knee), Paul Williams (calf) and Paul Telfer (knee).

Bradford manager Paul Jewell's only doubt surrounds goalkeeper Matt Clarke, who aggravated a knee injury when he slipped on stairs at home before last week's 2-1 Yorkshire derby defeat at Leeds, which led to Neville Southall deputising. The Bantams have since signed keeper Aidan Davison on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Coventry L L L L W, Bradford W L D D L.

Top scorers: Keane (Coventry) 17; Mills, Saunders, Windass (Bradford) 6.

Match odds: H 4-6, A 10-3, D 12-5.

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

Derby (17) v Liverpool (3)

Derby captain Darryl Powell is set to return after recovering from a hamstring strain. Tony Dorigo has recovered from a kick on the calf, but manager Jim Smith will not risk Craig Burley, who has missed two matches with a hamstring injury.

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is set to field an unchanged side from the one that drew against Aston Villa in midweek.

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

Last five league matches: Derby D L D W L, Liverpool W W D D D.

Top scorers: Strupar (Derby) 15; Berger, Owen (Liverpool) 9.

Match odds: H 12-5, A 10-11, D 9-4.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington).

Leicester (11) v Man Utd (1)

Leicester's record £3million signing Darren Eadie is expected to have recovered from a groin problem while Robbie Savage and Stefan Oakes could also be back in the frame after injury. Meanwhile, reserve striker Graham Fenton looks set to leave the Foxes and join First Division Walsall.

Alex Ferguson is ready to change his United side despite hitting the heights against Fiorentina on Wednesday night. Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could figure. In defence, Henning Berg should start again leaving Mickael Silvestre on the bench.

Last season: Leicester 2 Man Utd 6, Man Utd 2 Leicester 2.

Last five league matches: Leicester L W D W L, Man Utd L W D D W.

Top scorers: Cottee, Izzet (Leicester) 9; Cole (Man Utd) 20.

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

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).

Southampton (16) v Aston Villa (6)

Captain Jason Dodd and striker Kevin Davies are both expected to return from suspension to boost Southampton. Latvian striker Marian Pahars is expected to recover from a stomach bug while Matthew Le Tissier could start after scoring for the reserves in midweek.

Goalkeeper David James hopes to return to the Villa side after an absence of five games due to a thigh strain. Skipper Gareth Southgate is bidding to shake off an Achilles problem which forced him off during the goalless draw at Liverpool on Wednesday.

Last season: Aston Villa 3 Southampton 0, Southampton 1 Aston Villa 4.

Last five league matches: Southampton W L D L L, Villa W D D W D.

Top scorers: Pahars (Southampton) 10; Dublin (Aston Villa) 12.

Match odds: H 7-4, A 5-4, D 11-5.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Sunderland (9) v Middlesbrough (13)

Sunderland boss Peter Reid has added skipper Steve Bould and German international Thomas Helmer to his squad after injury. Michael Gray (ankle), John Oster (groin) and Michael Reddy (ankle) are all doubtful.

Middlesbrough defenders Gary Pallister and Gianluca Festa return from suspension.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Sunderland D L D L D, Boro L W D D W.

Top scorers: Phillips (Sunderland) 25; Ricard (Middlesbrough) 11.

Match odds: H 11-10, A 11-5, D 2-1.

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).

Watford (20) v Sheff Wed (19)

Graham Taylor expects to name an unchanged Watford side. Midfield playmaker Nordin Wooter is the only injury doubt after picking up a slight ankle injury during training.

Wednesday boss Danny Wilson is still plagued by long-term injury problems because Mark McKeever and Phil O'Donnell have been ruled out for the season, while Andy Booth and Phil Scott continue to struggle.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Watford L D L L L, Sheff Wed D L L D W.

Top scorers: Ngonge (Watford) 5; De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 8.

Match odds: H 6-4, A 7-5, D 9-4.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).

West Ham (10) v Chelsea (4)

West Ham boss Harry Redknapp has no fresh injury problems and former Chelsea player Scott Minto is available again after a niggling toe injury. Steve Potts and Michael Carrick are still sidelined and Ian Pearce, Stuart Pearce and Shaka Hislop are on the longterm injured list.

Chelsea striker George Weah is ruled out as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Full-back Albert Ferrer is expected to be fit after missing the midweek Champions League at Feyenoord with a back problem.

Last season: Chelsea 0 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Chelsea 1.

Last five league matches: West Ham W L W W L, Chelsea W W W W D.

Top scorers: Di Canio (West Ham) 13; Flo (Chelsea) 15.

Match odds: H 7-4, A 5-4, D 11-5.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Sunday

Arsenal (5) v Tottenham (7)

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out midfielder Emmanuel Petit (hamstring) but is confident England centre-backs Tony Adams and Martin Keown will play. Wenger could also start winger Marc Overmars who has been a substitute recently to aid his full recovery from an ankle injury. Nigerian star Kanu may get the vote to partner Thierry Henry in the starting line-up.

Spurs boss George Graham is still missing Tim Sherwood (groin) and Ledley King (foot) and has named an unchanged Tottenham squad. Les Ferdinand will be kept on the bench.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Arsenal 3, Arsenal 0 Tottenham 0.

Last five league matches: Arsenal L L W D L, Tottenham L L W D W.

Top scorers: Henry (Arsenal) 14; Iversen (Tottenham) 17.

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

Referee: G Barber (Tring).

Everton (8) v Newcastle (12)

Walter Smith is expected to stick with Paul Gerrard in goal but strikers Kevin Campbell (knee) and Francis Jeffers (ankle) are both still missing so Mark Hughes, signed from Southampton, makes his home debut.

Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer has recovered from flu and is in Bobby Robson's squad. French defender Alain Goma is also back for the first time since October after shaking off a niggling hamstring injury.

Last season: Newcastle 1 Everton 3, Everton 1 Newcastle 0.

Last five league matches: Everton W W D D L, Newcastle D W W L W.

Top scorers: Campbell (Everton) 12; Shearer (Newcastle) 28.

Match odds: H 6-5, A 7-4, D 9-4.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)

Leeds (2) v Wimbledon (15)

Leeds boss David O'Leary will again be without centre-back Jonathan Woodgate, who has missed the last three matches due to a calf strain. Lee Bowyer is likely to be fit despite taking a heavy knock to his ankle against Slavia Prague.

Hermann Hreidarsson misses Wimbledon's next three games after a knee operation. Ben Thatcher is a longterm absentee with an ankle injury but Neil Sullivan returns to action. John Hartson misses the remainder of the season after undergoing a double hernia operation.

Last season: Leeds 2 Wimbledon 2, Wimbledon 1 Leeds 1.

Last five league matches: Leeds W L D W W, Wimbledon L L D L W.

Top scorers: Bridges (Leeds) 17; Cort (Wimbledon) 17.

Match odds: H 2-5, A 6-1, D 11-4.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood)

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill