Blues central defender Mathew Upson is a major fitness doubt due to a calf problem - if he is ruled out, either Olivier Tebily or Darren Purse will be vying to deputise. Keeper Maik Taylor should be back between the posts in place of Ian Bennett after missing the trip to Anfield with a severe bout of flu.
Birmingham (8) v Blackburn (16)
Blackburn striker Andy Cole and defender Lucas Neill are both available after serving suspensions. Midfielder Garry Flitcroft is ruled out, however, for the second match running because of a groin injury.
Last season: Blackburn 1 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 0 Blackburn 1;
Last five league matches: Birmingham W L D L L; Blackburn L L W L W
Top scorers: Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) 6; Andy Cole (Blackburn) 5
Match odds: H 11-5 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire)
Fulham (4) v Bolton (11)
Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar has resumed training after developing flu symptoms and is available again but Fulham boss Chris Coleman is without striker Luis Boa Morte, who completes a three-match suspension, and midfielder Mark Pembridge, who he fears could be out for another three weeks with a calf injury.
Youri Djorkaeff is likely to retain his place in Bolton's starting line-up after netting a last-minute winner from the penalty spot in Wednesday's 3-2 Carling Cup victory over Liverpool. And with Stelios Giannakopolous still struggling with a back injury, Kevin Davies should return to the first XI.
Last season: Bolton 0 Fulham 0; Fulham 4 Bolton 1;
Last five league matches: Fulham W L L W D; Bolton L W D W W
Top scorers: Louis Saha (Fulham) 8; Kevin Davies, Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 4
Match odds: H 5-6 A 13-5 D 23-10
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex)
Leeds (20) v Chelsea (1)
Caretaker-boss Eddie Gray is likely to name an unchanged Leeds line-up after ending a six-match losing streak with last week's 1-0 win at Charlton. Gray has no fresh injury worries or suspension problems, although midfielder Seth Johnson may come back into contention after a knee problem, but Roque Junior (Achilles) and Lamine Sakho (cracked rib) remain sidelined.
Claudio Ranieri rested William Gallas, Carlo Cudicini, Damien Duff, Wayne Bridge, Mario Melchiot and Eidur Gudjohnsen in the midweek Carling Cup win at Reading and all of them will come back into contention, along with Marcel Desailly who returned from a hip injury against the Royals. Emmanuel Petit (knee) is out and Juan Sebastian Veron (back) is doubtful again.
Last season: Chelsea 3 Leeds 2; Leeds 2 Chelsea 0;
Last five league matches: Leeds L L L L W; Chelsea W W W W W
Top scorers: Alan Smith (Leeds) 5; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 9
Match odds: H 9-2 A 1-2 D 13-5
Referee: M Dean (Wirral)
Leicester (13) v Arsenal (2)
Leicester manager Micky Adams is hopeful leading scorer Paul Dickov and defender Andrew Impey will be fit to return after a back problem and an ankle injury respectively. Midfielder Muzzy Izzet is ruled out of the game through suspension.
Arsenal's Patrick Vieira has been ruled out as Arsene Wenger adopts a cautious attitude to his captain's return from injury, while Thierry Henry is a doubt after sustaining a muscle problem in training. Ray Parlour is still ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Lauren serves the final game of a four-match ban, although Martin Keown is available again after a calf problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Leicester L W W D W; Arsenal D W W W D
Top scorers: Paul Dickov (Leicester) 6; Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 14
Match odds: H 9-2 A 1-2 D 13-5
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire)
Man Utd (3) v Aston Villa (17)
United will have their big names back after a largely second-string side slipped out of the Carling Cup to West Brom in midweek. Skipper Roy Keane, top scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy and central defender Rio Ferdinand are among the players who return. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be heavily involved in preparations for the game despite having treatment yesterday to correct a minor heart complaint.
Villa defender Mark Delaney could make a surprise comeback from a knee problem. Peter Whittingham is likely to be restored in midfield after being rested for the Carling Cup tie with Crystal Palace.
Last season: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 1; Man Utd 1 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd L W W W L; Aston Villa D D L L W
Top scorers: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd) 12; Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 8
Match odds: H 1-5 A 10-1 D 4-1
Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire)
Middlesbrough (10) v Portsmouth (14)
Veteran defender Colin Cooper will return for Boro and Juninho has recovered from a hamstring injury but fellow Brazilian Doriva has only a 50-50 chance of playing with an ankle problem.
Portsmouth defender Dejan Stefanovic has a virus and may lose his 100% Barclaycard Premiership attendance record. Dutchman Harald Wapenaar looks set to replace Pavel Srnicek in goal. Senegal midfielder Amdy Faye could make his first Premiership start for six weeks following a knee problem, while Nigel Quashie is pushing for a place after a month out with a similar injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough D W W D W; Portsmouth L L W L L
Top scorers: Szilard Nemeth (Middlesbrough) 3; Teddy Sheringham (Portsmouth) 6
Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5
Referee: S Bennett (Kent)
Newcastle (7) v Liverpool (6)
Newcastle's Lee Bowyer is out after failing to shake off a groin injury, so Laurent Robert - rested for the 1-1 draw at Wolves last weekend - is set to return. Andy O'Brien returns from suspension and is bidding to displace either Jonathan Woodgate or Titus Bramble, while keeper Tony Caig is on stand-by as Steve Harper receives treatment on a back problem.
Harry Kewell has damaged an ankle and joins Michael Owen, Milan Baros, Jamie Carragher, Stephane Henchoz and Steve Finnan on the Liverpool injury list. Anthony Le Tallec could come in while teenage full-back Jon Otsemobor may be given a league debut at right-back for his league debut. Dietmar Hamann, Sami Hyypia and Steven Gerrard return to the starting line-up after missing the Carling Cup loss to Bolton in midweek.
Last season: Newcastle 1 Liverpool 0, Liverpool 2 Newcastle 2
Last five league matches: Newcastle W D L W D; Liverpool W W L D W
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 13; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9
Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire)
Tottenham (15) v Wolves (19)
Caretaker manger David Pleat must decide whether to restore leading scorer Frederic Kanoute or keep faith with Helder Postiga. Pleat is also awaiting fitness reports on Dean Richards (thigh) and Bobby Zamora (Achilles). Jamie Redknapp, Christian Ziege (both knee) and Simon Davies (thigh) remain sidelined.
Wolves striker Steffen Iversen has had to admit defeat in his battle to recover from a thigh injury in time for the clash with his former club, but boss Dave Jones hopes for better news on Colin Cameron - who has missed three games with a stomach muscle strain. Denis Irwin is also expected to return.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Tottenham D L L W L; Wolves W L D L D
Top scorers: Frederic Kanoute (Tottenham) 8; Alex Rae (Wolves) 4
Match odds: H 4-7 A 4-1 D 5-2
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire)
Sunday, December 7th
Everton (18) v Man City (9)
Everton expect to have Joseph Yobo and Tomasz Radzinski back. David Moyes has virtually all his senior men back in training, but it is unlikely the likes of Steve Watson or Kevin Campbell will return just yet. Only Richard Wright, David Weir (both knee) and Alessandro Pistone (hernia) are still sidelined.
City manager Kevin Keegan is set to ring the changes after six games without a victory. Former England goalkeeper David Seaman looks certain to return after recovering from a hamstring problem, although defender Michael Tarnat is sidelined as he is serving a suspension.
Last season: Everton 2 Man City 2, Man City 3 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton D L L W L; Man City L W L L L
Top scorers: Steve Watson (Everton) 5; Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 11
Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland)
Southampton (12) v Charlton (5)
Saints striker Kevin Phillips is back from his bout of tonsilitis and available but left-back Graeme Le Saux is still sidelined with his hamstring injury.
Paolo di Canio is back in the Charlton squad after recovering from a groin injury but fellow striker Kevin Lisbie has only a 50-50 chance of a return after back trouble. Luke Young, Jonatan Johansson, Richard Rufus and Gary Rowett are all out but Stephen Hughes is pushing for a place on the bench after scoring in the reserves this week.
Last season: Charlton 2 Southampton 1, Southampton 0 Charlton 0
Last five league matches: Southampton W L D L L; Charlton D W W D L
Top scorers: James Beattie (Southampton) 10; Kevin Lisbie (Charlton) 5
Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5
Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire)