Saturday

Aston Villa (3rd) v Middlesbrough (13th)

Aston Villa hope to have central defender Olof Mellberg (ankle) and midfielder Paul Merson (calf, hamstring and back) back. Darius Vassell will play despite a knee injury but Steve Staunton and Alpay face checks after World Cup duty.

Middlesbrough skipper Paul Ince will miss the trip as he starts a three-game ban. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is away on international duty with Australia, so Mark Crossley will deputise.

Last season: Villa 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 1 Villa 1.

Last five league matches: Villa W L W W L, Middlesbro' L D W L W.

Top scorers: Angel (Aston Villa) 8 Boksic (Middlesbrough) 5.

Match odds: H 8-13, D 23-10, A 4-1.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Blackburn (8th) v Liverpool (2nd)

Garry Flitcroft is Blackburn's main injury concern ahead of the high-noon showdown with Liverpool at Ewood Park. Corrado Grabbi is definitely sidelined with a medial knee ligaments injury, but Damien Duff returns to the squad after two months out with a hamstring problem.

Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard should both be fit to be included in Liverpool's squad. Liverpool's only serious absentee is midfielder Nick Barmby, who is out for six weeks after an operation on an ankle problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: B'burn L W D D W, Liverpool W D W W W

Top scorers: Dunn, Hignett & Jansen (B'burn) 3; Owen (L'pool) 12.

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

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Derby (20th) v Southampton (19th)

French right-back Francois Grenet is set to make his debut for Derby after his £3 million move from Bordeaux earlier last week. Striker Malcolm Christie, who missed England's Under-21 game on Tuesday because of a calf strain, came through training and could feature.

Defender Claus Lundekvam has recovered from a hamstring injury to boost Southampton and midfielder Matt Le Tissier is back in contention following hamstring trouble.

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

Last five league matches: Derby L L D D L Southampton L L D L L.

Top scorers: Ravanelli (Derby) 8; Beattie, Pahars (Southampton) 6.

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

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).

Fulham (12th) v Newcastle (4th)

Fulham's Lee Clark has recovered from his three-week injury in time to face his old club Newcastle at Craven Cottage. Republic of Ireland right-back Steve Finnan faces a check-over - but striker Steve Marlet is out with a compressed fracture of his knee, and fellow striker Luis Boa Morte is suspended.

Newcastle boss Bobby Robson will give Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given every chance to shake off the effects of his World Cup trip to Iran, with Steve Harper standing by. Youngster Carl Bell is also included in a provisional squad of 21.Andy O'Brien, who did not play for the Republic in Tehran, is likely to start.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Fulham D L D W W. New'le L W L W W.

Top scorers: Malbranque (Fulham) 5; Bellamy (Newcastle) 10.

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

Referee: E Wolstenholme (Blackburn).

Man Utd (6th) v Leicester (17th)

Roy Keane will not be risked but Alex Ferguson claims the Manchester United captain will recover from his knee injury in time to face Bayern Munich on Tuesday. Juan Sebastian Veron is also out as the midfielder only returned yesterday from World Cup duty with Argentina.

Alan Rogers goes straight into the Leicester squad after passing a medical and sealing a move from Nottingham Forest, possibly replacing Welsh international Robbie Savage who is sidelined through suspension.

Last season: Man Utd 2 Leicester 0, Leicester 0 Man Utd 3.

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

Top scorers: van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 8; Sturridge (Leicester) 3.

Match odds: H 1-5, D 4-1, A 10-1.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).

Tottenham (9th) v Arsenal (5th)

Christian Ziege and Sergei Rebrov have both returned unscathed from international duty so Tottenham have no new injury worries ahead of today's north London derby, which sees the return of Sol Campbell to White Hart Lane.

Campbell has been passed fit to face his former club but Arsenal striker Thierry Henry is ruled out by an ankle injury. Henry's absence means Dennis Bergkamp is set to start alongside Sylvain Wiltord in attack.

Last season: Arsenal 2 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 1 Arsenal 1.

Last five league matches: Tott'ham L W W W L, Arsenal W W D D L

Top scorers: Sheringham, Ziege (Tottenham) 5; Henry (Arsenal) 15.

Match odds: H 13-8 D 19-10 A 6-4

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Sunday

Everton (11th) v Chelsea (7th)

Everton will be without skipper Kevin Campbell because of his back injury but Welsh international Mark Pembridge returns to the squad after recovering from a calf problem.

Emmanuel Petit faces a fitness test on the ankle injury which ruled him out of France's friendly in Australia last weekend after being included in Chelsea's squad.

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

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

Top scorers: Campbell (Everton) 4 Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 10.

Match odds: H 8-5, D 21-10, A 7-5.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).

Ipswich (18th) v Bolton (10th)

New French winger Ulrich Le Pen goes straight into the Ipswich squad after his £1.4million move from Lorient in midweek, while Argentinian midfielder Sixto Peralta, on loan from Inter Milan, should be available again after recovering from a knee injury.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce is hoping one of his two top goalkeepers will recover from injury in time to face Ipswich. Jussi Jaaskelainen has a back problem, while Steve Banks is suffering from a thigh strain.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Ipswich D D D L L, Bolton L L W L D.

Top scorers: Stewart (Ipswich) 8; Ricketts (Bolton) 9.

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

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Sunderland (16th) v Leeds United (1st)

Republic of Ireland internationals Niall Quinn, Jason McAteer and Kevin Kilbane will train today after returning from the World Cup play-off in Iran and are all expected to be included in the squad.

Leeds manager David O'Leary is without a number of key players, with striker Mark Viduka and winger Harry Kewell both on World Cup qualification duty with Australia. Alan Smith will replace Viduka, Seth Johnson takes over from Kewell, and either Stephen McPhail or David Batty come in for Lee Bowyer. Centre-back Dominic Matteo is doubtful following a minor knee operation. Robbie Keane, Ian Harte and Gary Kelly return from their trip to Iran with the Republic of Ireland.

Last season: Sunderland 0 Leeds 2, Leeds 2 Sunderland 0

Last five league matches: Sunderland W L L D L, Leeds W D D D W

Top scorers: Phillips (Sunderland) 6; Keane (Leeds) 7

Match odds: H 13-8 D 9-4 A 13-10

Referee: G Barber (Tring)

Match odd supplies courtesy of William Hill