The weekend's fixtures

Manchester United (3)

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Wolverhampton (19)

ALEX Ferguson will make a late decision about whether to bring Ryan Giggs back after a hamstring injury. Nani (groin) and Darron Gibson (virus) are definitely out, along with Wayne Rooney (ankle) and Michael Owen (hamstring).

Wolves have no new injury problems, with Jody Craddock and Ronald Zubar out with thigh and ankle injuries respectively. Adlene Guedioura’s broken leg makes him an absentee, while Michael Kightly is recovering from an knee operation.

Last season: Wolverhampton 0, Man Utd 1; Man Utd 3, Wolverhampton 0. Last five league matches: Man Utd DDDWW; Wolverhampton LLDLW. Top scorers: Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 7; Nenad Milijas Steven Fletcher (Wolverhampton) 3. Match odds: H 1-5 A 14-1 D 5-1. Referee: Phil Dowd.

Liverpool (13)

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Chelsea (1)

FERNANDO Torres will return after being rested for the Europa League win over Napoli. Midfielder Maxi Rodriguez will also return, while there is an outside chance Dirk Kuyt could return after an ankle injury. Ryan Babel could return to the squad after a rib injury but Joe Cole (hamstring) will not face his former club.

Frank Lampard will start training with the squad next week and Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti also has doubts over Florent Malouda and Michael Essien (toe).

Last season: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2; Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0. Last five league matches: Liverpool DLLWW; Chelsea LWDWW. Top scorers: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 3; Florent Malouda (Chelsea) 7. Match odds: H 11-4 A 1-1 D 23-10. Referee: Howard Webb.

Birmingham City (15)

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West Ham United (20)

BIRMINGHAM will give a late fitness test to central defender Roger Johnson, who suffered an ankle injury in the goalless draw at Aston Villa.

West Ham manager Avram Grant will be without Julien Faubert, who starts a three-game suspension. Also unavailable to Grant are midfield trio Jack Collison (knee), Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) and Mark Noble (appendix), while Tal Ben Haim (foot) and Zavon Hines (knee) are also out and Junior Stanislas (groin) is doubtful.

Last season: West Ham 2 Birmingham 0; Birmingham 1 West Ham 0. Last five league matches: Birmingham DLLWD; West Ham WDDLL. Top scorers (all competitions): Craig Gardner (Birmingham) 4; Scott Parker (West Ham) 4. Match odds: H 21-20 A 13-5 D 23-10. Referee: Michael Oliver.

Blackburn Rovers (18)

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Wigan Athletic (17)

EL Hadji Diouf and Martin Olsson are doubts after both picked up knocks in training and will have fitness tests before the game. Gael Givet and Benjani Mwaruwari, who suffered minor injuries in the defeat to Chelsea, are in contention, however.

Wigan are again without defender Emmerson Boyce (hamstring), who is expected to be sidelined for another 10 days. Republic of Ireland international James McCarthy is beginning a three-month rehabilitation after undergoing ankle surgery.

Last season: Blackburn 2 Wigan 1; Wigan 1 Blackburn 1. Last five league matches: Blackburn WLDLL; Wigan DWDDL. Top scorers: Nikola Kalinic (Blackburn) 2; Jordi Gomez, Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 3. Match odds: H 5-6 A 10-3 D 5-2. Referee: Kevin Friend.

West Bromwich Albion (6)

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Manchester City (4)

PETER Odemwingie could return to the Älbion side following a knee injury. Midfielder James Morrison is still a doubt due to a knee injury, while Jonas Olsson’s Achilles complaint could put him out until Christmas. Gonzalo Jara is suspended, but defender Pablo Ibanez is available after a red card was rescinded.

Carlos Tevez (thigh) is back in Manchester and in contention to make his return. Aleksandar Kolarov could be in line for an appearance after recovering from a an injured ankle.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: West Brom WDDWL; Man City WWWLL. Top scorers: Peter Odemwingie Simon Cox (West Brom) 3; Carlos Tevez (Man City) 7. Match odds: H 5-2 A 11-10 D 9-4. Referee: Lee Probert.

Blackpool (9)

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Everton (8)

BLACKPOOL defender Craig Cathcart is doubtful after suffering a back injury in the win over West Brom on Monday.

Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell has made a quicker than expected recovery from an ankle injury but is unlikely to return yet. Leon Osman faces a further six weeks out after ankle surgery, while Marouane Fellaini (hamstring) and Ross Barkley (broken leg) are still out. Striker Victor Anichebe (knee) is stepping up his comeback after playing 20 minutes in the reserves in midweek.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Blackpool LWLLW; Everton DWWDW. Top scorers: Charlie Adam, Marlon Harewood, Luke Varney (Blackpool) 3; Tim Cahill (Everton) 4. Match odds: H 10-3 A 5-6 D 5-2. Referee: Andre Marriner.

Sunderland (12)

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Stoke City (16)

SUNDERLAND defender Titus Bramble is suspended. Kieran Richardson, Bolo Zenden is also in the running for a place in the starting XI, with Asamoah Gyan definitely starting.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is contesting a place in the side with Asmir Begovic after returning to fitness following an elbow problem. Ricardo Fuller is set to return to the bench after the striker missed the last three games with a dislocated shoulder, but midfielder Rory Delap (calf) is more of a doubt.

Last season: Sunderland 0 Stoke 0; Stoke 1 Sunderland 0. Last five league matches: Sunderland DDDWL; Stoke WWLLL. Top scorers: Darren Bent (Sunderland) 6; Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 3. Match odds: H 23-20 A 5-2 D 11-5. Referee: Martin Atkinson.

Arsenal (2)

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Newcastle United (7)

ARSENAL will have captain Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Denilson (groin), Alex Song (calf) and Andrey Arshavin (virus) back. Jack Wilshere has completed a three-match ban. Manuel Almunia, Thomas Vermaelen, Abou Diaby, Kieran Gibbs , Aaron Ramsey and Robin van Persie remain out.

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton will make a late decision on Sol Campbell after his thigh injury. Leon Best (ankle), Steve Harper (shoulder), Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) and Dan Gosling (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Last season: No corresponding fixture. Last five league matches: Arsenal LLWWW; Newcastle LLDWW. Top scorers: Theo Walcott Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 4; Kevin Nolan (Newcastle) 7. Match odds: H 2-7 A 10-1 D 4-1. Referee: Mike Dean.

Bolton Wanderers (11)

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Tottenham (5)

BOLTON winger Martin Petrov (hamstring) returns. Joey O’Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Jlloyd Samuel and Sean Davis are all sidelined.

Rafael van der Vaart is out with a hamstring injury. Aaron Lennon (hamstring) is also doubtful for Spurs, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes returns from a ban, while Ledley King and Vedran Corluka (both groin), Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson (both ligament damage), Jamie O’Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) are still out.

Last season: Tottenham 1 Bolton 0; Bolton 2 Tottenham 2. Last five league matches: Bolton DDWDL; Tottenham LWWDL. Top scorers: Johan Elmander (Bolton) 5; Roman Pavlyuchenko, Gareth Bale Rafael Van der Vaart (Tottenham) 6. Match odds: H 19-10 A 7-5 D 9-4. Referee: Chris Foy.

Fulham (10)

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Aston Villa (14)

DAMIEN Duff and Dickson Etuhu return for Fulham, while Andy Johnson is set to continue making his comeback from the bench. Duff and Etuhu have recovered from their respective calf and ankle injuries.

Aston Villa’s striker crisis has deepened with John Carew ruled out for three to four weeks with a torn calf. Emile Heskey (knee) and Gabriel Agbonlahor (groin) are already ruled out and England Under-19 striker Nathan Delfouneso will lead the attack.

Last season: Fulham 0 Aston Villa 2; Aston Villa 2 Fulham 0. Last five league matches: Fulham DDLLW; Aston Villa WLDLD. Top scorers: Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 5; Emile Heskey Stewart Downing (Aston Villa) 4. Match odds: H 11-8 A 2-1 D 11-5. Referee: Peter Walton.