Blackburn (11) v Arsenal (4)

Rovers' Benni McCarthy, Robbie Savage and Brett Emerton are set to return after being rested and Shabani Nonda has recovered from a groin strain. Lucas Neill returns after suspension but David Bentley is banned.

Emmanuel Adebayor returns to the Arsenal squad after thigh trouble and Julio Baptista may also figure. Abou Diaby is playing again after a broken ankle but Lauren and Emmanuel Eboue are not considered as they work on match fitness, while William Gallas (thigh) and Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) remain sidelined.
Last season: Blackburn 1 Arsenal 0, Arsenal 3 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Blackburn W L W W W; Arsenal D W W L W
Top scorers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn) 13; Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 12
Match odds: H 11-4 A 5-6 D 11-5
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).

Bolton (5) v Man City (10)

Ivan Campo returns for Bolton after suspension . He missed last weekend's 4-0 FA Cup win at Doncaster and should reclaim a midfield spot, with boss Sam Allardyce set to revert to his preferred starting line-up.  Fellow midfielder Kevin Nolan faces a late fitness check on a rib injury,

City midfielder Joey Barton is available after suspension. Barton's return is a boost for manager Stuart Pearce as Hatem Trabelsi is struggling with a hamstring problem.
Last season: Bolton 2 Man City 0, Man City 0 Bolton 1
Last five league matches: Bolton W W W W L; Man City L L W W W
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton) 8; Georgios Samaras (Man City) 6
Match odds: H 8-11 A 10-3 D 11-5
Referee: A Marriner (W Midlands).

Charlton (19) v Middlesbrough (15)

Ben Thatcher is set for his Charlton debut, while on-loan goalkeeper Scott Carson returns after missing last weekend's FA Cup tie. Osei Sankofa is banned but Hermann Hreidarsson (knee) and Andy Reid (hamstring) are expected to feature. Captain Luke Young (knee) and striker Darren Bent (knee) are still out.

Boro's defence is bolstered by the return of centre-half Jonathan Woodgate, after a hip problem, and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (back). With Robert Huth (foot) the only first-team contender still sidelined, the visitors to The Valley will be virtually at full strength.
Last season: Charlton 2 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 0 Charlton 3
Last five league matches: Charlton L L D W L; Middlesbrough L W D L W
Top scorers: Darren Bent (Charlton) 10; Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 9
Match odds: H 13-10 A 7-4 D 21-10
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

Chelsea (2) v Wigan (17)

Blues' Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho return from bans and Arjen Robben and Carlo Cudicini may be back from respective hamstring and thigh problems. Ashley Cole is banned and the game comes too soon for captain John Terry (back) and Petr Cech (skull). Khalid Boulahrouz (knee) faces another three weeks out.

Arjan de Zeeuw (toe), Andreas Granqvist (flu), Antonio Valencia (hamstring), Henri Camara and Paul Scharner (both knee) are all out for Wigan, meaning Ryan Taylor is a shock inclusion. The right-back has been out for a year after initially breaking a metatarsal, then a leg on his comeback in the reserves.
Last season: Chelsea 1 Wigan 0, Wigan 0 Chelsea 1
Last five league matches: Chelsea W W D D D; Wigan L L L L L
Top scorers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 20; Henri Camara (Wigan) 6
Match odds: H 1-6 A 11-1 D 9-2
Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Man Utd (1) v Aston Villa (13)

Defender Wes Brown (virus) is sidelined for United, he is set to be replaced by Nemanja Vidic. Striker Louis Saha has recovered from a groin injury and comes into contention. Goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar and Paul Scholes are expected to return to the team after being rested.

Villa defender Olof Mellberg returns from suspension but Stiliyan Petrov is rested to allow him to fully recover from hamstring trouble — his place is likely to be taken by Steven Davis. Chris Sutton is still out with an eye problem and Craig Gardner's groin injury is taking longer to heal than expected.
Last season: Aston Villa 0 Man Utd 2, Man Utd 1 Aston Villa 0
Last five league matches: Man Utd L W W W D; Aston Villa L L L L D
Top scorers: Louis Saha & Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 12; Gareth Barry (Aston Villa) 9
Match odds: H 2-7 A 8-1 D 16-5
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).

Sheff Utd (16) v Portsmouth (6)

Striker Jon Stead goes straight into the Blades squad — but fellow new arrival Matthew Kilgallon (ankle) is out. Striker Rob Hulse is back after suspension but a ban keeps captain Chris Morgan out.

New signing Djimi Traore is set to make his debut at left-back for Pompey, allowing Matt Taylor to return to his favoured midfield berth. Benjani Mwaruwari is fit after a hamstring injury but manager Harry Redknapp is expected to start with top scorer Kanu and former England striker Andrew Cole up front.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sheff Utd W L L W L; Portsmouth D W W L D
Top scorers: Rob Hulse (Sheff Utd) 6; Kanu (Portsmouth) 10
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10
Referee: L Probert (Gloucestershire).

Watford (20) v Liverpool (3)

Hornets captain Gavin Mahon returns after missing the FA Cup win over Stockport with a knock, Tamas Priskin is back after suspension, and manager Adrian Boothroyd could give debuts to midfielder Lee Williamson and forward Will Hoskins, signed from Rotherham last week.

Liverpool recall Jose Reina, Steve Finnan, Daniel Agger, John Arne Riise, Dirk Kuyt and Jermaine Pennant. Luis Garcia is out for the season with a knee injury, Mark Gonzalez is sidelined for three weeks with shin damage and Steven Warnock  has damaged ribs.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Watford D L L L D; Liverpool W W L W W
Top scorers: Will Hoskins (Watford) 16; Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 10
Match odds: H 11-2 A 4-9 D 13-5
Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).

West Ham (18) v Fulham (12)

Forward Luis Boa Morte could make his debut against his old club. The Hammers are also likely to feature Nigel Quashie after the midfielder completed his move from West Brom. Boss Alan Curbishley is still without Anton Ferdinand (groin) and Lee Bowyer (shoulder).

Fulham have Philippe Christanval and Franck Queudrue back from injury and suspension respectively but Antti Niemi (neck), Papa Bouba Diop (thigh), Zat Knight (broken jaw), Jimmy Bullard (knee) and Ian Pearce (groin) are out. American midfielder Clint Dempsey cannot play as he has yet to complete the paperwork on his move, while Italian striker Vincenzo Montella is again expected to begin the game on the bench.
Last season: West Ham 2 Fulham 1, Fulham 1 West Ham 2
Last five league matches: West Ham W D L L L; Fulham W D D D D
Top scorers: Bobby Zamora (West Ham) 5; Brian McBride (Fulham) 7
Match odds: H 11-10 A 2-1 D 11-5
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Tottenham (7) v Newcastle (14)

Spurs skipper Ledley King remains on the sidelines with a bruised foot and Jermaine Jenas is 10 days away from returning following his ankle injury but Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon are in the squad after making their comebacks last week. Benoit Assou-Ekotto is back in full training but Mido is struggling with his groin complaint and Paul Stalteri has had a setback in his return to fitness by picking up a hip injury.

Newcastle captain Scott Parker is available after a ban, while Emre has recovered from a groin injury. Nicky Butt (virus) is a doubt but keeper Steve Harper is set to return to the bench after hernia surgery. Damien Duff, Michael Owen, Charles N'Zogbia, Shola Ameobi, Peter Ramage, Olivier Bernard, Celestine Babayaro, Craig Moore, Titus Bramble and Stephen Carr remain injured.
Last season: Newcastle 3 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 2 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Tottenham W L W L D; Newcastle W W L L D
Top scorers: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) 12; Obafemi Martins (Newcastle) 9
Match odds: H 7-10 A 10-3 D 23-10
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).