Saturday, October 18th
Arsenal (2) v Chelsea (1)
Patrick Vieira is suspended and is also a doubt for next week's Champions League tie away to Dynamo Kiev because of a thigh injury. Ray Parlour is still contention after injuring an ankle in training, although Edu is expected to partner Gilberto Silva in central midfield at Highbury. Dennis Bergkamp could be back after a calf injury, but Fredrik Ljungberg is still ruled out with an ankle injury and Martin Keown is also sidelined by a calf problem.
Juan Sebastian Veron waits to see if he is recalled after being omitted from the last two games. He could replace Joe Cole if coach Claudio Ranieri decides the Argentinian is fit enough. William Gallas still looks doubtful after aggravating an ankle injury during the warm-up before Tuesday's game at Birmingham while fellow centre back Marcel Desailly continues to have back problems.
Last season: Arsenal 3 Chelsea 2, Chelsea 1 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal W D D W W; Chelsea W W W W D
Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 7; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 6
Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
Fulham (5) v Wolverhampton (20)
Argentinian striker Facundo Sava, who suffered a shoulder injury two weeks ago, must see a specialist to determine whether he requires surgery on the problem. Martin Djetou picked up a minor abductor strain during a reserve game last week but has made a swift recovery and should be available tomorrow, as is Dean Leacock following his hamstring strain.
Paul Ince is serving a one-match ban after collecting five bookings this season. Loan signings Hassan Kachloul and Joey Gudjonsson are competing to replace him. Matt Murray could make his first Premiership start since the opening day of the season.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Fulham W D D W W; Wolverhampton D L L D W
Top scorers: Luis Boa Morte (Fulham) 5; Alex Rae (Wolverhampton) 2
Match odds: H 4-7 A 9-2 D 23-10
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
Leeds (16) v Man Utd (3)
Mark Viduka and Jermaine Pennant are both available after recovering from a hamstring strain and food poisoning respectively. Brazilian centre-back Roque Junior also returns to the squad after serving a one-match suspension. Ian Harte serves the second game of a three-match ban while Jody Morris is suspended by the club.
Alex Ferguson has already indicated that Rio Ferdinand will face his former club despite his failure to attend a drugs test last month and subsequent omission from the England team. Ferguson could be tempted to name the side that defeated Birmingham with Darren Fletcher and Quinton Fortune keeping their places ahead of Ronaldo and John O'Shea.
Last season: Man Utd 2 Leeds 1, Leeds 1 Man Utd 0
Last five league matches: Leeds W L L L W; Man Utd L W D W W
Top scorers: Seth Johnson, Alan Smith & Mark Viduka (Leeds) 2; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 9
Match odds: H 9-2 A 4-7 D 23-10
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
Man City (6) v Bolton (15)
Trevor Sinclair has shrugged off a dead leg suffered in the UEFA Cup defeat of Lokeren in Belgium in midweek. Back-up goalkeeper Nicky Weaver suffered a knock on his knee in training and will be replaced on the bench by Kevin Ellergaard.
Youri Djorkaeff battling to shake off a thigh injury. The Frenchman missed the draw at Aston Villa a fortnight ago and is considered a doubtful starter.
Last season: Bolton 2 Man City 0, Man City 2 Bolton 0
Last five league matches: Man City L W D D L; Bolton D W D D D
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 8; Kevin Davies (Bolton) 3
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Middlesbrough (17) v Newcastle (18)
Gareth Southgate is back in contention for Boro after missing the last two games with a groin injury, while Bolo Zenden returns after being ineligible to face Chelsea last time out. Italian striker Massimo Maccarone is also in the squad after an ankle injury.
Newcastle team news to follow.
Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 2 Middlesbrough 0
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L L W W L; Newcastle L D D L W
Top scorers: Szilard Nemeth (Middlesbrough) 3; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 7
Match odds: H 8-5 A 7-5 D 21-10
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Portsmouth (10) v Liverpool (8)
On-loan Russian midfielder Alexei Smertin misses out because of a knee injury. Hayden Foxe is standing by for a possible return to defence as centre-back Dejan Stefanovic faces a late examination on his injured hand after missing Serbia and Montenegro's final Euro 2004 qualifier in Wales. Matthew Taylor is challenging for a return after a full England Under 21 appearance. Tim Sherwood looks set to step up from the substitutes' bench, with Nigel Quashie still recovering from a knee problem.
Michael Owen misses out having failed to recover from the shin injury that has sidelined him for a fortnight. The England striker has still only done gym work in his recovery programme and has yet to join in full training. Gerard Houllier is likely to field the same side that beat Olimpija Ljubljana in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday. Dietmar Hamann is back in training and Chris Kirkland now recovered from his knee trouble to take his place on the bench.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Portsmouth D D L L L; Liverpool W W W L L
Top scorers: Teddy Sheringham (Portsmouth) 6; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 8
Match odds: H 11-4 A 5-6 D 11-5
Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).
Sunday, October 19th
Birmingham (4) v Aston Villa (13)
Ian Bennett will start his first game of the season, taking over from Maik Taylor who is suspended after his sending off against Manchester United. Robbie Savage has been passed fit after recovering from an Achilles problem but is facing a battle to regain his place after the impressive form of back in favour Aliou Cisse and Stephen Clemence against Chelsea in midweek.
Ronny Johnsen is poised to return after a four match absence. The Norwegian international is back in full training after recovering from a hamstring injury and is likely to replace Alpay who has been given the week off after his much publicised spat with David Beckham. Thomas Sorensen has recovered from the back problem which forced him to be substituted in the 1-1 draw with Bolton a fortnight ago and Marcus Allback is pushing for a recall after regaining full match fitness.
Last season: Aston Villa 0 Birmingham 2, Birmingham 3 Aston Villa 0
Last five league matches: Birmingham D W W L D; Aston Villa W L W L D
Top scorers: Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) 3; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 7
Match odds: H 11-10 A 21-10 D 21-10
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
Everton (12) v Southampton (7)
Kevin Campbell is standing by for his first game of the season. He has overcome a hamstring problem and could feature with Duncan Ferguson (virus) doubtful and Wayne Rooney suspended, while Francis Jeffers is also in contention.
Saints have Brett Ormerod poised to start his first game of the season alongside James Beattie as Kevin Phillips starts a three-match ban after being sent off against Middlesbrough at the end of last month. Graeme Le Saux is doubtful with a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the last two games while Neil McCann and Chris Marsden are struggling to overcome ankle and hip problems.
Last season: Everton 2 Southampton 1, Southampton 1 Everton 0
Last five league matches: Everton L D L W L; Southampton W W W L L
Top scorers: Steve Watson (Everton) 5; James Beattie (Southampton) 6
Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5
Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).
Leicester (19) v Tottenham (14)
Micky Adams has been boosted by the return to fitness of central defensive linchpin Matt Elliott, who has failed to feature since the opening day of the season after sustaining a broken bone during training. Ian Walker and Les Ferdinand are available but Ben Thatcher will be missing after a chest X-ray confirmed pneumonia.
German defender Christian Ziege is set to return to the Spurs squad from a long-term thigh injury after completing his second full reserve match in midweek. Midfielder Simon Davies could also feature following a five-game lay-off with a hip problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leicester L W L L L; Tottenham L L L D W
Top scorers: Paul Dickov (Leicester) 4; Frederic Kanoute (Tottenham) 6
Match odds: H 13-8 A 11-8 D 21-10
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).