Saturday, August 16th
Arsenal (1) v Everton (8)
Martin Keown returns from a hamstring injury for the Gunners and Arsene Wenger is also hopeful Freddie Ljungberg will figure despite a recent shoulder problem. Pascal Cygan has hamstring trouble, new German keeper Jens Lehmann will make his Premiership debut and Francis Jeffers is a likely substitute but there is still no place in the squad for Nigerian striker Kanu.
Everton have a long list of selection problems and still a major doubt over Wayne Rooney's recovery from ligament damage. Even an appearance on the bench is doubtful for Rooney. Duncan Ferguson is suspended and Kevin Campbell out for a month with a hamstring problem, which leaves boss David Moyes with only Tomasz Radzinski and youngster Nick Chadwick as recognised strikers. Also out are Scot Gemmill (torn thigh muscle), Niclas Alexandersson (knee) and Lee Carsley (knee).
Last season: Arsenal 2 Everton 1, Everton 2 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal D W D W W, Everton L L W L L
Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire)
Birmingham (3) v Tottenham (19)
Birmingham are without Matthew Upson who is serving a one-match suspension after his sending off at Newcastle in May. Olivier Tebily and Darren Purse will be vying to partner Kenny Cunningham in the centre of defence. Steve Bruce will give first starts to club record signing David Dunn in midfield and Maik Taylor who is set to replace Ian Bennett between the posts. Christophe Dugarry has shaken off a knee problem and Bruce's only absentees are long-term casualties Nico Vaesen and Martin Grainger.
Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle is set to hand Premiership debuts to Helder Postiga and Bobby Zamora but one of them is likely to be a substitute. Frederic Kanoute is out with a groin injury, joining Gustavo Poyet (broken wrist) and Christian Ziege (thigh) on the treatment table. Darren Anderton and Dean Richards both have Achilles problems while with Ledley King (back) is also an absentee. Chris Perry serves a one-match ban.
Last season: Tottenham 2 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 1 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Birmingham W W W L D, Tottenham L W L L L
Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire)
Blackburn (4) v Wolverhampton (20)
Blackburn manager Graeme Souness has been handed a boost with the news that Australian midfielder Brett Emerton can face Wolves. The Dutch Football Association have decided to overturn a suspension on the former Feyenoord star, leaving him clear to make his debut. Souness will be without injured pair Craig Short (knee) and Steven Reid (ankle), but Andy Cole has recovered from an Achilles problem.
Wolves' Nathan Blake and Shaun Newton both face late tests for an ankle injury and an eye infection respectively. But Mark Kennedy (ankle), Joleon Lescott (knee), Kenny Miller (hernia) and George Ndah (knee) are all definitely ruled out. Steffen Iversen and Jody Craddock are set to start and club captain Paul Butler is expected to retain his place in defence because Isaac Okoronkwo is not considered ready.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackburn L D W D W, Wolverhampton D W W D D
Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland)
Fulham (9) v Middlesbrough (15)
Fulham boss Chris Coleman is without wantaway midfielder Sean Davis and captain Andy Melville. Davis, whose transfer request has been accepted, is sidelined for another three weeks with a knee injury in any case and centre-back Melville faces a similar length of time on the sidelines as he battles back to fitness after a foot problem. Striker Louis Saha is available after recovering from a hip injury.
Middlesbrough have been dealt a massive blow with the news that record signing Massimo Maccarone will be out for a further 10 weeks with an ankle ligament injury. He joins long-term absentees Ugo Ehiogu (knee ligaments) and David Murphy (ankle) on the sidelines. Striker Michael Ricketts (Achilles) will miss out while French full-back Franck Queudrue starts a five-match ban. George Boateng is short of match fitness after ankle surgery but new signings Alan Wright and Carlo Nash are both included.
Last season: Fulham 1 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 2 Fulham 2
Last five league matches: Fulham W L D W W, Middlesbrough L L L W L
Match odds: H 13-10 A 13-8 D 11-5
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)
Leicester (11) v Southampton (18)
Leicester manager Micky Adams is poised to unveil a host of new signings. Adams has brought in 11 players during the summer and six of them - Les Ferdinand, Craig Hignett, Keith Gillespie, John Curtis, Riccardo Scimeca and Ben Thatcher - are poised to start. Frank Sinclair, Steve Howey and Callum Davidson are all ruled out through injury.
New signing Kevin Phillips is in line to make his debut. Phillips completed his Stg£3.25million move from Sunderland on Thursday but the former England international is battling with Brett Ormerod and fit-again Marian Pahars for the chance to partner James Beattie up front. He is likely to be named on the substitutes' bench.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leicester D W L D D, Southampton L L D L W
Match odds: H 13-10 A 13-8 D 11-5
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)
Man Utd (14) v Bolton (5)
United are sweating on the fitness of Gary Neville (hamstring) and Quinton Fortune (thigh) with both rated extremely doubtful, while Phil Neville and Mikael Silvestre must shake off minor knocks if Sir Alex Ferguson is not to be forced into fielding skipper Roy Keane as an emergency centre-half. Of the five summer recruits, American goalkeeper Tim Howard is the only one likely to be given his debut, with Eric Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson and Stg£12.24million teenager Cristiano Ronaldo all set to start on the bench and David Bellion struggling to win a place among the substitutes.
Youri Djorkaeff could wear a protective face mask. The experienced French forward is back in training after suffering a hairline fracture of the cheekbone. Brazilian striker Mario Jardel is pushing for a place, but he has still to pass his medical and the paperwork has yet to be completed.
Last season: Bolton 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 0 Bolton 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd D W W W W, Bolton W D D D W
Match odds: H 2-9 A 17-2 D 4-1
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)
Portsmouth (17) v Aston Villa (2)
Portsmouth are without last season's top scorer Svetoslav Todorov, who could be out long term after suffering knee ligament damage. Nigerian youngster Yakubu Aiyegbeni is likely to come in to partner new signing Teddy Sheringham. Other new boys Patrik Berger, Sebastien Schemmel, Dejan Stefanovic, Boris Zivkovic, Amdy Faye and goalkeeper Harald Wapenaar are all likely to make their bows as well, while Linvoy Primus, Tim Sherwood and Matthew Taylor are all nursing injuries.
Former Sunderland duo Thomas Sorensen and Gavin McCann are poised to make their Villa debuts but unsettled striker Darius Vassell is ruled out with an ankle injury. It is likely to be club record signing Juan Pablo Angel and Marcus Allback leading the attack.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Portsmouth W L W W W, Aston Villa W D L W L
Match odds: H 13-10 A 13-8 D 11-5
Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire)
Sunday, August 17th
Charlton (6) v Man City (13)
Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has yet to decide whether new signing Paolo di Canio will start against City or be handed a place on the bench. Former Portugal Under-21 skipper Sergio Leite has agreed a short term contract at the Valley and is likely to be named substitute stopper - Paul Rachubka has glandular fever while Dean Kiely is suspended. Simon Royce will start between the sticks. Defender Richard Rufus is the only absentee through injury - he is still recovering from last season's knee surgery.
Manchester city midfielder Paul Bosvelt will miss out as he serves a two-match ban from his time in Holland. Joey Barton is set to fill the vacancy. Eyal Berkovic might have done enough to hold off the challenge of new-boy Antoine Sibierski, while Paulo Wanchope is not fit enough to challenge for a striking berth just yet.
Last season: Charlton 2 Man City 2, Man City 0 Charlton 1
Last five league matches: Charlton L L W L L, Man City W W L W L
Match odds: H 11-8 A 6-4 D 23-10
Referee: M Dean (Wirral)
Leeds (10) v Newcastle (16)
Manager Peter Reid is definitely without Michael Duberry (fractured cheekbone), Eirik Bakke (tendinitis) and Michael Bridges, who he thinks is not ready yet for first team action after a long term injury. Skipper Dominic Matteo, midfielder Seth Johnson and defender Lucas Radebe, who all had minor knee surgery either late last season or at the start of the close season, are included in the squad and may start.
Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson has no fresh injury concerns. Hugo Viana is recovering from a back spasm and is not included in the squad, while Darren Ambrose is back in training after suffering from shin splints but is short of match fitness. Lee Bowyer is set to make his Premiership debut against his former club.
Last season: Leeds 0 Newcastle 3, Newcastle 0 Leeds 2
Last five league matches: Leeds D L W L W, Newcastle L D W W D
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-10 D 11-5
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)
Liverpool (12) v Chelsea (7)
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard is suspended while Dietmar Hamann is out until November with a calf problem. Vladimir Smicer is the latest added to the doubtful list as he continues to struggle to recover from a knee problem. Steve Finnan is short of match fitness after a hernia operation and will only be risked on the bench, while Salif Diao is also working his way back from a groin problem. Boss Gerard Houllier will start with Igor Biscan in midfield.
Chelsea are attempting to register new Stg£15.8million signing Adrian Mutu in time for the match. Emmanuel Petit is in contention after missing the midweek Champions League victory in Slovakia amid rehabilitation from a summer hernia operation, but William Gallas is still doubtful with a knee injury.
Last season: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches: Liverpool W W W L L, Chelsea L W D L W
Match odds: H 13-10 A 9-5 D 2-1
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).