Saturday, April 3rd
Fulham (9) v Birmingham (6)
Fulham trio Sylvain Legwinski, Bobby Petta and Mark Crossley are all available after returning to full fitness but skipper Lee Clark (calf), Mark Pembridge (calf), and Collins John (hamstring) are in the treatment room. Defender Ian Pearce will undergo a late fitness test for his sore ankle while long-term
injury victims Elvis Hammond and Jerome Bonnissel are still undergoing
rehabilitation.
Mikael Forssell is aiming to shake off a back injury for Birmingham and Stern John is standing by to replace him. Robbie Savage returns after a two-match ban and left-back Jamie Clapham is also set to return to the squad after being sidelined for six weeks by shingles. Midfielder David Dunn (hamstring) and central defender Darren Purse (ankle ligament injury) are out.
Last season: Fulham 0 Birmingham 1, Birmingham 0 Fulham 0
Last five league matches: Fulham L D W L D; Birmingham W W L L W
Top scorers: Luis Boa Morte (Fulham) 9; Mikael Forssell (Birmingham) 18
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
Middlesbrough (11) v Bolton (13)
Central defender Gareth Southgate could miss out on his 100th Premier League appearance for Boro after suffering a jaw injury when playing for England against Sweden in midweek. Ugo Ehiogu may return but Franck Queudrue and Stuart Parnaby are injury doubts, so England Under-18 international defenders Matthew Bates and Andrew Taylor are in the squad.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce makes late checks on Bruno N'Gotty (shin), Nicky Hunt (shoulder) and Youri Djorkaeff (hamstring), although Allardyce is confident at least two will be available for the trip to Teesside.
Last season: Bolton 2 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 2 Bolton 0
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough L W L W D; Bolton L L L L W
Top scorers: Juninho (Middlesbrough) 8; Kevin Nolan (Bolton) 10
Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 11-5
Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).
Newcastle (5) v Everton (14)
Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer could return after shaking off his hamstring injury, striker Craig Bellamy is also raring to go after missing Wales' friendly in midweek with a similar problem while full-back Aaron Hughes could return after a calf strain. Midfielder Gary Speed is over his stomach bug and Jermaine Jenas is expected to play despite tweaking ligaments on England duty but Andy O'Brien and Steven Taylor are injured.
Everton will be without the suspended duo of Duncan Ferguson and Wayne Rooney, and also has an injury doubt over fellow striker Kevin Campbell, who has picked up a back problem.
Last season: Everton 2 Newcastle 1, Newcastle 2 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle W D L W L; Everton D W W D D
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 24; Duncan Ferguson, Tomasz Radzinski,
Wayne Rooney (Everton) 8
Match odds: H 8-15 A 9-2 D 12-5
Referee: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
Tottenham (12) v Chelsea (2)
A late decision will be made on Stephen Carr (knee), Gary Doherty (ankle) and Christian Ziege (groin). Mauricio Taricco (hip) and Ledley King (hamstring) are fit again, but Simon Davies (thigh), Darren Anderton (Achilles) and Dean Richards (virus) are still out.
Chelsea midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron is nearing full fitness after his back injury but will not be risked. Hernan Crespo has reported fit after international duty in midweek but goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (hand), right-back Glen Johnson (ankle) and midfielder Emmanuel Petit (knee) are all still
sidelined.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 0 Chelsea 0
Last five league matches: Tottenham D L W L L; Chelsea L W W W W
Top scorers: Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 14; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Chelsea)
16
Match odds: H 11-4 A 4-5 D 23-10
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Wolves (20) v Southampton (10)
Mark Clyde and Colin Cameron are the two main fitness worries for bottom club Wolves. Clyde missed out on his Northern Ireland debut because of a calf injury while Cameron was "a bit sore" after Scotland's friendly clash with Romania.
Joleon Lescott, Matt Murray and George Ndah are all long-term casualties. Full-back Graeme Le Saux is hoping to return to Saints' squad after missing out in the last three weeks after damaging a hamstring in the 2-0 win against Liverpool. Striker Marian Pahars (groin) is doubtful while defender Michael Svensson is struggling to recover from calf trouble.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Wolves W D L L L; Southampton D D W L W
Top scorers: Alex Rae (Wolves) 8; James Beattie (Southampton) 13
Match odds: H 7-5 A 8-5 D 21-10
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Sunday, April 4th
Aston Villa (7) v Man City (15)
A late decision will be made on Darius Vassell (ankle) after he was injured on international duty. Juan Pablo Angel is unlikely to start after flying back from Peru so Peter Crouch and Luke Moore may start.
Robbie Fowler (ankle) and Steve McManaman (calf) are available for City.
Daniel van Buyten is out for the rest of the season with a groin tear but Sylvain Distin is fit despite a toe injury.
Last season: Man City 3 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Aston Villa D L W L W; Man City W L W L D
Top scorers: Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 20; Nicolas Anelka (Man City) 20
Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
Liverpool (4) v Blackburn (16)
Liverpool hope Michael Owen will be fit to return from his slight hamstring problem. Chris Kirkland and Vladimir Smicer are still recovering from long-term problems, while Anthony Le Tallec and Steve Finnan are also expected to still be out.
Paul Gallagher has recovered from a bout of laryngitis and is included in Blackburn's squad but Graeme Souness may decide not to pick full-back Lucas Neill in the starting line-up after his challenge broke Reds defender Jamie Carragher's leg in the Premiership match at Ewood Park in September. Barry Ferguson is nearing a return to the squad but still misses out as does long-term absentee David Thompson.
Last season: Liverpool 1 Blackburn 1, Blackburn 2 Liverpool 2
Last five league matches: Liverpool D L W W D; Blackburn L D L W L
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 14; Andy Cole (Blackburn) 9
Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 23-10
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).