Blackburn (19) v Stoke (13):Blackburn left-back Martin Olsson, who missed last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Wigan, played for the reserves in midweek after recovering from a slight hamstring problem and is in the squad. Australian midfielder Vince Grella (hamstring) remains sidelined.

Rory Delap (shoulder), Andy Griffin (knee), Salif Diao (calf), Leon Cort (groin) and Dave Kitson, who is close to returning from a knee injury, will all have late tests for Stoke. Defender Ryan Shawcross has recovered from a back problem to return to contention, but winger Liam Lawrence (ankle) misses out again and striker Mamady Sidibe will not return from a knee injury until early in the New Year.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Blackburn L L L L L; Stoke L W D D D
Top scorers: Matt Derbyshire (Blackburn) 5; Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 6
Match odds: H 5-6 A 7-2 D 12-5
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

Bolton (11) v Portsmouth (8)

Bolton manager Gary Megson will select from an unchanged squad with Joey O'Brien and Tamir Cohen still sidelined with thigh injuries sustained in October.  Israeli Cohen is close to a return while Irishman O'Brien is targeting early in the new year for a comeback.

Pompey are without Younes Kaboul (ankle) and John Utaka (hip) while midfielder Armand Traore (hamstring) is a doubt. David James, Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe are set to returns after being rested for the Uefa Cup win over Heerenveen but Real Madrid-bound Lassana Diarra is unlikely to feature.

Last season: Bolton 0 Portsmouth 1, Portsmouth 3 Bolton 1
Last five league matches: Bolton L W W L L; Portsmouth D D W D L
Top scorers: Kevin Davies & Johan Elmander (Bolton) 5; Peter Crouch (Portsmouth) 11
Match odds: H 6-5 A 12-5 D 11-5
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Fulham (10) v Middlesbrough (12)

Fulham striker Bobby Zamora returns from a hip injury to partner Andrew Johnson, meaning Zoltan Gera drops to the bench. Long-term injury victims Diomansy Kamara (knee) and midfielder Andranik remain sidelined.

Boro midfielder Didier Digard suffered a groin injury in the draw with Arsenal and is unlikely to travel, while Justin Hoyte is out until the new year after knee surgery. Defender David Wheater returns from suspension - and Andrew Taylor (knee) and Mido (hamstring) are available once again.

Last season: Middlesbrough 1 Fulham 0, Fulham 1 Middlesbrough 2
Last five league matches: Fulham W D D D D; Middlesbrough D L D L D
Top scorers: Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 4; Mido (Middlesbrough) 5
Match odds: H 6-5 A 12-5 D 11-5
Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Hull (6) v Sunderland (18)

Hull are without on-loan defender Paul McShane, unable to play against his parent club. Forward Craig Fagan (broken leg) and centre-back Anthony Gardner (thigh) are back in contention after lengthy absences but neither are likely to start.

Sunderland will be without full-back George McCartney until the new year after he underwent surgery on both feet this week. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is expected to return to the club on Monday to begin rehabilitation on his ankle problem.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Hull D D D W D; Sunderland W L L L W
Top scorers: Geovanni (Hull) 6; Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 7
Match odds: H 11-10 A 13-5 D 11-5
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

West Ham (16) v Aston Villa (4)

West Ham are still without midfielder Kieron Dyer, who has been nearing a first-team return having been out since breaking his leg in August 2007, but his
comeback has been delayed by illness. Diego Tristan is not yet fit enough to start, while Dean Ashton and Danny Gabbidon remain sidelined.

Villa welcome back their leading players after resting them for the Uefa Cup game in Hamburg. Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Gareth Barry, James Milner and captain Martin Laursen, Brad Friedel, Stiliyan Petrov and Curtis Davies are all expected to return but John Carew (back) is still injured.

Last season: West Ham 2 Aston Villa 2, Aston Villa 1 West Ham 0
Last five league matches: West Ham D W D L D; Aston Villa W D D W W
Top scorers: Carlton Cole (West Ham) 4; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 10
Match odds: H 2-1 A 11-8 D 9-4
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Sunday, December 21st

Arsenal (5) v Liverpool (1)

Samir Nasri could return after an ankle injury but Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring tendon) are still out. Defender Kolo Toure is a doubt with a calf strain, and striker Nicklas Bendtner is struggling with a knee problem.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has no new injury problems to contend. Striker Fernando Torres could be back in a week's time after a hamstring injury, while full-back Fabio Aurelio (calf) has still not recovered after missing the last three league matches. Centre-back Martini Skrtel has returned to full training after two months out with knee ligament damage but will not be considered.

Last season: Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 1 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Arsenal L L W W D; Liverpool W D D W D
Top scorers: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 11; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 11
Match odds: H 11-8 A 21-10 D 21-10
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

Newcastle (14) v Tottenham (15)

Magpies striker Obafemi Martins will undergo a late fitness test after suffering a groin injury at Portsmouth last weekend, and manager Joe Kinnear will give him until the last moment to prove his fitness. Joey Barton (knee), Alan Smith (foot) and Igancio Gonzalez (Achilles) are still out.

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka are in Spurs' squad after being cup-tied for the Uefa Cup but Alan Hutton (foot), Jermaine Jenas (calf) and Giovani dos Santos (ankle) are out. Jonathan Woodgate (back), Aaron Lennon (groin), Ledley King (knee), Luka Modric (hamstring) and Darren Bent (tonsilitis) are doubts.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 4, Newcastle 3 Tottenham 1
Last five league matches: Newcastle D D D D W; Tottenham L W L W D
Top scorers: Michael Owen (Newcastle) 9; Darren Bent (Tottenham) 12
Match odds: H 6-4 A 9-5 D 23-10
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

West Brom (20) v Man City (17)

Albion defender Leon Barnett and striker Roman Bednar are pushing for recalls. Barnett is fit after knee surgery, while Bednar is challenging Luke Moore for a starting role in attack. James Morrison should retain his starting role despite being forced off by illness at Sunderland, while fellow midfielder Borja Valero is also expected to figure.

City boss Mark Hughes will monitor Robinho's fitness due to ankle injury. Skipper Richard Dunne could return after missing the UEFA Cup match with Racing Santander to deal with a family matter as could Jo and Daniel Sturridge following a virus and Achilles injury respectively.

Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: West Brom L L L D L; Man City D W L D L
Top scorers: Craig Beattie (West Brom) 5; Robinho (Man City) 9
Match odds: H 11-5 A 5-4 D 9-4
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Monday, December 22nd

Everton (7) v Chelsea (2)

Everton strikers Victor Anichebe (back) and Louis Saha (hamstring) will undergo fitness tests. If neither is available, boss David Moyes will again call on Tim Cahill to play up front.

Chelsea are unlikely to have Ricardo Carvalho fit - the defender is recovering from a knee injury and boss Luiz Felipe Scolari may hold him back for the St Stephen's Day clash with West Brom. Michael Essien (knee) and Franco Di Santo (hamstring) are out, while Florent Malouda (thigh) is doubtful.

Last season: Everton 0 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 1 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton D L W L W; Chelsea W D L W D
Top scorers: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 5; Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 16
Match odds: H 4-1 A 7-10 D 13-5
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).