(Current league positions in brackets)

Saturday

Birmingham (15) v Fulham (11)

Birmingham midfielder Barry Ferguson will return after suspension. Winger Keith Fahey is also in contention after recovering from an ankle problem but striker Garry O'Connor, midfielder Teemu Tainio, central defender Martin Taylor and left-back David Murphy are still sidelined through injury.

Fulham will once again be without Andrew Johnson and captain Danny Murphy. Both had been rested for the Cottagers' 1-1 draw with Wigan but Johnson (groin) and Murphy (knee) have failed to recover. Diomansy Kamara also misses out with an ankle injury but Simon Davies could make his first appearance for two months after recovering from a foot injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Birmingham L L W D D; Fulham D W D W D

Top scorers (all competitions): Lee Bowyer (Birmingham) 3; Bobby Zamora (Fulham) 5

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

Burnley (10) v Aston Villa (5)

Burnley manager Owen Coyle has no new injury worries as he prepares for the visit of Aston Villa. The Scot expects to name the same squad which drew 3-3 at Manchester City before the international break. Midfielder Chris McCann and forwards Jay Rodriguez and Martin Paterson are still some weeks away from full fitness.

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov and full-back Habib Beye will return after suspension. Striker Emile Heskey could be available after a back injury to face the Clarets after being ruled him out of England's friendly international with Brazil in Doha last weekend. But central defender James Collins remains doubtful after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury during training today.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Burnley W L L W D; Aston Villa W D D L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Steven Fletcher (Burnley) 6; Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 7

Referee: Howard Webb.

Chelsea (1) v Wolves (19)

Chelsea will be without Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Deco. Drogba is back in training after the rib injury he received against Manchester United but will be out for another week while Ballack (knee) should be back for the Champions League match against Porto on Wednesday. Lampard (thigh) is expected to be out for three weeks. Youngsters Fabio Borini, Nemanja Matic and Gael Kakuta are all expected to feature from the bench.

Right-back Kevin Foley returns after knee ligament problems and he could come in for Ronald Zubar who is a major doubt with a thigh strain. Wolves are definitely without on-loan Chelsea central defender Michael Mancienne who cannot face his parent club. Manager Mick McCarthy could also opt to rest striker Kevin Doyle after his two games for the Republic of Ireland against France and start him on the bench.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Chelsea W L W W W; Wolves L D D D L

Top scorers (all competitions): Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 12; Jody Craddock & Kevin Doyle (Wolves) 3

Referee: Lee Mason (England).

Hull (17) v West Ham (18)

Hull playmaker Geovanni returns from suspension but Seyi Olofinjana is doubtful with a hamstring injury suffered on international duty with Nigeria and will be assessed ahead of the game. Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill (knee) is hoping to return after missing the last two games but is yet to prove his fitness. Captain Ian Ashbee, sidelined with a long-term knee problem, is the only other absentee.

West Ham welcome back Carlton Cole from injury following a hamstring problem. Forward Alessandro Diamanti (hip) is missing while left-back Herita Ilunga (hamstring) is a doubt, but long-term absentees Kieron Dyer (hamstring), Dean Ashton (ankle) and Luis Boa Morte (knee) remain out.

Last season: West Ham 2 Hull 0, Hull 1 West Ham 0

Last five league matches: Hull W L D L W; West Ham L D D W L

Top scorers (all competitions): Geovanni (Hull) 4; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 6

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Liverpool (7) v Man City (6)

All four of the Liverpool players sent to Belgrade this week for treatment for their injuries are in the squad. Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera have all been treated by Serbian physiotherapist Mariana Kovacevic and are all back in full training. Steven Gerrard is back following a groin injury but striker Fernando Torres, on a three-week treatment programme to cure his more serious groin problem, will not be involved. Jamie Carragher returns after suspension.

Martin Petrov will miss out as he is feeling some pain from a previous injury to his knee and will sit out the trip to Anfield. Veteran full-back Sylvinho (calf) also misses out, while fellow Brazilian Robinho will travel to Merseyside but is unlikely to be risked as he nears recovery from an ankle injury which has kept him out for almost three months.

Last season: Liverpool 1 Man City 1, Man City 2 Liverpool 3

Last five league matches: Liverpool L L W L D; Man City D D D D D

Top scorers (all competitions): Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 10; Craig Bellamy & Donal McDermott (Man City) 5

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Man Utd (3) v Everton (12)

Nemanja Vidic should return to the heart of Manchester United's defence as the Serbian has been struggling with a calf injury. He came through his country's midweek international with South Korea and is expected to feature as Rio Ferdinand (back) and John O'Shea (thigh) are definitely out. Jonny Evans (calf) and Michael Carrick (ankle) are also doubts, while Fabio (groin) is definitely missing.

Everton winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is suspended as the Russia international serves the second of a three-match ban for his sending-off in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on October 31. Midfielder Tim Cahill has returned from international duty with Australia with a minor groin problem and is a slight doubt.

Last season: Man Utd 1 Everton 0, Everton 1 Man Utd 1

Last five league matches: Man Utd D W L W L; Everton D D L D W

Top scorers (all competitions): Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 8; Louis Saha (Everton) 9

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Sunderland (8) v Arsenal (2)

Goalkeeper Marton Fulop is set to begin an extended run as Craig Gordon will be out for three months after breaking his arm. Fraizer Campbell could start up front as Kenwyne Jones sits out the second match of a three-game ban while defender Michael Turner is also suspended. Midfielder Lorik Cana returns from a ban while John Mensah (calf) and Boudewijn Zenden (hip) are back in contention. Lee Cattermole (knee) is another long-term absentee.

Arsenal will be without striker Robin van Persie (ankle) and defender Kieran Gibbs (foot) but welcome back England forward Theo Walcott from a knee problem. Nicklas Bendtner (groin) is not yet match fit, so Croatia marksman Eduardo is likely to lead the attack. Veteran defender Mikael Silvestre is set to fill in at left-back. Midfielder Denilson, Mexicanforward Carlos Vela, defender Armand Traore and England Under-21 midfielder Jack Wilshere are all available.

Last season: Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0, Sunderland 1 Arsenal 1

Last five league matches: Sunderland D W L D L; Arsenal W W D W W

Top scorers (all competitions): Darren Bent (Sunderland) 8; Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) 9

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Sunday

Bolton (16) v Blackburn (14)

Bolton full-back Jlloyd Samuel is available again after suspension for the derby against Blackburn and could replace Paul Robinson following the heavy defeat by Aston Villa. Manager Gary Megson will monitor the fitness of Tamir Cohen over the next 24 hours as the midfielder has a groin problem.

Sam Allardyce will assess the emotional and physical effects of World Cup heartache on Keith Andrews before deciding on his side to face Bolton. Allardyce might feel it is too much for Andrews to slot back into midfield for the Premier League contest. With Vince Grella (hamstring) now back to fitness, Rovers have a full squad to select from.

Last season: Blackburn 2 Bolton 2, Bolton 0 Blackburn 0

Last five league matches: Bolton D L W L L; Blackburn L W L L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Ivan Klasnic (Bolton) 5; David Dunn (Blackburn) 5

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Stoke (9) v Portsmouth (20)

Stoke will be without defender Abdoulaye Faye as he serves a one-match suspension. The Potteries side could also be without Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan, who suffered a groin strain playing in the World Cup play-off with France on Wednesday. He will have a scan and a late fitness test before boss Tony Pulis decides whether to risk the midfielder.

Portsmouth boss Paul Hart may hand Icelandic international Hermann Hreidarsson his first appearance of the season. The 35-year-old has been plagued by a hamstring injury this term, but played 65 minutes of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Cheltenham. Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane is a slight doubt after he returned from international duty with a chest infection, while Papa Bouba Diop remains out with a hamstring problem.

Last season: Stoke 2 Portsmouth 2, Portsmouth 2 Stoke 1

Last five league matches: Stoke D W W D L; Portsmouth W L D W L

Top scorers (all competitions): Matthew Etherington (Stoke) 3; Aruna Dindane & Frederic Piquionne (Portsmouth) 4

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

Tottenham (4) v Wigan (13)

Tottenham centre-back Ledley King has a hamstring problem and will miss the Wigan game. England winger Aaron Lennon, however, could be back following an ankle problem suffered before the international break. Luke Modric (fractured fibula) is still out.

Wigan defender Erik Edman will face former club Tottenham as he continues to deputise at left-back for the injured Maynor Figueroa. The Swede made his first Premier League start since the end of last season last time out in the draw at Fulham as Figueroa was sidelined with a knee ligament problem. Honduras midfielder Hendry Thomas missed his flight back from international duty in Central America yesterday but will be back in time to train with the squad tomorrow.

Last season: Wigan 1 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 0 Wigan 0

Last five league matches: Tottenham D W L L W; Wigan L D W L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 8; Hugo Rodallega (Wigan) 5

Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)