Weekend Premiership team news

Aston Villa (6) v Fulham (10)Villa midfielder Gavin McCann is doubtful because of a calf problem and Patrik Berger is also struggling to be fit after damaging his thigh in training. First choice goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen could be back after resuming training following the shoulder injury which kept him out of the 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

Luis Boa Morte is still out with a fractured cheekbone which is expected to keep him out until next month. Simon Elliott and Mark Pembridge (both calf) are still unavailable and Jimmy Bullard (knee) is out for the season but Philippe Christanval (knee) could be back in contention.

Last season: Aston Villa 0 Fulham 0, Fulham 3 Aston Villa 3
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D D W D D; Fulham W D L D W
Top scorers: Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 4; Brian McBride (Fulham) 3
Match odds: H 4-6 A 4-1 D 21-10
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).

Charlton (20) v Watford (19)

Winger Jerome Thomas is pushing for a start after a broken foot and Souleymane Diawara may feature after suffering cramp at the end of the Fulham game, while Omar Pouso (hamstring) is nearing full fitness. Djimi Traore (leg), Gonzalo Sorondo (back), Kevin Lisbie (shoulder) and Cory Gibbs (knee) are out for Charlton.

Chris Powell is pushing hard for a return to the Watford starting line-up after a calf injury and battles with Jordan Stewart for the left-back spot. Manager Adrian Boothroyd has no new injury worries, with defender Clarke Carlisle (thigh) the only absentee.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Charlton L L L L L; Watford L D D D L
Top scorers: Darren Bent (Charlton) 6; Ashley Young & Marlon King (Watford) 2
Match odds: H 10-11 A 13-5 D 21-10
Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).

Chelsea (2) v Portsmouth (4)

Hilario continues in goal for Chelsea on his 31st birthday because of injuries to Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini. Jose Mourinho is without the suspended Mikel Jon Obi but Michael Ballack is available after his sending off against Liverpool last month resulted in a three-match suspension from domestic football.

Regular full-backs Glen Johnson (ineligible against his parent club) and Dejan Stefanovic (knee) are missing for Pompey. Noe Pamarot comes in at right-back with Matt Taylor dropping into defence, allowing a recall for Croatian Niko Kranjcar.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 0 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W D W; Portsmouth W W L L W
Top scorers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 9; Kanu (Portsmouth) 6
Match odds: H 1-4 A 9-1 D 7-2
Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).

Everton (7) v Sheff Utd (16)

Everton are likely to switch the versatile Phil Neville to right-back, with Tony Hibbert ruled out for up to two months with a bad groin tear. Defender Alan Stubbs, back in training this week after groin trouble, is unlikely to make the starting line-up but could be on the bench. Gary Naysmith and Alessandro Pistone are long-term injury victims.

Blades centre-back Claude Davis faces a late fitness test on a knee injury. Rob Hulse, Michael Tonge and Chris Armstrong complained of aches and pains this week but none are considered serious and boss Neil Warnock hopes to name an unchanged side.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Everton W D D D L; Sheff Utd D L L W D
Top scorers: Andrew Johnson (Everton) 6; Rob Hulse (Sheff Utd) 3
Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 23-10
Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).

Wigan (17) v Man City (12)

Wigan boss Paul Jewell is set to name an unchanged squad. Only striker David Cotterill (ankle) and long-term casualties Ryan Taylor and Steve McMillan are unavailable, but none of the three featured in last week's home defeat to Manchester United.

Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver is a major doubt for City after a back injury - Joe Hart stands by to deputise again. Sylvain Distin, Claudio Reyna and Hatem Trabelsi should recover from minor knocks but Darius Vassell (knee) and DaMarcus Beasley (ankle) are out, Ishmael Miller is doubtful with a hamstring strain, while Ben Thatcher serves the final game of his eight-match ban.

Last season: Man City 0 Wigan 1, Wigan 4 Man City 3
Last five league matches: Wigan L D D L L; Man City L L W D D
Top scorers: Paul Scharner, Svetoslav Todorov, Emile Heskey & David Cotterill
(Wigan) 2; Georgios Samaras (Man City) 3
Match odds: H 5-4 A 9-5 D 21-10
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire)

Sunday, October 22nd

Blackburn (9) v Bolton (3)

Robbie Savage (back) and David Bentley (hamstring) are slight injury worries. Steven Reid's stress fracture of his back makes him a long-term casualty while Ryan Nelsen still has a hamstring problem.

Bolton are set to be unchanged after last week's 2-1 win at Newcastle. El-Hadji Diouf should again team up with Kevin Davies and Nicolas Anelka in attack. Long-term injury casualties Ricardo Gardner, Henrik Pedersen and Joey O'Brien remain sidelined.

Last season: Blackburn 0 Bolton 0, Bolton 0 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Blackburn D W W W D; Bolton W D W W W
Top scorers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 6; El-Hadji Diouf & Ivan Campo
(Bolton) 3
Match odds: H 5-4 A 15-8 D 2-1
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

Man Utd (1) v Liverpool (11)

United have a near clean bill of health. Park Ji-sung (ankle) is out and Mikael Silvestre will not be considered despite returning to training after his broken foot, but skipper Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand seem certain to return in defence and Gabriel Heinze could also feature in a much-changed back four. Ryan Giggs is vying for selection on the left flank.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard should make his 350th appearance for the club after recovering from a hamstring injury. Robbie Fowler (back) and Daniel Agger (broken hand) could be fit enough for the bench, while Mohamed Sissoko and Dirk Kuyt have both shaken off ankle injuries.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 0 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd W L D W W; Liverpool L W W L D
Top scorers: Louis Saha (Man Utd) 6; Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 6
Match odds: H 5-6 A 3-1 D 2-1
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Middlesbrough (13) v Newcastle (15)

Jonathan Woodgate returns to the Middlesbrough squad after recovering from a thigh problem, however full-back Tony McMahon broke his leg on reserve team duty last night. Central defender Chris Riggott and striker Malcolm Christie (both ankle) remain unavailable.

Magpies boss Glenn Roeder makes late checks on goalkeeper Steve Harper (groin) and midfielder Emre ahead (back). Reserve goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek is available along with striker Giuseppe Rossi - both were ineligible for yesterday's UEFA Cup tie - while Celestine Babayaro comes into contention after completing a three-match ban and recovering from a groin problem.

Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Newcastle 2, Newcastle 2 Middlesbrough 2
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D D L L W; Newcastle W L D L L
Top scorers: Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 3; Shola Ameobi (Newcastle) 5
Match odds: H 11-10 A 21-10 D 21-10
Referee: M Atkinson (Leeds).

Reading (8) v Arsenal (5)

Royals winger Bobby Convey (knee) faces a fitness test but captain Graeme Murty misses out with a hamstring injury and fellow defender Andre Bikey is banned after his red card against Chelsea. Ulises de la Cruz is set to fill in for Murty at right-back, while striker Dave Kitson (knee) is still sidelined.

Arsenal could be without midfielder Freddie Ljungberg for around another month because of his calf problem. Emmanuel Eboue (knee) and Julio Baptista (hamstring) also remain unavailable. Defender Philippe Senderos and midfielder Mathieu Flamini return to the squad and left-back Gael Clichy is in contention for a start, but Lauren (knee) and Abou Diaby (ankle) are some way from a return.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Reading W W D W L; Arsenal D W W W W
Top scorers: Leroy Lita & Kevin Doyle (Reading) 3; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 4
Match odds: H 5-1 A 8-15 D 23-10
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

Tottenham (14) v West Ham (18)

Tottenham give a late fitness test to England defender Ledley King. King started against Besiktas on Thursday after recovering from his knee problem but boss Martin Jol may not risk his captain. Didier Zokora (fever) is unlikely to feature, with Tom Huddlestone a likely midfield deputy. Mido should return following a thigh injury but Teemu Tainio (hernia) and Steed Malbranque (groin) are out.

West Ham could have Argentina striker Carlos Tevez back after a knee injury sustained while on international duty. Full-back John Pantsil has recovered from knee ligament surgery, while Robert Green could replace Roy Carroll in goal as West Ham seek their first win since the opening day of the season.

Last season: West Ham 2 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 1 West Ham 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham L D L W D; West Ham D L L L L
Top scorers: Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham) 2; Bobby Zamora (West Ham) 5
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).