Birmingham v Fulham Today 3pm

Ray Lewington, the Fulham caretaker-manager, must find a replacement for the suspended Moritz Volz in his final game before handing over the reins to Roy Hodgson, the newly appointed manager. Birmingham will be unchanged if Sebastian Larsson passes a fitness test.

Birmingham City (probable; 4-4-2): M Taylor - S Kelly, R Jaidi, L Ridgewell, F Queudrue - S Larsson, F Muamba, D Johnson, G McSheffrey - M Forssell, C Jerome. Injuries and suspensions: S Parnaby (ankle), B Oubiña (knee).

Fulham (possible; 4-4-2): A Niemi - C Baird, A Hughes, D Stefanovic, P Konchesky - S Davies, A Smertin, D Murphy, H Bouazza - D Kamara, C Dempsey. Injuries and suspensions: M Volz (one match suspension), K Keller (arm), L Cook (knee), P Christanval (knee), I Pearce (calf), B McBride (knee), J Bullard (knee), S Elliott (Achilles).

Tom Dart says Fulham won 14 away matches in their last season in the second tier, 2000-01, but have won only 16 times on their travels in the subsequent 6.5 campaigns.

Referee: M Clattenburg Odds: Sky Bet Home 8-11, Away 10-3, Draw 9-4
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 44% Away win 31% Draw 25%

Portsmouth v Middlesbrough Today 3pm

Only Derby County have won fewer home matches than Portsmouth, and although goalless draws at home to Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool and Manchester City are respectable results, a failure to score against Middlesbrough would cause concern, especially as the visiting team are hit by injuries and suspensions.

Portsmouth (possible; 4-1-4-1): D James - Lauren, S Campbell, S Distin, H Hreidarsson - R Hughes - B Mwaruwari, P Bouba Diop, S Muntari, N Kranjcar - Kanu. Injuries and suspensions: G Johnson (leg), N Pamarot (hamstring), L Primus (knee), S Davis (hamstring), M Crainie (leg).

Middlesbrough (possible; 4-4-2): M Schwarzer - L Young, R Huth, J Woodgate, E Pogatetz - L Cattermole, F Rochemback, J Arca, S Downing - Tuncay Sanli, J Aliadière. Injuries and suspensions: D Wheater (virus), A Taylor (foot), C Riggott (calf), Mido (groin), G O’Neil (hamstring), T McMahon (hamstring), B Jones (thigh), M Bates (knee), G Boateng (one match)

Tom Dart says In the 1959-60 league programme the sides drew 0-0 on Teesside in October and Portsmouth won 6-3 at Fratton Park in December.

Referee: A Wiley Odds: Sky Bet Home 8-13, Away 4-1, Draw 12-5
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 54% Away win 22% Draw 24%

Tottenham v Reading Today 3pm

Tottenham continue to improve under Juande Ramos, the head coach. They have lost only twice in 13 matches since he succeeded Martin Jol in October. Reading are unbeaten in five matches, their best run of the season, but have yet to win on their travels.

Tottenham Hotspur (probable; 4-4-2): P Robinson - P Chimbonda, Y Kaboul, L King, Lee Young Pyo - A Lennon, T Huddlestone, J O’Hara, S Malbranque - D Berbatov, R Keane. Injuries and suspensions: M Dawson (migraine), G Bale (ankle), B Assou-Ekotto (knee), A Gardner (ankle).

Reading (probable; 4-4-2): M Hahnemann - G Murty, I Sonko, I Ingimarsson, N Shorey - S Hunt, K Cissé, J Harper, R Convey - K Doyle, D Kitson. Injuries and suspensions: B Gunnarsson (first match of three), J Oster (ankle), G Little (Achilles).

Tom Dart says Involvement in the Uefa and League Cups means that Tottenham have already played 28 games this season - seven more than today’s opponents.

Referee: K Stroud Odds: Sky Bet Home 1-2, Away 5-1, Draw 5-2
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 61% Away win 19% Draw 20%

Wigan v Aston Villa Today 3pm

A three-match unbeaten run under their new manager has helped Steve Bruce’s side to climb out of the relegation zone, while Villa have never beaten Wigan in the league so a draw seems the most likely result.

Wigan Athletic (probable; 4-4-2): C Kirkland - M Melchiot, P Scharner, T Bramble, K Kilbane - L Valencia, M Brown, D Landzaat, R Taylor - M Bent, A Sibierski. Injuries and suspensions: E Heskey (ankle), J Koumas (groin).

Aston Villa (probable; 4-4-2): S Carson - O Mellberg, M Laursen, C Davies, W Bouma - S Maloney, N Reo-Coker, G Barry, A Young - J Carew, G Agbonlahor. Injuries and suspensions: S Petrov (virus), Z Knight (first match of three).

Tom Dart says Villa lost four games last December and Wigan lost five but Wigan have taken eight points this month - as many as they took between November 26 and February 24 last season.

Referee: H Webb Odds: Sky Bet Home 15-8, Away 13-10, Draw 2-1
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 30% Away win 42% Draw 28%

Chelsea v Newcastle Today 3pm

Sam Allardyce’s side face a Chelsea team without Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and John Terry. After what he termed an “unacceptable” display away to Wigan Athletic, Allardyce should make changes, including the possible inclusion of Michael Owen, who has recovered from a thigh injury.

Chelsea (possible; 4-3-3): P Cech - P Ferreira, Alex, T Ben Haim, W Bridge - M Ballack, M Essien, J O Mikel - J Cole, A Shevchenko, S Kalou. Injuries and suspensions: D Drogba (knee), F Lampard (thigh), J Terry (foot), C Makelele (ear), F Malouda (knee), R Carvalho (first match of three), A Cole (first match of three).

Newcastle United (possible; 4-4-2): S Given - H Beye, S Taylor, A Faye, C N’Zogbia - J Milner, Gérémi, N Butt, D Duff - M Owen, M Viduka. Injuries and suspensions: S Carr (hamstring), P Ramage (knee), J Barton (custody).

Tom Dart says The visiting team last scored at Stamford Bridge in August 2001. They have lost on their past seven visits to Chelsea’s stadium, where their most recent win was in 1986.

Referee: M Riley Odds: Sky Bet Home 3-10, Away 8-1, Draw 10-3
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 74% Away win 8% Draw 17%

Derby v Blackburn Tomorrow 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1

Between them, these teams have won only one game in 22. Paul Jewell has eight players out injured so Jon Macken, the striker, has been recalled from a loan spell. Robbie Savage and Stephen Warnock return for Blackburn but André Ooijer (hamstring) is out.

Derby County (possible; 4-4-2): L Price - T Mears, D Leacock, M Johnson, J McEveley - G Teale, G Barnes, B Feilhaber, E Lewis - K Miller, S Howard. Injuries and suspensions: S Bywater (shoulder), R Earnshaw (calf), C Davis (knee), A Griffin (Calf), D Jones (groin), M Oakley (thigh), A Todd (back), S Pearson (shoulder).

Blackburn Rovers (possible; 4-4-2): B Friedel - B Emerton, R Nelsen, C Samba, S Warnock - D Bentley, Tugay Kerimoglu, D Dunn, M G Pedersen - R Santa Cruz, B McCarthy. Injuries and suspensions: A Ooijer (hamstring).

Tom Dart says These teams’ most recent league wins came against Newcastle United: Derby beat Sam Allardyce’s side on September 17, Blackburn on December 1.

Referee: P Walton Odds: Sky Bet Home 11-4, Away 5-6, Draw 9-4
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 22% Away win 55% Draw 23%

Everton v Arsenal Today 5.15pm, Setanta Sports 1

Arsenal have lost 1-0 on their past two Premier League visits to Goodison Park. Everton are in search of a seventh successive home victory in all competitions. David Moyes has doubts over Phil Neville and Thomas Gravesen. Arsenal will be without Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, while Emmanuel Eboué is rested.

Everton (probable; 4-4-2): T Howard - A Hibbert, J Yobo, P Jagielka, J Lescott - M Arteta, L Carsley, T Cahill, S Pienaar - Yakubu Ayegbeni, A Johnson. Injuries and suspensions: L Baines (hamstring), L Osman (ankle), A Stubbs (calf), I Turner (hip/thigh).

Arsenal (probable; 4-4-1-1): M Almunia - B Sagna, K Touré, W Gallas, G Clichy - A Hleb, F Fàbregas, M Flamini, T Rosicky - E Adebayor, N Bendtner. Injuries and suspensions: R van Persie (thigh), T Walcott (virus).

Tom Dart says Five of those on the pitch when Wayne Rooney scored his first league goal in this fixture in 2002 are still at Everton; two - Gilberto Silva and Kolo Touré - are at Arsenal.

Referee: M Atkinson Odds: Sky Bet Home 21-10, Away 6-5, Draw 2-1
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 34% Away win 40% Draw 26%

Sunderland v Bolton Today 3pm

Roy Keane does not often find himself concurring with journalists, but today is an exception. “I suppose you lads will call this a ‘must-win game’ and I wouldn’t disagree with you, for the first time in a long time,” the Sunderland manager, whose team have won once in their past 13 matches, said.

Sunderland (possible; 4-4-2): C Gordon - D Whitehead, P McShane, D Higginbotham, D Collins - L Miller, D Etuhu, D Yorke, R Wallace - A Cole, K Jones. Injuries and suspensions: C Edwards (leg), N Nosworthy (hamstring), R Anderson (ankle).

Bolton Wanderers (possible; 4-3-3): J Jaaskelainen or A Al Habsi - N Hunt, A O’Brien, A Meïté, R Gardner - K Davies, J O’Brien, I Campo - K Nolan, N Anelka, E-H Diouf. Injuries and suspensions: H Helguson (ankle), R Vaz Té (knee).

Tom Dart says The sides met at the Stadium of Light on Boxing Day two years ago and played out a goalless draw, Sunderland's first for 36 matches. They have had only two since.

Referee: P Dowd Odds: Sky Bet Home 11-8, Away 13-8, Draw 11-5
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 37% Away win 37% Draw 27%

West Ham v Manchester Utd Today 3pm

Alan Curbishley expects to be without his injured West Ham United players for the next three matches, but the manager hopes to call upon a stronger squad after that. Owen Hargreaves has returned to the Manchester United squad after the midfield player missed two matches with a back injury.

West Ham United (probable; 4-4-2): R Green – L Neill, M Upson, A Ferdinand, J Spector – N Solano, S Parker, H Mullins, F Ljungberg – C Cole, D Ashton. Injuries and suspensions: M Etherington (groin), C Bellamy (abdomen), R Zamora (knee), K Dyer (leg), C Davenport (groin), L Bowyer (groin), J Faubert (Achilles).

Manchester United (possible; 4-4-2): T Kuszczak – W Brown, R Ferdinand, N Vidic, P Evra – C Ronaldo, O Hargreaves, Anderson, R Giggs – W Rooney, C Tévez. Injuries and suspensions: E van der Sar (groin), G Neville (foot), P Scholes (knee), M Silvestre (knee), B Foster (knee).

Tom Dart says The East London side beat United home and away last season for the first time since 1976-77, when Alan Curbishley was a West Ham player.

Referee: M Dean Odds: Sky Bet Home 11-2, Away 4-9, Draw 11-4
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 16% Away win 62% Draw 22%

Manchester City v Liverpool Tomorrow 4pm, Sky Sports 1

Rafael BenÍtez may rush back Daniel Agger, who has been out of action with a broken metatarsal since September 15, in place of Sami Hyypia (ankle) who is a doubt. City should welcome back Dietmar Hamann and Elano but Michael Johnson (groin) is out.

Manchester City (probable; 4-2-3-1): J Hart – V Corluka, M Richards, R Dunne, J Garrido – D Hamann, Gelson – S Ireland, Elano, M Petrov – R Bianchi. Injuries and suspensions: V Bojinov (knee), M Johnson (groin), D Sturridge (hip/thigh).

Liverpool (possible; 4-4-2): J M Reina – S Finnan, J Carragher, D Agger, Á Arbeloa – Y Benayoun, S Gerrard, J Mascherano, H Kewell – F Torres, D Kuyt. Injuries and suspensions: J Pennant (leg), P Crouch (one match).

Tom Dart says City need another 23 points to record their highest Premier League points total – their best is 57, in 1992-93, when teams played 42 games.

Referee: U Rennie Odds: Sky Bet Home 9-4, Away 11-10, Draw 2-1
Fink Tank prediction: Home win 20% Away win 53% Draw 26%

Top scorers:

Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 12
Nicolas Anelka (Bolton W) 10
Robbie Keane (Tottenham) 10
Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) 10
Benjani Mwaruwari (Portsmouth) 9
Fernando Torres (Liverpool) 9
Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers) 9
Yakubu Ayegbeni (Everton) 9
Carlos Tévez (Manchester United) 7
Marcus Bent (Wigan Athletic) 7
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 7

Assists:

Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal) 9
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham) 8
Ashley Young (Aston Villa) 8
Carlton Cole (West Ham United) 7
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 7
Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) 7
El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton) 6
Frank Lampard (Chelsea) 6
Martin Petrov (Man City) 6
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) 6
Nicky Shorey (Reading) 6