Today

Aston Villa (1) v Liverpool (11)

Aston Villa will turn to Mark Draper or Alan Thompson to replace Ian Taylor, who is serving a one-match ban having picked up five domestic bookings this season. Keeper Mark Bosnich is still sidelined by a shoulder injury.

Michael Owen could return for Liverpool after missing last week's 3-1 defeat against Leeds with a hamstring problem. Jamie Redknapp should be fit to play despite carrying a slight groin injury but Steve McManaman is out until the new year.

Last Season: Aston Villa 2-1 Liverpool, Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa.

Last five league matches: Aston Villa WDDWW, Liverpool DWLLL.

Top Scorers: Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 9. Michael Owen (Liverpool) 10.

Match Odds: H 4-5, A 3-1, D 9-4.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)

Blackburn (19) v Southampton (20)

Kevin Davies may have to settle for a place on the bench against his old club with Kevin Gallacher and Nathan Blake favourites to lead the attack. Chris Sutton is suspended and Roy Hodgson is also without Tim Flowers, Billy McKinlay, Garry Flitcroft, Sebastien Perez and Callum Davidson but Jason Wilcox is back in contention.

Southampton are without hamstring victim Claus Lundekvam and Matt Le Tissier, Egil Ostenstad and Wayne Bridge are doubtful starters with the same injury. James Beattie stands by for a recall and Mark Hughes returns after a one-match ban but David Howells is still sidelined by a knee injury.

Last Season: Blackburn 1-0 Southampton, Southampton 3-0 Blackburn.

Last five league matches: Blackburn LLDLL, Southampton DWDDL.

Top Scorers: Nathan Blake (Blackburn) 10. Matt Le Tissier (Southampton) 4.

Match Odds: H 4-6, A 7-2, D 12-5.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol)

Leeds (5) v Charlton (12)

Leeds will again be without captain Lucas Radebe (knee ligament) and Stephen McPhail (calf strain). Teenage striker Alan Smith is in line to make his home debut.

Charlton welcome back Paul Mortimer, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, and Neil Redfearn is now fully recovered from a knee problem so manager Alan Curbishley must choose three from five contenders in midfield.

Last Season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Leeds DDDWW, Charlton LWDDD.

Top Scorers: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 6. Clive Mendonca (Charlton) 6.

Match Odds: H 8-13, A 4-1, D 12-5.

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).

Leicester (9) v Chelsea (4)

Leicester give Tony Cottee a late fitness test on a thigh injury. Emile Heskey (ankle) is rated as extremely doubtful while Swedish international Pontus Kaamark (achilles) is still out.

Chelsea have Dennis Wise suspended but Tore Andre Flo plays despite a midweek injury scare. It was reported he needed a pain killing injection to play for Norway against Egypt in Cairo but he has declared himself fit.

Last Season: Leicester 2-0 Chelsea, Chelsea 1-0 Leicester.

Last five league matches: Leicester WDWDL, Chelsea DWDDW.

Top Scorers: Tony Cottee (Leicester) 7. Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 7.

Match Odds: H 15-8, A 6-5, D 9-4.

Referee: P Durkin (Portland).

Middlesobro' (7) v Coventry (15)

Middlesbrough have midfield trio Paul Gascoigne, Robbie Mustoe and Phil Stamp suspended. Neil Maddison is set for a comeback after recovering from a foot injury and Mark Summerbell could be promoted from the reserves. Gary Pallister is still sidelined by a knee injury.

Coventry boss Gordon Strachan is expected to field the side that beat Everton 3-0 last weekend, which means Gary Breen and Darren Jackson will have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench.

Last Season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Middlesbrough WDDDD, Coventry WLLWW.

Top Scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 11. Noel Whelan (Coventry) 5.

Match Odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 12-5.

Referee: G Willard (Worthing).

Sheff Wed (16) v Man United (2)

Wednesday's new keeper Pavel Srnicek is set to keep his place even though Kevin Pressman is close to full fitness after a thigh injury. Danny Wilson has virtually a full squad to chose from with only long-term injury victims Ian Nolan and Earl Barrett and the suspended Paolo Di Canio unavailable.

Paul Scholes is United's main doubt, after being sent home from the England camp on Tuesday suffering from a slight hamstring injury. Nicky Butt is standing by to replace him, and Roy Keane also returns to midfield after being rested for most of last week's game. John Curtis looks likely to make way for the return of Wes Brown.

Last Season: Sheff Wed 2-0 Man Utd, Man Utd 6-1 Sheff Wed.

Last five league matches: Sheff Wed LDDLD, Man Utd WDWDW.

Top Scorers: Paolo Di Canio (Sheff Wed) 3. Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 10.

Match Odds: H 10-3, A 8-11, D 9-4.

Referree: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).

Tottenham (14) v Nottm Forest (18)

David Ginola is set for a Spurs comeback after recovering from a hamstring injury but George Graham is without Ramon Vega, who has a knee injury.

Forest are confident Norwegian defender Jon Olav Hjelde will recover from flu in time to earn a recall at the expense of Thierry Bonalair. Dave Bassett could hand Welshman Christian Edwards his Premier League debut if Hjelde is declared unfit.

Last Season: No corresponding fixtures.

Last five league matches: Tottenham LWDLD, Nottm Forest DLDLD.

Top Scorers: Chris Armstrong, Sol Campbell, Steffen Iversen, Allan Nielsen (Tottenham) 4. Steve Stone, Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 5.

Match Odds: H 8-13, A 4-1, D 12-5.

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).

Wimbledon (10) v Arsenal (3)

Efan Ekoku is poised for a Wimbledon return after resuming full training following several weeks out with a damaged hamstring. Jason Euell is unlikely to feature after suffering severe bruising to his ankle during the 2-0 defeat by Chelsea.

Dennis Bergkamp has been passed fit to return for Arsenal after recovering from a hamstring injury and skipper Tony Adams also plays after making his comeback from back trouble in the goalless draw with Spurs last Saturday.

Last Season: Wimbledon 0-1 Arsenal, Arsenal 5-0 Wimbledon.

Last five league matches: Wimbledon LDDWL, Arsenal DWWWD.

Top Scorers: Marcus Gayle, Gareth Ainsworth, Efan Ekoku (Wimbledon) 6. Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 6.

Match Odds: H 2-1, A 5-4, D 2-1.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds).

Tomorrow

Derby (8) v West Ham (6)

Mart Poom could make his first league start for Derby this season in place of Russell Hoult, who was stretchered off with concussion against Nottingham Forest last Monday. Skipper Igor Stimac is available after serving a one-match ban and midfielder Lee Carsley has recovered from a knee injury but German defender Stefan Schnoor is doubtful with a groin injury.

West Ham's injury problems have eased with Chilean defender Javier Margas coming through a reserve team comeback following a knee operation two months ago.

Last Season: Derby 2-0 West Ham, West Ham 0-0 Derby.

Last five league matches: Derby LDDWD, West Ham DLWDW.

Top Scorers: Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 5. Ian Wright (West Ham) 6.

Match Odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 9-4.

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).

Monday

Everton (17) v Newcastle (13)

Slaven Bilic is set to make his first appearance of the season for Everton in place of the suspended Marco Materazzi after recovering from a thigh injury. Skipper Duncan Ferguson is serving a one-match ban and midfield duo John Collins and Olivier Dacourt are also rated as doubtful.

Alan Shearer is a doubtful starter for Newcastle because of a hamstring injury while defender Stuart Pearce sits out the second game of a three-match ban. But Nikos Dabizas is back in contention after missing the 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday through international duty.

Last Season: Everton 0-0 Newcastle, Newcastle 1-0 Everton.

Last five league matches: Everton DDLLL, Newcastle WLLDD.

Top Scorers: Duncan Ferguson (Everton) 5. Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 8.

Match Odds: H 5-4, A 2-1, D 2-1.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hill.