Today

Aston Villa (14) v Coventry (16)

Aston Villa utility man Simon Grayson is on standby to start his first game for a month, with Gareth Southgate, Riccardo Scimeca and David Hughes doubtful through injury. Midfielder Ian Taylor completes a three-match ban and Mark Bosnich returns at the expense of Michael Oakes.

Coventry skipper Gary McAllister is sidelined by a knee injury. David Burrows wins a recall, but Irish midfielder Willie Boland is suspended and Norwegian Trond Soltvedt or Dane Martin Johansen will take his place.

Last season: Aston Villa 2-1 Coventry, Coventry 1-2 Aston Villa.

Last five League matches: Aston Villa DLDWL, Coventry DWDLL.

Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa) 6; Dion Dublin (Coventry) 8.

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

Referee: G P Barber (Pyrford).

Blackburn (3) v Bolton (13)

Colin Hendry, missing with a back injury since November 6th, returns for Blackburn and Tore Pedersen makes way. Chris Sutton, Tim Sherwood and Jeff Kenna have shrugged off injuries, and Kevin Gallacher is back to full fitness.

Gerry Taggart, having completed his six-match ban, is available for Bolton. Chris Fairclough and Neil Cox are also in contention after recovering from injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Blackburn DDWWL, Bolton DLDWW.

Top scorers: Chris Sutton (Blackburn) 11; Nathan Blake (Bolton) 8.

Match odds: H 4-7 A 7-2 D 11-4.

Referee: J D Bodenham (East Looe).

Derby Co (9) v West Ham (10)

Igor Stimac returns for Derby after a two-month absence with back trouble. The Croatian replaces Dean Yates.

West Ham boss Harry Redknapp is hoping that Paul Kitson will be fit to take his place among the substitutes. The striker has been out with a groin problem for nearly three months.

Last season: Derby 1-0 West Ham, West Ham 1-1 Derby.

Last five League matches: Derby LWLWL, West Ham LLLWW.

Top scorers: Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 10; John Hartson (West Ham) 17.

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

Referee: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).

Leeds Utd (4) v Everton (20)

Leeds have injury worries over Lucas Radebe and Harry Kewell. Radebe, who flies out after the game for South Africa's friendly with Brazil in Johannesburg on Sunday, has a groin strain, while Australia striker Kewell has a knee problem. Skipper David Hopkin completes a three-game ban.

Dave Watson returns after injury for Everton and England full-back Andy Hinchcliffe, dropped against Spurs last week, is back in the side. New Norwegian goalkeeper Thomas Myhre stands by, but Neville Southall is expected to play after recovering from bruised ribs.

Last season: Leeds 1-0 Everton, Everton 0-0 Leeds.

Last five League matches: Leeds LWWWW, Everton LLLLL.

Top scorers: Rod Wallace (Leeds) 10; Gary Speed, Danny Cadamarteri (Everton) 5.

Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 12-5.

Referee: P A Durkin (Portland).

Leicester (6) v Crystal Palace (12)

Leicester have Ian Marshall, Steve Walsh and Steve Guppy facing late fitness tests, Garry Parker is absent for family reasons and Emile Heskey is still suspended. Rob Ullathorne could be added to the squad for the first time since breaking his ankle 10 months ago Palace boss Steve Coppell hopes ankle-injury victims - Jamie Smith, skipper Andy Roberts and Bruce Dyer - will be fit for the trip to Filbert Street.

Last season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five League matches: Leicester WDLDW, Crystal Palace WDWLL.

Top scorers: Ian Marshall (Leicester) 7; Neil Shipperley (Crystal Palace) 5.

Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 9-4.

Referee: U D Rennie (Sheffield).

Liverpool (7) v Manchester Utd (1)

Robbie Fowler returns for Liverpool after a threegame suspension, but Roy Evans is unlikely to risk Rob Jones, who is still not fully recovered from an Achilles problem, and Mark Wright, also not quite ready following back trouble.

Gary Pallister and Nicky Butt have shrugged off injuries and, with Paul Scholes suspended and Roy Keane and Denis Irwin still injured, Alex Ferguson may name an unchanged United side.

Last season: Liverpool 1-3 Man Utd, Man Utd 1-0 Liverpool.

Last five League matches: Liverpool WDWLW, Man Utd WWLWW.

Top scorers: Robbie Fowler (Liverpool) 8; Andy Cole (Man Utd) 13.

Match odds: H 13-8 A 11-8 D 11-5.

Referee: D R Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).

Newcastle Utd (8) v Arsenal (5)

Newcastle striker Faustino Asprilla is in line for a shock recall, with Kenny Dalglish revealing the Colombian is "at the final hurdle" in terms of a return to full fitness.

French striker Nicolas Anelka is available again after an ankle injury and could threaten Ian Wright's Arsenal place. Patrick Vieira is still ruled out by knee ligament trouble, Ray Parlour is a doubtful starter and Frenchman Gilles Grimandi starts a three-match ban.

Last season: Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal, Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle.

Last five League matches: Newcastle DDWWL, Arsenal DLWLL.

Top scorers: Faustino Asprilla (Newcastle) 6; Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) 12.

Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 11-5.

Referee: S W Dunn (Bristol).

Tottenham (18) v Chelsea (2)

Jose Domingues returns to the Tottenham squad to ease a striker crisis for new coach Christian Gross. Steffen Iversen (foot), Rory Allen (ankle) and skipper Sol Campbell, who is struggling with a shoulder injury, are doubtful starters.

Ruud Gullit is still without Eddie Newton (broken toe) and Gustavo Poyet (ruptured knee ligament), so Gianluca Vialli, Mark Nicholls and Gullit himself are in contention for recalls.

Last season: Tottenham 1-2 Chelsea, Chelsea 3-1 Tottenham.

Last five League matches: Tottenham LLLLW, Chelsea WWLWW.

Top scorers: David Ginola (Tottenham) 5; Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea) 10.

Match odds: H 15-8 A 6-5 D 9-4.

Referee: D J Gallagher (Banbury).

Tomorrow

Wimbledon (11) v Southampton (17)

Wimbledon will give a late fitness test to Nigerian international striker Efan Ekoku before Joe Kinnear names his team. Jason Euell and John Goodman are long-term injuries, and Brian McAllister and Alan Kimble are also out.

Egil Ostenstad is in contention for a Southampton recall. The Norwegian international has not started a game since undergoing ankle surgery in October.

Last season: Wimbledon 3-1 Southampton, Southampton 00 Wimbledon.

Last five League matches: Wimbledon WLWLL, Southampton WWWLL.

Top scorers: Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 6; Kevin Davies (Southampton) 10.

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

Referee: M D Reed (Birmingham).

Odds supplied by William Hill.