Saturday, December 13 Villa boss Martin O'Neill is optimistic James Milner will have recovered from flu sufficiently to be available - the winger has been unable to train this week because of the virus but has shown signs in the last 24 hours of improving. Midfielders Craig Gardner and Moustapha Salifou have been struck down by the same bug although both would only be at best substitutes against the Trotters. Striker John Carew is still ruled out with a back problem.
Aston Villa (5) v Bolton (10)
Defender Joey O'Brien and midfielder Tamir Cohen are the only absentees for Bolton - both are still recovering from torn thigh muscles. Otherwise, manager Gary Megson has a fully-fit squad.
Last season: Aston Villa 4 Bolton 0, Bolton 1 Aston Villa 1
Last five league matches: Aston Villa L W D D W; Bolton W L W W L
Top scorers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) 8; Kevin Davies, Johan Elmander & Matthew Taylor (Bolton) 4
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Liverpool (1) v Hull (6)
Captain Steven Gerrard, midfielder Xabi Alonso, goalkeeper Jose Reina and forward Dirk Kuyt are all expected to return after being rested for the Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven. Liverpool hope Fernando Torres will be back in a fortnight as he progresses with rehabilitation for a hamstring injury, while full-back Fabio Aurelio is back in training after a calf problem, but will not be involved tomorrow.
Striker Marlon King will continue to lead the Hull line despite being arrested earlier this week. King was questioned and bailed by police after being accused of assaulting a woman in a London bar. Left-back Andy Dawson and striker Caleb Folan continue to recover from their respective Achilles and knee problems, while Anthony Gardner and Craig Fagan are expected to resume full-time training next weekend.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Liverpool W W D D W; Hull L D D D W
Top scorers: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 9; Geovanni (Hull) 6
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Man City (14) v Everton (8)
City manager Mark Hughes hopes striker Robinho will recover from an ankle injury in time. Defender Nedum Onuoha could come into contention after a leg muscle problem but Micah Richards (ankle), Javier Garrido (Achilles), Gelson Fernandes (hamstring) and Daniel Sturridge (virus) are doubts.
Everton striker Victor Anichebe will undergo a pre-match fitness test on a back problem sustained in last week's home loss against Aston Villa. Louis Saha is yet to recover from a hamstring complaint and James Vaughan will also be absent as he is still waiting to have a cartilage operation on his knee.
Last season: Man City 0 Everton 2, Everton 1 Man City 0
Last five league matches: Man City L D W L D; Everton W D L W L
Top scorers: Robinho (Man City) 9; Ayegbeni Yakubu (Everton) 5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Middlesbrough (12) v Arsenal (4)
Boro boss Gareth Southgate faces a defensive crisis - David Wheater is suspended, while Justin Hoyte and Andrew Taylor are doubts with knee injuries. Robert Huth (foot) and Chris Riggott (hamstring) are training again but Tony McMahon, Seb Hines, Matthew Bates and Rhys Williams could figure. Midfielder Gary O'Neil and striker Mido (both hamstring) are out but Mohamed Shawky could be involved after a thigh injury.
Arsenal expect to have captain Cesc Fabregas (knee) back. Full-back Gael Clichy (hamstring), Robin van Persie (thigh) and the rested Emmanuel Adebayor also missed the midweek Champions League trip to Porto but should be available again, along with defender Bacary Sagna if he shakes off a virus. Defender Kolo Toure (calf), midfielders Samir Nasri (ankle) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and striker Eduardo (leg) are out.
Last season: Arsenal 1 Middlesbrough 1, Middlesbrough 2 Arsenal 1
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough W D L D L; Arsenal W L L W W
Top scorers: Mido (Middlesbrough) 5; Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 10
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Stoke (13) v Fulham (9)
Stoke wait on fitness tests for Rory Delap (arm) and fellow midfielder Salif Diao (calf). Glenn Whelan may come in for Delap, while Michael Tonge and Tom Soares are among those on stand-by for Delap. Ryan Shawcross (back), Dave Kitson (knee) and Liam Lawrence (ankle) are still out.
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has a near full-strength squad. The only absentees are striker Diomansy Kamara -
sidelined after knee surgery - and midfielder Andranik Teymourian, who has a knee problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Stoke D L W D D; Fulham W W D D D
Top scorers: Ricardo Fuller (Stoke) 6; Andrew Johnson (Fulham) 4
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Sunderland (18) v West Brom (20)
Caretaker Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia will be boosted by the return of Kieran Richardson from suspension. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon (ankle) and full-back George McCartney (foot) are still fighting for fitness and are expected to miss out once again.
West Brom will be without striker Ishmael Miller for the remainder of the season after he suffered a cruciate ligament injury. Roman Bednar and Luke Moore are likely to be vying for the starting role up front - but Craig Beattie has been recalled from a loan spell with Crystal Palace to add to manager Tony Mowbray's striking options.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sunderland L W L L L; West Brom L L L L D
Top scorers: Djibril Cisse (Sunderland) 6; Craig Beattie (West Brom) 5
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
Tottenham (15) v Man Utd (3)
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will make a late decision on whether skipper Ledley King (knee) is fit enough to figure. On-loan striker Fraizer Campbell is ineligible and also has a slight calf strain, while Alan Hutton (foot) and Giovani dos Santos (ankle) are out.
Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand are major doubts for United. Berbatov is struggling with an Achilles injury, while Ferdinand suffered a back spasm in the Champions League draw with Aalborg. Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra are banned and Cristiano Ronaldo (hip) and Michael Carrick (thigh) are receiving treatment.
Last season: Tottenham 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 1 Tottenham 0
Last five league matches: Tottenham W L W L W; Man Utd L W D W W
Top scorers: Darren Bent (Tottenham) 12; Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 9
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Wigan (11) v Blackburn (19)
Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce will miss out with a torn hamstring. The centre-back was injured in the defeat at Arsenal and is expected to be out for at least a fortnight, although Paul Scharner should have recovered from a groin strain to replace him. Striker Henri Camara has been ill all week and will be checked before the match, while central midfielder Wilson Palacios serves a one-match suspension.
Midfielder David Dunn, who has not played since August 28 after sustaining an Achilles injury, is on the bench for Rovers. Defender Martin Olsson picked up a knock this week but winger Morten Gamst Pedersen is fit after a shoulder problem. Defender Aaron Mokoena and striker Jason Roberts are also fit.
Last season: Blackburn 3 Wigan 1, Wigan 5 Blackburn 3
Last five league matches: Wigan D D W W L; Blackburn L L L L L
Top scorers: Amr Zaki (Wigan) 9; Matt Derbyshire (Blackburn) 5
Referee: Howard Webb.
