SaturdayBirmingham (8) v Middlesbrough (11)Clinton Morrison will be given another chance to establish himself as a Birmingham regular, with Christophe Dugarry suspended for his sending off and also sidelined with a knee problem. Defender Olivier Tebily has been laid low with flu and, although he returned to training yesterday, manager Steve Bruce is not optimistic about his chances of making the game.

Middlesbrough midfielder Jonathan Greening is a doubt through illness - a late assessment of his condition will be made before manager Steve McClaren names his side. Brazilian Doriva is definitely out with an ankle problem, while reserve goalkeeper Carlo Nash is expected to miss out with a finger problem - Brad Jones will continue to deputise for Mark Schwarzer.

Last season: Birmingham 3 Middlesbrough 0; Middlesbrough 1 Birmingham 0. Last five league matches: Birmingham D L L L W; Middlesbrough W D W D D. Top scorers: Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) 7; Szilard Nemeth (Middlesbrough) 3. Match odds: H 5-4 A 15-8 D 2-1. Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).

Blackburn (14) v Aston Villa (16)

Steven Reid will miss out for Blackburn after suffering a hamstring injury in training. David Thompson, Lorenzo Amoruso and Alan Kelly are all sidelined with long-term injuries.

Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel is struggling with a back problem, while striker-turned-defender Dion Dublin should be available after a knee injury - but the form of fit-again Ronny Johnsen means Dublin may have to be content with a place on the substitutes' bench.

Last season: Aston Villa 3 Blackburn 0; Blackburn 0 Aston Villa 0. Last five league matches: Blackburn W L W W L; Aston Villa L L W L W. Top scorers: Andy Cole (Blackburn) 5; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 11. Match odds: H 8-11 A 16-5 D 9-4. Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).

Bolton (10) v Arsenal (1)

Per Frandsen, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Kevin Nolan and Youri Djorkaeff should all return to Bolton's starting line-up after only the latter played any part in Tuesday's League Cup quarter-final victory over Southampton after coming on as a substitute. Emerson Thome may also be recalled if he has recovered from a chest infection.

Ashley Cole is suspended following his red card at Leicester and 18-year-old French defender Gael Clichy is the favourite to stand in. Lauren is now fit again after a knee injury, while Martin Keown is also competing for a first-team comeback after impressing in the League Cup defeat of West Brom.

Last season: Bolton 2 Arsenal 2; Arsenal 2 Bolton 1. Last five league matches: Bolton D W W L W; Arsenal W W D D W. Top scorers: Kevin Davies (Bolton) 5; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 14. Match odds: H 4-1 A 4-7 D 5-2. Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Charlton (7) v Newcastle (5)

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley hopes to have centre back Mark Fish back in his defence after a groin injury. Kevin Lisbie and Shaun Bartlett are still sidelined with their respective back and ankle injuries, Richard Rufus and Gary Rowett are out with knee trouble, while full back Luke Young is struggling with his ankle problem.

Newcastle will be without central defender Titus Bramble due to suspension.

With Jonathan Woodgate up to two weeks away from a return from a minor hamstring tear, Steve Caldwell is likely to step in, provided he has recovered from a thigh strain, while Nikos Dabizas is added to the squad.

Last season: Charlton 0 Newcastle 2; Newcastle 2 Charlton 1. Last five league matches: Charlton W D L L D; Newcastle L W D D W. Top scorers: Kevin Lisbie (Charlton) 5; Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 16. Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 11-5. Referee: S Bennett (Kent).

Everton (15) v Leicester (17)

David Moyes makes no changes to his squad as Everton bid to secure back-to-back Premiership wins for the first time in eight months. Tony Hibbert (ankle) and Joseph Yobo (neck) remain short of fitness and Moyes is happy to keep faith with Alan Stubbs and David Unsworth at the back.

Ben Thatcher is set to feature for the Foxes despite having broken a bone in his hand. Paul Dickov is also expected to feature after he was excused from training on Thursday to attend his father's funeral in Scotland. Billy McKinlay has recovered from a groin injury and Steve Howey is back after a hamstring strain.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Everton L W L D W; Leicester W D W D L. Top scorers: Steve Watson (Everton) 5; Paul Dickov (Leicester) 6. Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 21-10. Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Fulham (4) v Chelsea (3)

Fulham left-back Jerome Bonnissel (ankle) should be fit and will challenge Jon Harley for a place in the side. Midfielder Mark Pembridge (calf) and defender Dean Leacock (knee) are still out.

Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele could be ruled out with a fever - boss Claudio Ranieri will have him assessed before the clash. Adrian Mutu is back from an ankle injury but fellow forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is suspended and Eidur Gudjohnsen, Juan Sebastian Veron and Emmanuel Petit are still on the sidelines.

Last season: Chelsea 1 Fulham 1; Fulham 0 Chelsea 0. Last five league matches: Fulham L W D W L; Chelsea W W W D L. Top scorers: Louis Saha (Fulham) 10; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 10. Match odds: H 7-2 A 4-6 D 23-10. Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

Wolverhampton (20) v Liverpool (9)

Denis Irwin faces a late fitness test as he tries to shake off a hamstring strain. Steffen Iversen is fit again after a thigh problem but Nathan Blake is still sidelined with the same injury.

Liverpool's Stephane Henchoz has been out for seven weeks with a knee injury but Gerard Houllier is unsure whether he can be risked - despite the Swiss defender playing 90 minutes for the reserves this week. The Reds will definitely be without Michael Owen, Harry Kewell, Milan Baros, Steve Finnan and Jamie Carragher.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Wolverhampton D L D L L; Liverpool L D W D L. Top scorers: Alex Rae (Wolverhampton) 6; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9. Match odds: H 11-4 A 4-5 D 23-10. Referee: B Knight (Kent).

Sunday

Southampton (6) v Portsmouth (18)

Southampton striker James Beattie is facing a late fitness test on an ankle injury but a similar problem is expected to rule out defender Claus Lundekvam.

Full back Graeme Le Saux (hamstring) is still out after missing the last five games while Kevin Phillips has overcome a virus and is set for a place on the bench.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp will be without six first-team regulars.

Defender Arjan De Zeeuw and midfielders Steve Stone and Patrik Berger are all banned, midfielder Nigel Quashie is still struggling with a knee injury while striker Vincent Pericard misses out with a thigh strain. Amdy Faye is sidelined after breaking down in training with a recurrence of the knee injury which kept him out of action for five weeks.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Southampton D L L W W; Portsmouth W L L D L. Top scorers: James Beattie (Southampton) 10; Teddy Sheringham (Portsmouth) 6. Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5. Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).

Tottenham (13) v Man Utd (2)

Dean Richards is doubtful after picking up a knee injury during Spurs' Carling Cup exit to Middlesbrough in midweek with a knee injury. Gary Doherty is in line to deputise. Darren Anderton also suffered a minor knock during the match and has yet to fully recover.

Alex Ferguson claims he plans to rotate his United squad over the festive period, starting tomorrow - which could mean a recall to the starting line-up for midfielder Nicky Butt.

Ferguson insists central defender Rio Ferdinand will play at White Hart Lane, no matter what the outcome of the Football Association hearing.

Last season: Tottenham 0 Man Utd 2; Man Utd 1 Tottenham 0. Last five league matches: Tottenham L W L W L; Man Utd W W L W W. Top scorers: Frederic Kanoute (Tottenham) 9; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 16. Match odds: H 4-1 A 8-13 D 23-10. Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).

Monday

Man City (12) v Leeds (19)

City defender Michael Tarnat could return to the squad after a thigh injury.

Manager Kevin Keegan may be tempted to make changes following the defeat by Manchester United which left his team in the bottom half of the table and midfielders Claudio Reyna and Eyal Berkovic are both pushing for a place in the starting line-up.

Leeds are unlikely to make any changes from the side which beat Fulham, though Lamine Sakho is back after recovering from a cracked rib. Last season: Man City 2 Leeds 1; Leeds 3 Man City 0. Last five league matches: Man City L L L D L; Leeds L L W D W. Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 11; Alan Smith (Leeds) 5. Match odds: H 10-11 A 9-4 D 12-5. Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).