Saturday, August 30th
Aston Villa (17) v Leicester (14)
Gareth Barry is ruled through suspension and Villa manager David O'Leary hopes Gavin McCann will be fit enough to replace Barry in the centre of midfield after missing the midweek defeat at Arsenal because of a stomach bug. Striker Marcus Allback (hamstring) again misses out. Leicester striker Les Ferdinand will undergo a late fitness test on a knee injury sustained on the opening day of the season against Southampton. Centre-back Matt Elliott is still sidelined by a broken toe and Frank Sinclair by a hip injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Aston Villa W L L D L; Leicester D D D L D
Top scorers: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) 1; Paul Dickov, Les Ferdinand, James Scowcroft (Leicester) 1
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Bolton (19) v Charlton (7)
Bolton's Anthony Barness and Bruno N'Gotty are ruled out after suffering hamstring injuries in the defeat by Portsmouth. Midfielder Gareth Farrelly is pushing for a place in the squad after scoring a hat-trick in a behind closed doors game in midweek.
Charlton striker Paolo di Canio is a doubt after bruising his knee during the 4-0 mauling of Wolves last Saturday. The Italian has been running in training this week but might not be deemed ready for the Reebok Stadium clash, allowing Jason Euell and Shaun Bartlett to continue their profitable partnership up front.
Last season: Charlton 1 Bolton 1, Bolton 1 Charlton 2
Last five league matches: Bolton D W L D L; Charlton L L L W D
Top scorers: Kevin Davies, Youri Djorkaeff (Bolton) 1; Jason Euell (Charlton) 3
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Chelsea (5) v Blackburn (6)
Chelsea have won international clearance for #16.8million striker Hernan Crespo and the Argentinian will fight with Adrian Mutu, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen for a place up front.
Blackburn boss Graeme Souness - who hopes to add Barry Ferguson to his squad this weekend - has no injury problems other than central defender Craig Short, who is out with a long-term knee injury. Markus Babbel, who will be clear of a four-game suspension once Liverpool play Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow, may only figure on the bench as he is not match fit.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Blackburn 2, Blackburn 2 Chelsea 3
Last five league matches: Chelsea D L W W W; Blackburn D W W D L
Top scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 2; Lorenzo Amoruso, Andy Cole (Blackburn) 2
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).
Everton (8) v Liverpool (15)
Steve Simonsen is on stand-by to deputise in the Everton goal should Richard Wright's knee injury keep him out of the Merseyside derby, after boss David Moyes allowed Paul Gerrard to join Sheffield United on loan. Striker Duncan Ferguson is available after a three-match suspension and midfielder Thomas Gravesen (knee) may return but Lee Carsley (knee), Scot Gemmill (thigh) and Kevin Campbell (hamstring) are out.
Liverpool are battling to get key defender Stephane Henchoz (ankle) and striker Emile Heskey (calf and shin) fit, while manager Gerard Houllier may also recall Danny Murphy and John Arne Riise after dropping them for the goalless draw with Tottenham in midweek.
Last season: Everton 1 Liverpool 2, Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Last five league matches: Everton L L L W D; Liverpool L L L D D
Top scorers: Steve Watson (Everton) 2; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 1
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
Middlesbrough (18) v Leeds (13)
England full-back Danny Mills is set to make his Middlesbrough debut after joining on a season-long loan from Leeds. Spanish World Cup star Gaizka Mendieta will make his first home appearance but boss Steve McClaren has injury worries over defenders Chris Riggott (back) and Colin Cooper (groin), while Ugo Ehiogu and Massimo Maccarone are long-term injuries.
Leeds have defenders Lucas Radebe and Didier Domi back in contention. Radebe missed Tuesday's goalless Elland Road draw with Southampton due to an ongoing knee problem which precludes him from playing two matches in the space of a few days. Domi is struggling for match fitness and may be on the bench, however, Jody Morris, Ian Harte and Frazer Richardson have recovered from knocks and are included in the squad.
Last season: Leeds 2 Middlesbrough 3, Middlesbrough 2 Leeds 2
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W L L L D; Leeds L W D L D
Top scorers: Carlos Marinelli, Szilard Nemeth (Middlesbrough) 1; Alan Smith (Leeds) 2
Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).
Newcastle (16) v Birmingham (9)
Newcastle's Jonathan Woodgate is out after aggravating his stomach muscle strain in the Champions League qualifying defeat to Partizan Belgrade. Craig Bellamy will also miss out with his knee problem, but Nolberto Solano has shaken off a groin strain and Lee Bowyer is available after missing the Partizan game through suspension.
On-loan striker Mikael Forssell is unlikely to figure in the team after joining Birmingham on a four-month loan deal from Chelsea. Christophe Dugarry misses his second successive game as he continues his recovery from minor knee surgery.
Last season: Newcastle 1 Birmingham 0, Birmingham 0 Newcastle 2
Last five league matches: Newcastle W W D D L; Birmingham W L D W D
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 3; David Dunn (Birmingham) 1
Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).
Tottenham (10) v Fulham (12)
Frederic Kanoute could make his first start for Tottenham. The #4million former West Ham striker who missed the opening-day defeat at Birmingham with a groin injury, has appeared as a substitute in the last two matches but could relegate Bobby Zamora to the bench.
Fulham midfielder Martin Djetou has failed to recover from the hamstring injury he sustained during his side's defeat by Everton last weekend but Sylvain Legwinski should be available after picking up an ankle injury in the same game. Sean Davis is still sidelined by his knee injury while striker Steve Marlet is unavailable for selection after agreeing a season-long loan deal with Marseille.
Last season: Tottenham 1 Fulham 1, Fulham 3 Tottenham 2
Last five league matches: Tottenham L L L W D; Fulham D W W W L
Top scorers: Frederic Kanoute, Mauricio Taricco (Tottenham) 1; Barry Hayles, Junichi Inamoto, Louis Saha (Fulham) 1
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).
Wolverhampton (20) v Portsmouth (3)
Joey Gudjonsson is set to go straight into the Wolves squad after signing on a season-long loan from Real Betis. Striker Henri Camara is expected to retain his starting place with Dean Sturridge (thigh) still ruled out. Shaun Newton (hamstring) and Oleg Luzhny (toe) are doubts, while Matt Murray (back) is still not fit and Mark Kennedy (ankle), Joleon Lescott (knee), Kenny Miller (hernia) and George Ndah (knee) remain on the long-term injury list.
Russian captain Alexei Smertin, who joined Portsmouth on a season-long loan from Chelsea this week, is in the squad after being granted a work permit by the Home Office. Australian defender Hayden Foxe is available again after missing the last two games with a thigh strain but expected to have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wolverhampton D D L L L; Portsmouth W W W D W
Top scorers: Steffen Iversen (Wolverhampton) 1; Teddy Sheringham (Portsmouth) 4
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).
Sunday, August 31st
Man City (4) v Arsenal (1)
Claudio Reyna will not be considered by City boss Kevin Keegan despite completing his #2.5million move from Sunderland. Robbie Fowler may return from a rib injury against Portsmouth but Jon Macken (ankle) is definitely out and Paulo Wanchope has returned to Costa Rica following a family bereavement.
Martin Keown replaces the suspended Sol Campbell at the centre of Arsenal's defence as Pascal Cygan, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, is likely to be on the bench. Philippe Senderos is still not fit after a back problem while striker Francis Jeffers completes a three-match ban.
Last season: Man City 1 Arsenal 5, Arsenal 2 Man City 1
Last five league matches: Man City W L W D W; Arsenal W W W W W
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 3; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 4
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
Southampton (11) v Man Utd (2)
Southampton goalkeeper Antti Niemi and midfielder Chris Marsden are in contention to make their first appearances of the season after knee injuries. Anders Svensson is also expected to be recalled in midfield with Rory Delap out for a fortnight with a damaged ankle.
Paul Scholes is set to be included in the United squad, even though he requires a hernia operation. The midfielder will need surgery and is likely to enter hospital next week in an attempt to ensure he is fit for the Champions League double-header with Rangers. Rio Ferdinand (virus), Mikael Silvestre (groin) and Ryan Giggs (tight hamstring) all hope to return although neither Nicky Butt (ankle) nor Quinton Fortune (thigh) are expected to play.
Last season: Southampton 0 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 2 Southampton 1
Last five league matches: Southampton L W D D D; Man Utd W W W W W
Top scorers: James Beattie, Kevin Phillips (Southampton) 1; Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 2
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).