Premiership Teams News And Statistics

Today

Aston Villa (9) v Watford (20)

Villa recall striker Benito Carbone, who scored a hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup last Sunday and was cup-tied for the League Cup semi-final defeat at Leicester City on Wednesday. The Italian marksman is set to take over from rookie striker Richard Walker.

Watford have Peter Kennedy and Clint Easton back in contention. Kennedy has recovered from back and hamstring problems and Easton returns after being sidelined by a hamstring injury for three months. Nordin Wooter could play after shaking off an ankle problem and Allan Smart is likely to start his first game since September as a replacement for Xavier Gravelaine, who moved to Le Havre last week. Richard Johnson (hamstring) is ruled out.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Aston Villa W D W D D, Watford L W L L L.

Top Scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 12; Michel Ngonge (Watford) 5.

Match Odds: H 2-7; A 7-1; D 7-2.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Bradford (18) v Arsenal (3)

On-loan goalkeeper Aidan Davison will make his first start for Bradford for almost two years. The Sheffield United stopper, who played the last 10 matches for City at the end of the 1997-98 season, stands in because of knee injuries to both Matt Clarke and Gary Walsh. Neville Southall was yesterday signed on a match-by-match basis to act as cover, while Paul Jewell is again without striker Lee Mills and defender Ashley Westwood through injury.

Dennis Bergkamp could be back on the bench for Arsenal but Patrick Vieira is out after injuring a knee in training. Davor Suker is available again after suspension and will start alongside Thierry Henry up front. Silvinho is out after straining a calf muscle against Manchester United 12 days ago. It means veteran Nigel Winterburn will regain his place.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture.

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

Top Scorers: Lee Mills (Bradford) 6; Davor Suker (Arsenal) 11.

Match Odds: H 7-2; A 8-13; D 5-2.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).

Derby (16) v Sheff Wed (19)

Georgi Kinkladze could be denied his first start in nearly two months by the return of Stefano Eranio for Derby. Kinkladze is hoping to replace Lars Bohinen, who has a hamstring problem, but Eranio may be picked ahead of him. Darryl Powell, who is back from suspension, is doubtful with an Achilles problem and Horacio Carbonari serves a one-match ban. Jim Smith has to decide who will partner Branko Strupar up front, with Dean Sturridge, Malcolm Christie and Deon Burton in contention.

Wednesday have Danny Sonner and Alan Quinn back from one-match suspensions but Andy Booth, meanwhile, rates himself at "5050" after a five-week lay-off with a groin injury, while there are late fitness tests for Philip Scott (Achilles), Niclas Alexandersson (thigh) and Ian Nolan (knee).

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

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

Top Scorers: Branko Strupar (Derby) 12; Manuel Agogo and Gilles De Bilde (Sheff Wed) 7.

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

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

Leicester (10) v Middlesbrough (14)

Leicester City's League Cup heroes Steve Guppy, Muzzy Izzet and Neil Lennon are all doubtful. Guppy was not fully fit on Wednesday night, when the Foxes booked a final meeting with Tranmere by beating Aston Villa, and will almost certainly miss the match while Izzet and Lennon both face fitness tests. Tony Cottee (eye injury), Ian Marshall (hamstring) and Stuart Wilson (groin problem) are also injured.

Middlesbrough have Keith O'Neill available after a back injury but Robbie Stockdale (hamstring), Brian Deane (ribs), Steve Vickers (Achilles), Robbie Mustoe (back) and Phil Stamp (hamstring) are all out as Bryan Robson's injury crisis continues.

Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Leicester 0, Leicester 0 Middlesbrough 1.

Last five league matches: Leicester L L D D L, Middlesbrough W L L D L.

Top Scorers: Tony Cottee and Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 9; Brian Deane and Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 8.

Match Odds: H 10-11; A 12-5; D 9-4.

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington).

Liverpool (4) v Leeds (2)

Liverpool will field another new striking partnership, with Titi Camara returning from suspension to play up front alongside Erik Meijer. As well as being without injured England men Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp, Liverpool are also missing David Thompson, who starts a four-match ban. Patrik Berger has recovered from a slight groin strain, and Vegard Heggem is expected to be fit after his tendinitis problem.

Leeds manager David O'Leary could decide to recall either Alan Smith or Darren Huckerby. Harry Kewell may revert to his usual wide role on the left. Michael Duberry is fit despite requiring stitches following a clash of heads with Paul Merson. But David Batty is still sidelined through injury, while David Hopkin sits out the second match of a three-game ban.

Last season: Leeds 0 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 1 Leeds 3.

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

Top Scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9; Michael Bridges (Leeds) 14.

Match Odds: H 5-4; A 7-4; D 11-5.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

Manchester Utd (1) v Coventry (12)

United manager Alex Ferguson is contemplating changes after two games in five days. Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Andy Cole - none of whom started in the midweek win over Sheffield Wednesday - could be drafted in.

Coventry winger Runar Normann, who started the FA Cup defeat against Charlton last week, is rated very doubtful with a knee injury. Mustapha Hadji and Youssef Chippo are still on international duty with Morocco in the African Nations Cup, so boss Gordon Strachan has a selection headache in midfield.

Last season: Coventry 0 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 2 Coventry 0.

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

Top Scorers: Andy Cole (Man Utd) 15, Robbie Keane (Coventry) 15.

Match Odds: H 2-7; A 9-1; D 3-1.

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

Southampton (17) v West Ham (8)

Glenn Hoddle hopes to have skipper Jason Dodd back from an ankle injury for his first game in charge of the Saints. Claus Lundekvam is ruled out by a one-match ban but Dean Richards has recovered from an Achilles problem to take his place in defence. Matt Le Tissier is sidelined by a calf injury and Stuart Ripley has a hamstring strain. Moroccan Hassan Kachloul is available again following two weeks away on international duty.

Paolo di Canio (hamstring) is unlikely to start for the Hammers and Paul Kitson is not fully matchfit so Trevor Sinclair is likely to move up front with Gary Charles slotting in at right wing-back. John Moncur and Igor Stimac return from injury and suspension respectively and Craig Forrest is set to replace Shaka Hislop (hamstring) in goal. Marc-Vivien Foe is still away with Cameroon.

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

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

Top Scorers: Marian Pahars (Southampton) 8; Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 12.

Match Odds: H 7-5; A 6-4; D 9-4.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington).

Sunderland (5) v Newcastle (15)

Sunderland welcome back striker Niall Quinn from suspension and manager Peter Reid is also expected to include Chris Makin and Nicky Summerbee in his starting line-up. The pair were left out of the defeat by Leeds. Skipper Steve Bould and John Oster are ruled out with hamstring injuries and with Darren Williams suspended, Jody Craddock is given a rare Premiership appearance.

Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano has been ruled out of the derby clash due to a thigh injury. But £2 million Paraguayan signing Diego Gavilan, who joined the Magpies from Cerro Porteno last week, is included in the squad for the first time after receiving international clearance.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture.

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

Top Scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 19, Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 25.

Match Odds: H 5-4; A 7-4; D 11-5.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).

Tottenham (7) v Chelsea (6)

Espen Baardsen's early return from international duty has averted a possible goalkeeping crisis for Spurs. Mauriccio Taricco is back after missing the last two games through illness and replaces Justin Edinburgh. Oyvind Leonhardsen and Steffen Freund are sidelined by injury but John Scales is back in the squad following a calf injury and could figure as a substitute. Willem Korsten is likely to be on the bench again.

Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli has defensive problems. Albert Ferrer has not recovered from an ankle injury, while Graeme Le Saux and Celestine Babayaro are also absent through injury and international duty respectively. Jon Harley and Bernard Lambourde are likely to fill in, while Vialli is hopeful Frank Leboeuf and Jes Hogh will be fit.

Last season: Tottenham 2 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 2 Tottenham 0.

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

Top Scorers: Steffen Iversen (Tottenham) 13, Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea) 13.

Match Odds: H 7-4; A 5-4; D 11-5.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Tomorrow

Wimbledon (13) v Everton (11)

Wimbledon's striker crisis continues with top scorer Carl Cort facing a late fitness test on a hamstring injury. Egil Olsen may have to hand 19-year-old Patrick Agyemang his debut alongside Jamaican marksman Marcus Gayle. Ben Thatcher is suspended following his two-match ban for elbowing Sunderland's Nicky Summerbee.

Walter Smith could take the chance to rest teenager Francis Jeffers and give American JoeMax Moore a run up front. Scot Gemmill could also be given a rare first team start. Nick Barmby will be missing through suspension, while Alex Cleland has a thigh injury. John Collins will be back in contention after an ankle knock and Don Hutchison is expected to have shaken off a bout of tonsilitis. But Paul Gerrard is still out with a groin injury.

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

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

Top Scorers: Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 15, Kevin Campbell (Everton) 10.

Match Odds: H 5-4; A 7-4; D 11-5.

Referee: G Barber (Tring).

Match odds supplied courtesy of William Hills