Arsenal (1) v West Ham (10):  Arsene Wenger has decided to rest Bacary Sagna and Justin Hoyte comes in at right-back. Emmanuel Eboue, rested for Saturday's win at Everton, returns to the squad. Theo Walcott, who has been sidelined by a bout of flu, could come back into contention. Gilberto and Robin van Persie are still sidelined by injuries.

West Ham midfielders Nolberto Solano (hamstring) and Scott Parker (knee) had to be taken off during Saturday's 2-1 victory over Manchester United and ex-Gunner Freddie Ljungberg is being hampered by a hamstring problem. Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer and Bobby Zamora are out but Julien Faubert, Matthew Etherington and Lee Bowyer could return sooner than expected.

Last season: Arsenal 0 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal L W W D W; West Ham W L W D W
Top scorers: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 11, Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 11; Dean Ashton (West Ham) 5
Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Aston Villa (7) v Tottenham (12)

Villa have a doubt over the fitness of John Carew who suffered a knee injury against Wigan. Zat Knight is back in contention after serving a one-match ban for picking up five bookings but must wait to see if he earns a recall after Curtis Davies marked his full league debut with a goal at the JJB Stadium.

Tottenham have Didier Zokora back from suspension and Darren Bent should be available after recovering from a leg injury. Michael Dawson has been struggling with migraines but is ready to return. Anthony Gardner (ankle), Gareth Bale (foot) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) are sidelined.

Last season: Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 1, Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L D D D W; Tottenham W W L W W
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 7; Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 14
Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

Fulham (19) v Chelsea (3)

Fulham will be without defender Aaron Hughes (calf) but Moritz Volz returns from a one-match suspension. Winger Hameur Bouazza is banned after his red card at Birmingham on Saturday. Jimmy Bullard, Brian McBride and Lee Cook (all knee) remain in the treatment room and Philippe Christanval is unlikely to make his return from a knee injury.

Chelsea will have full-back Ashley Cole available following suspension butcentre-back Ricardo Carvalho is banned. Striker Andriy Shevchenko (leg) is set to miss out. Captain John Terry (foot), goalkeepers Petr Cech (hip) and Carlo Cudicini (rib) and midfielder Frank Lampard (thigh) are out. Didier Drogba (knee), Claude Makelele (ear) and Florent Malouda (knee) continue their rehabilitation.

Last season: Chelsea 2 Fulham 2, Fulham 0 Chelsea 2
Last five league matches: Fulham L L D L D; Chelsea W L W D W
Top scorers: Clinton Dempsey (Fulham) 6; Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 9, Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 9
Match odds: H 5-1 A 1-2 D 12-5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Man Utd (2) v Birmingham (15)

Alex Ferguson will hope Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick have recovered from illness after missing the 2-1 defeat at West Ham with a virus. Edwin van der Sar (groin) remains on the sidelines, so Tomasz Kuszczak continues in goal, while Brazilian midfielder Anderson could earn a recall.

Birmingham have a doubt over skipper Damien Johnson who suffered a jaw injury during the 1-1 draw with Fulham. Mehdi Nafti impressed when he replaced Johnson for the second half of the Fulham game. Johan Djourou will be available for the final time before returning to Arsenal after a loan spell.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W W L; Birmingham L D L W D
Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 18; Olivier Kapo (Birmingham) 5, Cameron Jerome (Birmingham) 5
Match odds: H 1-6 A 14-1 D 4-1
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Middlesbrough (14) v Everton (6)

Middlesbrough captain George Boateng returns to the squad after serving a one-match ban. Defender David Wheater (virus), midfielder Fabio Rochemback (calf) and striker Jeremie Aliadiere (hamstring) should be able to resume.

Mikel Arteta is banned for Everton who could also be without midfielder Thomas Gravesen, who has a knee problem. Leighton Baines and Alan Stubbs are back in the squad after hamstring and calf problems respectively. Leon Osman is still out with a foot injury, while Iain Turner and Andy van der Meyde are long-term injury worries.

Last season: Everton 0 Middlesbrough 0, Middlesbrough 2 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W W L L W; Everton W W L W L
Top scorers: Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough) 5; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 11
Match odds: H 13-8 A 13-10 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Reading (13) v Portsmouth (8)

Reading are without the suspended Brynjar Gunnarsson. Glen Little (Achilles) and John Oster (ankle) are still sidelined. Nicky Shorey had a stomach bug before the defeat at Tottenham but was able to play and Aaron Brown (ankle) and Michael Duberry (ribs) are back in training.

Portsmouth hope to welcome back Glen Johnson and Sulley Muntari. Johnson has had knee injuries while Muntari was rested for the 1-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough. Sean Davis (foot), Pedro Mendes (flu) and Noe Pamarot are all doubtful. Reserve keeper Jamie Ashdown is still out with a shoulder injury.

Last season: Reading 0 Portsmouth 0, Portsmouth 3 Reading 1
Last five league matches: Reading W D W D L; Portsmouth W L L D L
Top scorers: Dave Kitson (Reading) 8; Benjani Mwaruwari (Portsmouth) 9
Match odds: H 8-5 A 7-5 D 21-10
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).