Saturday
Aston Villa (7) v Liverpool (12)
Villa goalkeeper David James is set to make his comeback against his former club after missing the last four matches with a knee ligament injury. The recall of James is unlikely to be the only change manager John Gregory makes to the side beaten 3-1 at Leicester last week.
Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler goes into hospital today for an ankle operation that could keep him out until December. Titi Camara or Erik Meijer will partner Michael Owen up front, while Dietmar Hamann will also start the game.
Last season: Liverpool 0 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 4
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W W L W L, Liverpool W W L D L
Top scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 6; Patrik Berger, Danny Murphy (Liverpool) 3
Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 11-5
Referee: R Harris (Oxford)
Bradford (17) v Sunderland (4)
Bradford's new French striker Bruno Rodriguez is doubtful after twisting an ankle. Gareth Whalley will also undergo a late fitness test on a thigh strain, although Neil Redfearn is in contention after recovering from his own ankle problem. Peter Reid's only team selection dilemma is in central midfield where he must decide between skipper Kevin Ball and Alex Rae.
Last season: Bradford 0 Sunderland 1, Sunderland 0 Bradford 0
Last five league matches: Bradford L L D L W, Sunderland W D W W W
Top scorers: Dean Saunders (Bradford) 2; Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 8
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 9-4
Referee: S Bennett (Orpington, Kent)
Everton (6) v Coventry (15)Richard Gough and Kevin Campbell are expected to shake off minor knocks as Everton look to equal their best start to a season for 20 years. Francis Jeffers (thigh) and Don Hutchison (calf) also appear certain to play while Mark Pembridge and David Unsworth have outside chances of shaking off knee and shoulder injuries respectively.
Mustapha Hadji is expected to overcome a bruised instep to continue alongside Robbie Keane in Coventry's attack.
Last season: Everton 2 Coventry 0, Coventry 3 Everton 0
Last five league matches: Everton W L W W W, Coventry L D L L W
Top scorers: Francis Jeffers (Everton) 4; Robbie Keane (Coventry) 8
Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 12-5
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)
Sheff Wed (20) v Wimbledon (16)Skipper Peter Atherton and Andy Hinchcliffe are included in the Wednesday squad. Atherton has missed the last three matches with a shoulder injury while Hinchcliffe has been sidelined since mid-August. Gareth Ainsworth and Tore Pedersen remain long-term injuries for Egil Olsen's side. Ainsworth faces at least another month out of action while Pedersen is not expected to return until the new year. With those exceptions Olsen travels to Hillsborough with a fully fit squad.
Last season: Sheff Wed 1 Wimbledon 2, Wimbledon 2 Sheff Wed 1
Last five league matches: Sheff Wed L L L L L, Wimbledon L L D D D
Top scorers: Niclas Alexandersson, Benito Carbone (Sheff Wed) 2; Carl Cort (Wimbledon) 5
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 11-5
Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset)
Sunday
Chelsea (5) v Man Utd (1)
Gianluca Vialli is expected to recall French skipper Didier Deschamps, who was rested for the Champions League clash with Galatasaray. An added bonus for the Chelsea boss is that Marcel Desailly is likely to be fit after recovering from a groin strain. But Roberto Di Matteo will be out for another fortnight even though the Italian midfielder trained for the first time this week after recovering from an ankle injury.
Sir Alex Ferguson could change a winning Manchester United lineup but will not reveal his plans until the last minute. Massimo Taibi and Mickael Silvestre are both available again after missing Wednesday's Champions League game because they were ineligible. Roy Keane is due back following his week's rest but it is doubtful he will be included after already pulling out of the Republic of Ireland squad for next week's internationals.
Last season: Chelsea 0 Man Utd 0, Man Utd 1 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W L W, Man Utd W W W D D
Top scorers: Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 3; Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 8
Match odds: H 6-4 A 13-8 D 2-1
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury, Oxon)
Newcastle (19) v Middlesbrough (11)
New striker Kevin Gallacher will go straight into the Newcastle squad. Gallacher, who has signed an 18-month contract after moving from Blackburn, is likely to partner former Rovers team-mate Alan Shearer up front. Middlesbrough skipper Paul Ince (groin) and Brazilian star Juninho (ankle) are rated 50-50.
Last season: Newcastle 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 2 Newcastle 2
Last five league matches: Newcastle L L L W L, Middlesbrough L L W L L
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 11; Brian Deane, Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 3
Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 9-4
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley)
Tottenham (9) v Leicester (8)
Tim Sherwood is set to return after missing the UEFA Cup clash in Moldova with a groin injury. David Ginola, who has missed the last two matches with a calf injury, is also hoping to be fit.
Leicester skipper Matt Elliott missed training this week with tonsillitis and is unlikely to figure. Frank Sinclair is serving a one-match ban but Gerry Taggart returns from suspension.
Last season: Tottenham 0 Leicester 2, Leicester 2 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Tottenham W L D W D, Leicester W W L D W
Top scorers: Steffen Iversen, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Tim Sherwood (Tottenham) 4; Muzzy Izzet (Leicester) 5
Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 9-4
Referee: G Barber (Tring, Herts)
Watford (14) v Leeds (2)
Graham Taylor may leave new signing Charlie Miller on the bench despite having two of his strikers ruled out through injury. Allan Smart faces a lengthy lay-off after damaging medial ligaments in last weekend's defeat at Arsenal and Tommy Mooney is also out with knee trouble. Midfielder Richard Johnson is back in training after a knee injury but will not be ready to face Leeds.
Leeds midfielder Lee Bowyer will miss the game due to suspension after picking up five yellow cards already this season. Norwegian Under-21 international Eirik Bakke, who made a superb impression on his full debut against Newcastle last week, will take his place.
With the exception of long-term casualties Michael Duberry and Stephen McPhail, O'Leary has no other injury worries.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Watford L L L W L, Leeds L W W W W
Top scorers: Peter Kennedy, Tommy Mooney (Watford) 2; Michael Bridges (Leeds) 6
Match odds: H 4-1 A 4-6 D 11-5
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay, Essex)
West Ham (10) v Arsenal (3)
Rio Ferdinand played more than an hour against Osijek on Thursday night after four games out with an ankle injury and is keen to face the Gunners. Neil Ruddock, who replaced Ferdinand in the UEFA Cup tie, also came through unscathed after a lengthy hamstring problem.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will take another 24 hours to decide whether to recall fit-again England goalkeeper David Seaman in place of Alex Manninger. Wenger may also rest Dennis Bergkamp after the nonflying Dutchman's latest road-trek across Europe and start Davor Suker up front against his Croatia team-mate, West Ham defender Igor Stimac.
Last season: West Ham 0 Arsenal 4, Arsenal 1 West Ham 0
Last five league matches: West Ham W W W L L, Arsenal W L W W W
Top scorers: Paulo Wanchope (West Ham) 5; Kanu (Arsenal) 5
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 9-4
Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)
Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.
