Saturday Blackburn (14) v Newcastle Utd (15)Francis Jeffers's hopes of making a comeback have been dashed after a recurrence of a groin injury. Tugay is expected to be restored to the starting line-up but Brett Emerton (hamstring), Zurab Khizanishvili (groin), and long-term absentees Steven Reid, Jason Roberts and Ryan Nelsen are all out as well.

Kieron Dyer misses out for Newcastle having only just resumed training following a thigh injury. Damien Duff has also started light training following knee surgery, but Stephen Carr (foot), Titus Bramble (calf), Scott Parker (back muscle), Michael Owen and Tim Krul (both knee), Shola Ameobi and Olivier Bernard (both hip), Craig Moore (hamstring) and Steve Harper (groin) are still out.

Last season: Newcastle 0, Blackburn 1; Blackburn 0, Newcastle 3. Last five league matches: Blackburn L L D W L; Newcastle L D D W W. Top scorers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 8; Antoine Sibierski (Newcastle) 6. Match odds: H 10-11; A 13-5; D 21-10. Referee: D Gallagher.

Bolton (9) v West Ham Utd (18)

Gary Speed is set to make a record 500th Premier League appearance. Full back Ricardo Gardner is likely to be on the bench after recovering from a knee injury while Tal Ben Haim is suspended. Quinton Fortune remains doubtful with an Achilles problem.

Anton Ferdinand has an ankle injury and is a doubt for West Ham, who will also make a late check on Javier Mascherano after the midfielder suffered a knock in training. Danny Gabbidon remains sidelined with a hamstring strain.

Last season:Bolton 4, West Ham 1; West Ham 1, Bolton 2. Last five league matches: Bolton D L W L L; West Ham L L W L L. Top scorers: El-Hadji Diouf & Ivan Campo (Bolton) 4; Bobby Zamora (West Ham) 5. Match odds: H 4-5 A 3-1 D 21-10 Referee: H Webb.

Liverpool (5) v Fulham (13)

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will recall Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Sami Hyypia and Steve Finnan after resting them for the midweek Galatasaray Champions League trip. Peter Crouch has been troubled with a back problem while Mark Gonzalez, Bolo Zenden, Mohamed Sissoko and Harry Kewell are all long-term injury worries.

Fulham have Franck Queudrue back from a badly gashed shin. Central defender Phillippe Christanval is also back in the squad. Captain Luis Boa Morte has recovered from a hamstring strain which forced him to be substituted at Blackburn last Saturday.

Last season: Liverpool 5, Fulham 1; Fulham 2, Liverpool 0. Last five league matches: Liverpool L D W D W; Fulham D L L W L. Top scorers: Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 9; Brian McBride (Fulham) 4. Match odds: H 1-3 A 7-1 D 3-1 Referee: U Rennie.

Manchester Utd (1) v Manchester City (12)

Manchester United full back Patrice Evra is a major doubt after picking up a calf injury in Wednesday's Champions League win over Benfica.

Manchester City have no fresh injury concerns as they look to record their first Old Trafford derby-day win since 1974. Sun Jihai (hamstring) and Trevor Sinclair (knee) are both missing with long-term knocks.

Last season: Man City 3, Man Utd 1; Man Utd 1, Man City 1. Last five league matches: Man Utd W W D W W; Man City D W L W D. Top scorers: Louis Saha (Man Utd) 11; Joey Barton (Man City) 4. Match odds: H 1-3 A 7-1 D 3-1. Referee: G Poll.

Middlesbrough (16) v Wigan Ath (11)

Middlesbrough captain George Boateng will lead his side after an appeal against his red card at Tottenham in midweek was successful. The Dutchman escaped a four-match ban, but Lee Cattermole is suspended. Striker Mark Viduka appeared as a substitute against Tottenham on Tuesday after recovering from broken toes.

Wigan captain Arjan de Zeeuw is again sidelined with a toe injury, while striker Emile Heskey serves a one-match ban after collecting five yellow cards. Matt Jackson travels but is doubtful after sustaining an Achilles injury in Wednesday's 2-0 win at West Ham, while winger Antonio Valencia returns to the squad after a four-week lay-off with a hamstring problem.

Last season:Middlesbrough 2, Wigan 3; Wigan 1, Middlesbrough 1. Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W D D L L; Wigan W D L L W. Top scorers: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 4; Henri Camara (Wigan) 5. Match odds: H 21-20 A 11-5 D 21-10. Referee: S Bennett.

Portsmouth (4) v Everton (7)

Pedro Mendes is banned after his dismissal against Aston Villa last week. Matt Taylor is a doubt with a recurrence of back trouble, Niko Kranjcar stands by. Sean Davis (groin) is fit again and returns to partner unsettled Manuel Fernandes in midfield.

Everton midfielder Leon Osman (hamstring) will not be risked at Fratton Park. Mikel Arteta misses his second successive match with the ankle injury sustained in training while Phil Neville (knee) is rated as 50-50.

Last season: Portsmouth 0, Everton 1; Everton 0, Portsmouth 1. Last five league matches: Portsmouth D W L D D; Everton L W D L W. Top scorers: Kanu (Portsmouth) 8; Tim Cahill (Everton) 7. Match odds: H 21-20 A 23-10 D 2-1 Referee: M Clattenburg.

Tottenham (10) v Charlton Ath (19)

Tottenham will be without Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane (medial knee ligament) and Jermaine Jenas (ankle) after they sustained injuries in their midweek win against Middlesbrough. Striker Mido returns from a groin injury but defender Anthony Gardner has not recovered from a knee injury. Didier Zokora is suspended after his dismissal against Middlesbrough but Hossam Ghaly returns from suspension.

Djimi Traore will miss Charlton's trip to Tottenham after pulling his hamstring in the first half of Tuesday's win over Blackburn. The former Liverpool defender had been out for three months after breaking his ankle in the defeat at Chelsea in September. He will be replaced by Souleymane Diawara.

Last season: Tottenham 3, Charlton 1; Charlton 2, Tottenham 3. Last five league matches: Tottenham L D W L W; Charlton L L D L W. Top scorers:Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 7; Darren Bent (Charlton) 8. Match odds: H 4-9 A 11-2 D 13-5. Referee: M Dean.

Watford (20) v Reading (6)

Watford will be without captain Gavin Mahon, who serves a one-match ban after collecting five bookings. Veteran defender Chris Powell returns from suspension, but manager Adrian Boothroyd is still without goalkeeper Ben Foster and forward Marlon King (both knee) as well as defender Clarke Carlisle (thigh).

Reading give late fitness tests to Graeme Murty and Seol Ki-Hyeon (both toe). Irish duo Stephen Hunt (hamstring) and Kevin Doyle (thigh) have been passed fit to play. Midfielder Bobby Convey (knee) and striker Dave Kitson (appendix) are still sidelined.

Last season: Watford 0, Reading 0; Reading 0, Watford 0. Last five league matches: Watford W L L L D; Reading W W W W L. Top scorers: Ashley Young (Watford) 4; Kevin Doyle (Reading) 8. Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10. Referee: C Foy.

Sunday

Chelsea (2) v Arsenal (3)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will recall England defender Ashley Cole to face his former club. Claude Makelele will return to the midfield after being rested against Levski Sofia in the Champions League on Tuesday. Captain John Terry will partner Ricardo Carvalho in the centre of defence after missing the European game through suspension. Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini remains doubtful with a leg muscle injury.

Arsenal defender Johan Djourou has been given the all-clear to partner Philippe Senderos at centre back despite sustaining a hamstring injury against FC Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday. Kolo Toure is suspended while William Gallas's recovery from a thigh injury is expected to take at least one more week.

Last season: Arsenal 0, Chelsea 2; Chelsea 1, Arsenal 0. Last five league matches: Chelsea L W W D W; Arsenal W D L L W. Top scorers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 14; Thierry Henry & Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 7. Match odds: H 8-11 A 7-2 D 21-10. Referee: A Wiley.

On TV:

Saturday

Man Utd v Man City ( Prem Plus, kick-off 12.45)

Liverpool v Fulham (Setanta Sports, kick-off 3.0)

Bolton v West Ham (Prem Plus, kick-off 5.15)

Sunday

Dunfermline v Celtic (Setanta Sports, kick-off 2.0)

Chelsea v Arsenal (Sky Sports 1, kick-off 4.0)