Today

Bolton (5) v Newcastle (8)

Former Gillingham midfielder Nicky Southall is set to retain his place in the Bolton side. Manager Sam Allardyce will go into the home game against Newcastle without back-up for goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen after Steve Banks suffered a dislocated finger in training.

Newcastle full back Andy Griffin is out for Newcastle after failing to recover from a groin strain. Frenchman Olivier Bernard, who made his first start for the club at Barnsley in midweek, retains his place in the squad, but the experienced Warren Barton is not included. Nikos Dabizas returns to the squad after being rested in midweek.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Bolton D L D D L, Newcastle W W L W L.

Top scorers: Michael Ricketts (Bolton) 5 Craig Bellamy (Newcastle) 6.

Match odds: H 7/5 A 8/5 D 21/10.

Referee: M Riley (Leeds)

Charlton (12) v Middlesbrough (15)

Midfield duo Claus Jensen (foot) and Mark Kinsella (hernia) came through the midweek Worthington Cup win at West Brom, Andy Todd trained yesterday after recovering from illness, as did Shaun Bartlett, following a hamstring worry, and Mark Fish, who was out with a calf injury.

Mark Crossley continues in goal because Australia international Mark Schwarzer has not recovered from a stomach strain that ruled him out of the Worthington Cup tie at Blackburn in midweek. Left back Colin Cooper is also ruled out after a dead leg in the opening minutes at Blackburn.

Last season: Middlesbrough 0 Charlton 0, Charlton 1 Middlesbrough 0.

Last five league matches: Charlton W D L D W, Middlesbrough LWWDL.

Top scorers: Sean Bartlett (Charlton) 2 Jonatan Johansson (Charlton) 2 Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) 2 Szilard Nemeth (Middlesbrough) 2.

Match odds: H 1/1 A 11/5 D 11/5.

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill)

Chelsea (9) v Leicester (20)

Frank Lampard (pictured), Mario Melchiot and Slavisa Jokanovic are back in contention for a place after missing their midweek Worthington Cup tie at Coventry through illness. Mario Stanic is also back in the squad after a lengthy ankle injury, but Jesper Gronkjaer (knee), Ed de Goey (knee) and Jody Morris (ankle) are all ruled out.

Matthew Jones, Jamie Scowcroft and Gary Rowett all face late fitness tests for Leicester after missing Dave Bassett's first day of training.

Last season: Leicester 2 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 0 Leicester 2.

Last five league matches: Chelsea W D W D D, Leicester W L D L L.

Top scorers: Hasselbaink (Chelsea) 7 Dean Sturridge (Leicester) 3.

Match odds: H 2-7 A 7-1 D 7-2.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)

Ipswich (17) v Everton (10)

Striker Alun Armstrong and central defender John McGreal are both suffering back injuries and face fitness tests while centre back Mark Venus (Achilles) is a slight doubt with an Achilles problem and Titus Bramble (ankle) is out. Matt Holland, Herman Hreidarsson, Finidi George and Jim Magilton all look set to return after being rested for the 2-1 Worthington Cup victory at Crewe.

Everton will have striker Duncan Ferguson back in the squad after a hamstring problem, but Danish midfielder Thomas Gravesen is a doubt for the Blues after he sustained a rib injury for his country against Iceland last weekend. Scot Gemmill and Paul Gascoigne are also not quite ready following knee and back injuries respectively.

Last season: Ipswich 2 Everton 0, Everton 0 Ipswich 3.

Last five league matches: Ipswich L D D L L, Everton W L L L W.

Top scorers: Finidi George (Ipswich) 3 Marcus Stewart (Ipswich) 3. Kevin Campbell (Everton) 4.

Match odds: H 1/1 A 11/5 D 11/5.

Referee: C Wilkes (Gloucester)

Liverpool (6) v Leeds (1)

Liverpool hope to have defender Stephane Henchoz and striker Robbie Fowler back after both missed the shock midweek Worthington Cup defeat by Grimsby, while Steven Gerrard also returns after suspension.

Michael Owen, French teenager Gregory Vignal, Markus Babbel and midfielder Igor Biscan are longer term problems, but Vladimir Smicer (right) could well start his first league game of the season.

Dominic Matteo and David Batty have both been declared fit for Leeds. Centre back Matteo and midfielder Batty missed the 6-0 Worthington Cup third round thrashing of Leicester at Filbert Street due to a foot injury and chest infection respectively.

Striker Alan Smith, who played the last 30 minutes of the game against the Foxes after missing the previous seven weeks with an ankle ligament injury, will again be on the bench.

Last season: Liverpool 1 Leeds 2, Leeds 4 Liverpool 3.

Last five league matches: Liverpool L L W W W, Leeds D D W W W.

Top scorers: Michael Owen (Liverpool) 9 Robbie Keane (Leeds) 6.

Match odds: H 6/5 A 9/5 D 11/5.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood)

Southampton (16) v Arsenal (2)

Southampton's record-signing Rory Delap is battling to overcome a foot injury but veteran Francis Benali (calf). Defender Tahar El Khalej and Sweden international Anders Svensson are both struggling to recover from groin injuries while striker Kevin Davies has a dead leg. Captain Jason Dodd will make his first league start for five months after recovering from knee trouble.

Sol Campbell is set to return for Arsenal to bolster a defence missing the old guard of Tony Adams (foot), Martin Keown (suspension) and Lee Dixon (knee).

Goalkeeper David Seaman is also still ruled out with a shoulder problem, meaning Richard Wright will continue in goal, while Campbell, who has been out with a hamstring injury, should be partnered by Matthew Upson.

Last season: Southampton 3 Arsenal 2, Arsenal 1 Southampton 0.

Last five league matches: Southampton L L W L W, Arsenal W D W D W

Top scorers: James Beattie (Southampton) 4 Marian Pahars (Southampton) 4 Thierry Henry (Arsenal) 8.

Match odds: H 7/2 A 4/6 D 23/10.

Referee: G Barber (Tring).

Sunderland (7) v Man Utd (3)

Sunderland will be without suspended midfielder Gavin McCann, while defensive duo Emerson Thome (knee) and Bernt Haas (hamstring) have both failed to prove their fitness. Stanislav Varga and Darren Williams are likely to keep their places at the back while Argentinian teenager Nicolas Medina and Paul Thirlwell are included in the squad.

Alex Ferguson has yet to decide if he will rest David Beckham for the clash. However he is likely to give three or four players a breather. One player definitely out is the suspended Roy Keane and Nicky Butt (right) has recovered from his rib injury to replace him.

Last season: Sunderland 0 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 3 Sunderland 0.

Last five league matches: Sunderland W D L D W, Man Utd D W L W W.

Top scorers: Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) 5 David Beckham (Man Utd) 6.

Match odds: H 5/2 A 10/11 D 11/5.

Referee: G Poll (Tring).

Tomorrow

Aston Villa (4) v Fulham (14)

Captain Paul Merson hopes to return after a calf strain. Villa will also check on the fitness of central defender Olof Mellberg, right back Mark Delaney and striker Darius Vassell.

Fulham centre back Alain Goma hopes to return after being sidelined for six weeks with a hip problem. He trained on Tuesday and could replace stand-in centre back Zat Knight, who made his Fulham debut in Goma's absence.

Last season: No corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Aston Villa D W D W W, Fulham D D L D D.

Top scorers: Juan Pablo Angel (Aston Villa) 6 Louis Saha (Fulham) 4.

Match odds: H 5/6 A 3/1 D 2/1.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)

Blackburn (11) v West Ham (18)

Henning Berg has recovered from his foot injury to give Blackburn a boost while Keith Gillespie (knee), Damien Duff (hamstring) and Martin Taylor (knee) are still out injured, while Marcus Bent continues his suspension.

Tomas Repka returns from suspension to boost West Ham's defence. Joe Cole is still absent with an ankle injury, while Trevor Sinclair will keep his place despite a transfer request.

Last season: No Corresponding fixture.

Last five league matches: Blackburn L D D W L, West Ham D D L W L.

Top scorers: Matt Jansen (Blackburn) 2 Paolo Di Canio (West Ham) 2.

Match odds: H 5/6 A 11/4 D 11/5.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).

Odds supplied courtesy of William Hills