Weekend Previews

(League positions in brackets)

Today

Chelsea (7) v Aston Villa (2)

Fullback Graeme Le Saux is out of the Chelsea team with a calf problem, while midfielder Didier Deschamps is extremely doubtful with a similar injury. New signing Gabriele Ambrosetti has been included in the squad along with Jody Morris after recovering from a twisted ankle. Marcel Desailly and Chris Sutton are expected to be recalled and Celestine Babayaro should replace Le Saux.

Lee Hendrie is pressing to make his first start of the season for Aston Villa, and is challenging new £4.5million midfielder George Boateng for a place in the starting lineup. Villa manager John Gregory has a full-strength squad to choose from as he seek to ensure that Villa end their recent dismal run against Chelsea.

Last season: Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 3, Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 1.

Last five League matches: Chelsea WDWWD, Aston Villa LLWWD.

Top scorers: Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 3; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 3.

Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 12-5.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).

Coventry (16) v Derby (17)

Robbie Keane makes his debut for the Sky Blues following his £6 million move from Wolves. The Republic of Ireland striker is expected to start alongside John Aloisi.

Derby have Dean Sturridge back from a hamstring problem and Tony Dorigo and Lars Bohinen, who has recovered from a summer knee operation, are also available.

Last season: Derby 0 Coventry 0, Coventry 1 Derby 1.

Last five League matches: Coventry DDLLD, Derby DLDLL.

Top scorers: Gary McAllister (Coventry) 1; Deon Burton, Rory Delap (Derby) 1.

Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 9-4.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Everton (18) v Southampton (6)

Everton still have an injury worry over veteran defender Dave Watson, who has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out of last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Tottenham. Mark Pembridge could come into midfield for his debut after impressing in the reserves' 3-0 win against Newcastle in midweek. There is also a doubt over Don Hutchison, who was left out at Spurs and may not be able to force his way into boss Walter Smith's starting line-up.

Southampton manager Dave Jones is expected to hand striker Kevin Davies a place in the starting line-up. Davies, who rejoined Southampton earlier this week with Norwegian Egil Ostenstad moving in the opposite direction, will line-up alongside Latvian striker Marians Pahars in attack. James Beattie is hopeful of a place on the bench but Matthew Le Tissier has been told to rest a niggling Achilles injury. Captain Jason Dodd faces a late fitness test.

Last season: Southampton 2 Everton 0, Everton 1 Southampton 0.

Last five League matches: Everton WLDLL, Southampton WWWLW.

Top scorers: David Unsworth (Everton) 2; Hassan Kachloul (Southampton) 2.

Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 9-4.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington, Kent)

Leeds (8) v Sunderland (13)

Leeds striker Michael Bridges could miss the visit of his former club Sunderland if he fails to shake off an ankle injury. Bridges, a club record £5million capture this summer, picked up the injury in the defeat at Manchester United last week and is doubtful. Alan Smith, meanwhile, is likely to feature in David O'Leary's plans after an ankle problem of his own.

Thomas Helmer is on stand by to make his first start for Sunderland since his free transfer move from Bayern Munich if Steve Bould fails a late fitness test on a hamstring injury. Niall Quinn may have to be content with the place on the substitutes' bench again with Peter Reid set to stick to a five-man midfield.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Leeds WDDWL, Sunderland WWLWD.

Top scorers: Michael Bridges (Leeds) 3; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 2.

Match odds: H 1-2 A 11-2 D 12-5.

Referee: P Alcock (Halstead, Kent)

Middlesbrough (4) v Liverpool (14)

Defender Gary Pallister returns from injury for Middlesbrough - his first game of the season. Pallister should replace Dean Gordon who has had surgery to repair a snapped cruciate ligament, and Paul Gascoigne will be back after being rested for the 3-1 win at Derby last week.

David Thompson is on standby for Liverpool and could play in place of injured Czech winger Vladimir Smicer, while Steven Gerrard is likely to hold his midfield role as Dietmar Hamann's replacement.

Last season: Liverpool 3 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 3.

Last five League matches: Middlesbrough LLLWW, Liverpool DLWWL.

Top scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 3; Titi Camara, Robbie Fowler (Liverpool) 1.

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

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

Newcastle (20) v Wimbledon (11)

Duncan Ferguson is back in Newcastle's squad for the first time since last season's FA Cup final but is likely to start from the bench even though skipper Alan Shearer is suspended. Marcelino is likely to return after injury but Ruud Gullit includes teenagers Stuart Green, Brian Kerr and Paul Talbot in an 18-man squad.

Wimbledon striker John Hartson is struggling to be fit after twisting an ankle in training, while Dean Blackwell is banned after he was sent off on the opening day of the season against Watford. Robbie Earle has been giving the all-clear after sustaining a suspected fractured cheekbone against Coventry last week.

Last season: Wimbledon 1 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 3 Wimbledon 1.

Last five League matches: Newcastle LDLLL, Wimbledon LLWLD.

Top scorers: Alan Shearer, Nolberto Solano, Gary Speed (Newcastle) 1; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 3.

Match odds: H Evens A 9-4 D 9-4.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

Sheff Wed (19) v Tottenham (5)

Andy Hinchcliffe and midfielder Danny Sonner are Wednesday's main doubts. Hinchcliffe had to be taken off on a stretcher during last weekend's draw at Bradford due to a gash in his leg which required 10 stitches, while Sonner has an Achilles injury.

Spurs are without Sol Campbell, Chris Armstrong and Justin Edinburgh but Darren Anderton and Jose Dominguez have both recovered from calf injuries sustained in last week's 3-2 win against Everton. Willem Korsten has been ruled out for a fortnight by a ankle injury and Steffen Freund may get a starting role.

Last season: Sheff Wed 0 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 0 Sheff Wed 3.

Last five League matches: Sheff Wed WWLLD, Tottenham DLLWW.

Top scorers: Benito Carbone (Sheff Wed) 1; Steffen Iversen, Tim Sherwood (Tottenham) 2.

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

Referee: A P D'Urso (Billericay).

Watford (15) v Bradford (10)

Peter Kennedy reported back from Northern Ireland duty with a dead leg and is doubtful and Richard Johnson will be out for six weeks after damaging knee ligaments in Watford's 1-0 win at Liverpool.

Bradford defender Ashley Westwood will miss his third game of the season when the Bantams travel to Watford. Suspension meant he missed the two opening games but he misses the Vicarage Road clash because of a knee injury. Stuart McCall, Lee Sharpe and Isiah Rankin, meanwhile, remain on the long term injured list.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Watford DWLLW, Bradford WDWWD.

Top scorers: Peter Kennedy, Tommy Mooney, Michel Ngonge (Watford); Peter Beagrie, Dean Saunders (Bradford) 1

Match odds: H 6-5 A 15-8 D 11-5.

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).

West Ham (9) v Leicester (12)

West Ham's Steve Lomas is available again after suspension and boss Harry Redknapp will have to decide whether or not John Moncur makes way for him at home to Leicester. Ian Wright and Scott Minto are still out, while Neil Ruddock and Chris Coyne are some way from fitness. But Trevor Sinclair will play despite getting seven stitches in his knee on Monday night.

Leicester have a fitness doubt over former Hammer Andy Impey who has missed training through illness this week.

Last season: Leicester 0 West Ham 0, West Ham 3 Leicester 2.

Last five League matches: West Ham LLWWD, Leicester WLLWD.

Top scorers: Frank Lampard, Trevor Sinclair, Paulo Wanchope (West Ham) 1; Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 2.

Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood, Staffs).

Sunday

Arsenal (3) v Man UTD (1)

Arsenal have Tony Adams available a week ahead of schedule following a double hernia operation and, if Arsene Wenger decides to start with him, Matthew Upson will step down. The Gunners are without David Seaman (calf), Emmanuel Petit and Nigel Winterburn (both knee). Marc Overmars is likely to start on the bench. Dennis Bergkamp has recovered from a back injury, Silvinho will deputise for Winterburn and Gilles Grimandi, Nelson Vivas, Stefan Malz and Fredrik Ljungberg compete for Petit's place.

Manchester United are forced to make one change with second-choice goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw taking over from the injured Mark Bosnich. With Bosnich having treatment for a hamstring injury and Ronny Johnsen, Gary Neville and Wes Brown all missing, Alex Ferguson is down to the bare bones in defence. He was a relieved man when Jaap Stam and Henning Berg reported fit after playing in international friendlies this week.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 3 Man Utd 0.

Last five League matches: Arsenal LWWWD, Man Utd DWDWW.

Top scorers: Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) 2; Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 4.

Match odds: H 6-4 A 13-8 D 2-1.

Referee: G Poll (Tring, Hertfordshire).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.