Saturday

Bolton (8) v Fulham (11)

Defender Djibril Diawara returns to the Derby squad after suspension. The Senegal international, on loan from Torino, may have to settle for a place on the bench as a result of the good form of skipper Gudni Bergsson and Mike Whitlow.

French striker Steve Marlet is Fulham's only absentee as he recovers from a compressed fracture of his knee. Luis Boa Morte is back in the squad after suspension.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Bolton L W L D W, Fulham L D W W W

Top Scorers: Michael Ricketts (Bolton) 10; Barry Hayles, Steed Malbranque and Louis Saha (Fulham) 5.

Match Odds: H 11-8; A 6-4; D 23-10.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral)

Chelsea (7) v Blackburn (9)

Marcel Desailly returns to Chelsea's squad after injury and suspension, while Carlo Cudicini and Ed de Goey are contesting the goalkeeping jersey in the wake of Mark Bosnich being ruled out for a month with a thigh injury. Jody Morris (ankle) and Jesper Gronkjaer (knee) are long-term absentees.

Garry Flitcroft will miss the match because of his groin injury and Corrado Grabbi, who is set to join Napoli or Bologna, is sidelined by a combination of illness and a knee injury, while Lucas Neill is also out with a knee problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Chelsea D L D W D, Blackburn W D D W D

Top Scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 10; Matt Jansen (Blackburn) 4.

Match Odds: H 8-13; A 4-1; D 23-10.

Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)

Leicester (18) v Everton (12)

Midfielder Robbie Savage returns from the one-match ban which kept him out of last week's 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, while Callum Davidson - concussed at Old Trafford - is fit again. Everton strikers Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell are out. Last weekend boss Walter Smith used full-back Steve Watson in a striking role against Chelsea alongside Tomasz Radzinski, deciding not to play either Joe-Max Moore or Danny Cadamarteri.

Last season: Everton 2 Leicester 1, Leicester 1 Everton 1

Last five league matches: Leicester L L D W L, Everton D W L D D

Top Scorers: Dean Sturridge (Leicester) 3; Kevin Campbell (Everton) 4.

Match Odds: H 11-8; A 13-8; D 21-10.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)

Newcastle (6) v Derby (17)

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson has reported an almost clean bill of health. Kieron Dyer returned to full training yesterday and could be only a fortnight away from fighting for a first-team place after missing nine months with a shin injury.

But the news is not so good for striker Carl Cort, who will see a specialist again next week after failing to shrug off a knee problem.

Derby goalkeeper Mart Poom has shown no ill-effects from last week's comeback from a shoulder problem and will start. Fabrizio Ravanelli and Benito Carbone should continue up front.

Last season: Derby 2 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 3 Derby 2

Last five league matches: Newcastle W L W W L, Derby L D D L W

Top Scorers: Craig Bellamy (Newcastle) 10; Fabrizio Ravanelli (Derby) 8.

Match Odds: H 4-9; A 11-2; D 13-5.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville)

Southampton (20) v Charlton (16)

Southampton midfielder Matthew Le Tissier is doubtful after sustaining a calf-muscle strain in a reserve match. Ecuadorian new signing Kleber Chala is likely to make the squad again.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley is likely to stick with the same personnel who have started the Addicks' two previous games.

Transfer-listed defender Andy Todd is back training and could come into contention. Graham Stuart is pressing for a return to frontline action after recovering from a recent knee injury.

Last season: Southampton 0 Charlton 0, Charlton 1 Southampton 1

Last five league matches: Southampton L D L L L, Charlton D L L W D

Top Scorers: James Beattie and Marian Pahars (Southampton) 6; Jason Euell (Charlton) 5.

Match Odds: H 5-4; A 7-4; D 11-5.

Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire)

West Ham (15) v Tottenham (10)

West Ham striker Frederic Kanoute (hamstring injury) is doubtful and Paul Kitson, who scored a hat-trick against Charlton on Monday, is expected to continue.

Full-back Nigel Winterburn (hamstring) is another non-starter but there could be a return for midfielder Joe Cole and England goalkeeper David James is ready to challenge Shaka Hislop for the number one spot after three reserve outings.

Mauricio Taricco is Tottenham's only injury worry as he bids to shake off an ankle injury. The Argentinian full back is likely to be replaced by Ben Thatcher.

Last season: West Ham 0 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 1 West Ham 0

Last five league matches: West Ham W W W L D, Tottenham W W W L D

Top Scorers: Frederic Kanoute (West Ham) 5; Gustavo Poyet, Teddy Sheringham and Christian Ziege (Tottenham) 5.

Match Odds: H 6-4; A 6-4; D 21-10.

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

SUNDAY

Arsenal (5) v Man Utd (4)

Third-choice Arsenal goalkeeper Stuart Taylor (20), is set for his Premiership debut. Richard Wright is out for two weeks with an injured right knee.

Andy Cole hopes to rejoin the squad after illness and injury kept him out of Tuesday's trip to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. United are definitely without Ryan Giggs, out for between four and six weeks with yet another hamstring injury, and Quinton Fortune will again deputise.

Last season: Man Utd 6 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 1 Man Utd 0

Last five league matches: Arsenal W D D L D, Man Utd W L D L W

Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 15; Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 10.

Match Odds: H 11-8; A 9-5; D 19-10.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)

Leeds (2) v Aston Villa (3)

Leeds manager David O'Leary could be forced to play Alan Smith as a lone striker if Robbie Keane fails to shake off a hand injury. Keane sustained the problem during the 2-1 defeat of Grasshoppers Zurich in the UEFA Cup third round, first leg, and, with Mark Viduka on World Cup duty with Australia, Smith may have to lead the line on his own.

Seth Johnson and Jonathan Woodgate are available again but O'Leary is also without Harry Kewell, Lee Bowyer, Michael Bridges and Lucas Radebe.

Villa have right-back Mark Delaney (leg) and midfielder Mustapha Hadji (knee) under treatment, but are boosted by the return of central defender Steve Staunton and skipper Paul Merson.

Last season: Aston Villa 1 Leeds 2, Leeds 1 Aston Villa 2

Last five league matches: Leeds D D D W L, Aston Villa L W W L D

Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Leeds) 7; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 8.

Match Odds: H 4-5; A 3-1; D 21-10.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)

Liverpool (1) v Sunderland (13)

German midfielder Dietmar Hamann, suspended for the Champions League defeat by Barcelona in midweek, is back in the frame. Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, who suffered minor knocks against the Catalans, are both expected to be fit, while Jamie Redknapp is still doubtful with a thigh strain.

Sunderland are again without injured central defender Jody Craddock (heel) and Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane (ankle). Darren Williams will continue to partner record signing Emerson Thome and Paul Thirlwell is set to keep former Sweden international Stefan Schwarz on the substitutes' bench again.

Last season: Sunderland 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1

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

Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 14; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 7.

Match Odds: H 4-9; A 6-1; D 5-2.

Referee: S Bennett (Kent)

Middlesbrough (14) v Ipswich (19)

Middlesbourgh defender Franck Queudrue is fit after shaking off a knee injury. Skipper Paul Ince is suspended while Australian duo Mark Schwarzer and Paul Okon are away on international duty. Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley will continue to deputise for Schwarzer.

Striker Alun Armstrong (virus), defender John McGreal (back) and midfielder Jim Magilton (thigh) face fitness tests. Finidi George, Marcus Stewart and Ulrich Le Pen are definitely ruled out, but boss George Burley has been hoping to add transfer target Marcus Bent to his squad in time to consider him for selection after agreeing a fee with Blackburn.

Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Ipswich 2, Ipswich 2 Middlesbrough 1

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D W L W D, Ipswich D D L L L

Top Scorers: Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 5; Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 8.

Match Odds: H 4-6; A 10-3; D 12-5.

Referee: D Pugh (Bebington)

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Celtic (1) v Rangers (2)

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill will be without Chris Sutton who will be at the bedside of his seriously ill baby. Sutton is keeping a vigil on his two-month-old son James who was rushed to hospital with respiratory problems on Thursday while the player was in Spain for Celtic's UEFA Cup tie with Valencia. Joos Valgaeren and Alan Thompson are also doubtful for tomorrow's second Old Firm encounter.

Rangers manager Dick Advocaat has injury doubts over Tore Andre Flo and Fernando Ricksen, who pic+ked up minor knocks during the UEFA Cup tie against Paris St Germain. But Advocaat is confident both players will be available for the trip across Glasgow to Parkhead.

Last season: Rangers 0 Celtic 3, Celtic 1 Rangers 0, Rangers 5 Celtic 1, Celtic 6 Rangers 2.

Last five league matches: Celtic W W W W W, Rangers W W W W W.

Top Scorers: Henrik Larsson (Celtic) 13; Tore Andre Flo (Rangers) 17.

Match Odds: H Evs; A 11-5; D 11-5.

Referee: S Dougal

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill