Saturday

Charlton (15th) v Tottenham (5th) - Charlton's Welsh midfielder John Robinson is out with a groin strain. Striker Jonatan Johansson (dead leg) and defender Mark Fish (sore knee) are doubtful, although Shaun Bartlett and Steve Brown are back in contention. Manager Alan Curbishley also has the option of giving full debuts to Portugal captain Jorge Costa and Chris Bart-Williams, both signed on loan this week.

Striker Les Ferdinand (ankle) and wing-back Christian Ziege (foot) may have to join suspended Steffen Freund on the sidelines for Tottenham. Previously out-of-favour Sergei Rebrov could replace Ferdinand while Mauricio Taricco looks a likely replacement for Ziege. Steffen Iversen is back in the squad after recovering from an ankle injury.

Last season: Tottenham 0 Charlton 0, Charlton 1 Tottenham 0

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

Top scorers: Euell (Charlton) 5; Ferdinand, Poyet and Sheringham (Tottenham) 6

Match odds: H 9-5 A 5-4 D 21-10

Referee: S Dunn

Derby (19th) v Bolton (10th)

Derby manager Colin Todd is expected to name the side that lost narrowly to Liverpool. Todd will again be without Scotland midfielder Craig Burley, who is expected to be sidelined until the New Year following a knee operation.

Bolton midfielder Paul Warhurst is expected to return to the starting line-up after serving a one-match ban. Central defender Mike Whitlow sustained an ankle injury in training this week but should be fit for the match although Colin Hendry and Djibril Diawara are standing by.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Fabrizio Ravanelli (Derby) 8 Michael Ricketts (Bolton) 12

Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 21-10

Referee: M Messias

Fulham (12th) v Everton (9th)

Fulham are without £11.5 million sterling record signing Steve Marlet, so manager Jean Tigana will look to Louis Saha, Luis Boa Morte and Barry Hayles for goals. Marlet is working with Cottagers fitness coach Roger Propos and targeting a New Year comeback from a compressed fracture of the knee.

Jesper Blomqvist could make his first senior appearance since the 1999 Champions League final for Everton after joining on a free transfer. Abel Xavier is Everton's only selection doubt because of a bout of the flu, while injured duo Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell are still weeks away from returning.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Barry Hayles (Fulham) 6 Kevin Campbell (Everton) 4

Match odds: H 8-11 A 7-2 D 21-10

Referee: P Dowd

Leicester (17th) v Southampton (18th)

Leicester are boosted by the availability of new signing Brian Deane and midfielder Muzzy Izzet. Deane has shaken off a groin strain and Izzet has recovered from a neck problem. Leicester will look to maintain a fine run against the Saints - five wins and a draw in the last six meetings - and lift themselves further out of the drop zone.

New signing Brett Ormerod will go straight into Southampton's squad and is likely to be named among the substitutes. Claus Lundekvam (ankle) is expected to be fit while Marian Pahars should overcome a toe problem. Matt Le Tissier is back in contention following the recurrence of a calf injury, but Stuart Ripley (hamstring) and Mark Draper (knee) are out.

Last season: Southampton 1 Leicester 0, Leicester 1 Southampton 0

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

Top scorers: Ade Akinbiyi (Leicester) 3 Marian Pahars (Southampton) 7

Match odds: H Evs A 12-5 D 2-1

Referee: G Poll

Liverpool (1st) v Middlesbrough (14th)

The Premiership leaders have doubts over Vladimir Smicer (ankle) and Steven Gerrard (thigh). However, Liverpool could have Jamie Redknapp available following the thigh problem that has forced him out of the last three games.

Middlesbrough skipper Paul Ince is in line for a return after completing a three-game ban. But goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is out with a groin injury, so Mark Crossley will continue to deputise after keeping three successive clean sheets. Full back Robbie Stockdale has recovered from an ankle injury.

Last season: Liverpool 0 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 1 Liverpool 0

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

Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 15 Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 6

Match odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 13-5

Referee: D Gallagher

Man Utd (8th) v West Ham (16th)

Irish Under-21 centre back John O'Shea could get his Premiership debut start as Alex Ferguson faces an injury crisis in the centre of his defence. Laurent Blanc and Gary Neville suffered knocks during the Champions League win over Boavista. Blanc (nose) and Neville (groin) are serious doubts for United who already have Wes Brown (knee), David May (groin) and Ronny Johnsen (knee) on the treatment table.

West Ham will have Paul Kitson and Hayden Foxe back in their squad after striker Kitson recovered from a calf strain and defender Foxe shook off a bout of flu. But Nigel Winterburn may be rested, with Scott Minto replacing him. French striker Frederic Kanoute will not travel, as he is still recovering from a hamstring problem.

Last season: Man Utd 3 West Ham 1, West Ham 2 Man Utd 2

Last five league matches: Man Utd D L W L L, West Ham L D L L D

Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 12 Frederic Kanoute (West Ham) 5

Match odds: H 2-5 A 13-2 D 13-5

Referee: P Durkin

Sunday

Arsenal (2nd) v Aston Villa (6th)

Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Ashley Cole have been passed fit. Wiltord is back in contention having been sidelined by a thigh injury and Henry (ankle) and Cole (hamstring) are ready to shrug off their slight injury worries. Arsene Wenger could retain Kanu in the starting line-up or recall Dennis Bergkamp, an impressive substitute against Juventus in the Champions League. Richard Wright has not recovered from a knee injury and Wenger is happy to keep faith with 21-year-old Stuart Taylor.

Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman hopes to retain his place after making his first Premiership start for 18 months against West Ham on Wednesday as a replacement for Peter Schmeichel (calf). Villa are without central defender Alpay and midfielders Mustapha Hadji, Hassan Kachloul and Ian Taylor who are all injured. Striker Darius Vassell and Juan Pablo Angel hope to return.

Last season: Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 0

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

Top scorers: Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 19 Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 8

Match odds: H 1-2 A 5-1 D 12-5

Referee: A Wiley

Blackburn (11th) v Leeds (3rd)

Blackburn captain Garry Flitcroft is still receiving treatment for the small tear in his groin. Defender Stig Inge Bjornebye is also ruled out with a calf injury.

Leeds striker Alan Smith starts a three-match ban for his sending off against Aston Villa, while midfielder Seth Johnson serves a one-match suspension after picking up five bookings this season. David O'Leary has Robbie Fowler available, while Dominic Matteo returns to the centre of defence having recovered from an Achilles injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

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

Top scorers: Matt Jansen (Blackburn) 4 Robbie Keane (Leeds) 7

Match odds: H 15-8 A 5-4 D 2-1

Referee: A D'Urso

Ipswich (20th) v Newcastle (4th)

Ipswich will have £2.75 million signing Marcus Bent leading their attack. Finidi George is expected to make his first Premiership start since suffering a depressed fracture of his cheekbone. There are doubts over strikers Pablo Counago (knee) and Richard Naylor (foot). Top scorer Marcus Stewart is still ruled out with a broken jaw.

Kieron Dyer is back in Newcastle's first-team squad for the first time since February after playing more than an hour for the reserves on Wednesday night following his recovery from a stress fracture of the shin.

Last season: Ipswich 1 Newcastle 0, Newcastle 2 Ipswich 1

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

Top scorers: Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 8 Craig Bellamy (Newcastle) 10

Match odds: H 9-5 A 13-10 D 2-1

Referee: R Styles

Sunderland (13th) v Chelsea (7th)

Claudio Reyna is expected to be given an immediate Sunderland debut after being added to a squad depleted by injuries to Jody Craddock (gashed shin) and Jason McAteer (groin) and the suspension of Swiss defender Bernt Haas. Darren Williams is expected to switch to right back with either George McCartney or Slovakia captain Stanislav Varga taking over in central defence. Kevin Kilbane is back in the squad after recovering from an ankle injury.

Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit is back in training following a calf problem and hopes to return at the Stadium of Light. Graeme Le Saux is also expected to return after a head injury, but captain Marcel Desailly faces at least another match on the sidelines with an Achilles problem.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Sunderland 4, Sunderland 1 Chelsea 0

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

Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 8 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 11

Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10

Referee: N Barry

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill