Blackburn v Sunderland 8pm

Sunderland have yet to win on the road, but Mark Hughes will be wary after the narrow victory over Derby County, another struggling team. “Sunderland will be buoyed by a very important win against Bolton,” the Blackburn Rovers manager said. “With the manager they have got, we know they will battle all the way.” Christopher Samba may still be unavailable for Blackburn as he awaits the birth of his first child, but Steven Reid could return after a calf injury.

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

Sunderland (probable; 4-4-2). C Gordon — D Whitehead, P McShane, D Higginbotham, D Collins — G Leadbitter, L Miller, D Etuhu, K Richardson — K Jones, A Cole. Injuries and suspensions: C Edwards (leg).

Referee: R Styles.

Bolton v Derby 8pm, Sky Sports 2

Paul Jewell, the Derby County manager, will hope that the new year brings better fortune as his side seek a first away win of the season against a Bolton Wanderers team trying to avoid a third successive league defeat. Nicky Hunt, the Bolton full back, is a doubt with a knock to the foot, while a calf injury means that Robert Earnshaw, the Derby forward, may not replace Steve Howard, who has been sold to Leicester City.

Bolton Wanderers (possible; 4-1-2-3): J Jaaskelainen — J O’Brien, A O’Brien, A Meïté, R Gardner — I Campo — K Nolan, D Guthrie — K Davies, N Anelka, E-H Diouf. Injuries and suspensions: N Hunt (foot), H Helguson (ankle), R Vaz Té (ankle).

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

Referee: H Webb.

Liverpool v Wigan 8pm

Emile Heskey has been declared fit after missing Wigan Athletic’s past three matches with an ankle injury. The former Liverpool forward is certain to trouble a home defence again without Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia. Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, is likely to change the team that drew 0-0 with Manchester City, with Ryan Babel among those pushing for a recall and Peter Crouch available after suspension.

Liverpool (possible; 4-4-2): J M Reina — S Finnan, Á Arbeloa, J Carragher, F Aurélio — Y Benayoun, S Gerrard, X Alonso, R Babel — D Kuyt, F Torres. Injuries and suspensions: D Agger (foot), S Hyypia (ankle).

Wigan Athletic (possible; 4-4-1-1): C Kirkland — M Melchiot, P Scharner, T Bramble, K Kilbane — J Koumas, M Brown, D Landzaat, R Taylor — A Sibierski — E Heskey. Injuries and suspensions: None

Referee: S Bennett.

Newcastle v Man City 7.45pm

It is stating the obvious to point out that Sam Allardyce is in dire need of a victory to ease the pressure on him, but the visit of a resurgent Manchester City side gives him reasons for optimism. No team in the top 12 (including Newcastle) have taken fewer points away from home than Sven-Göran Eriksson’s, while Allardyce is boosted further by the return to full fitness of Michael Owen.

Newcastle United (possible; 4-4-2): S Given — H Beye, S Taylor, Caçapa, C N’Zogbia — J Milner, N Butt, Emre Belözoglu, D Duff — M Owen or O Martins, M Viduka. Injuries and suspensions: A Smith (concussion), A Faye (arm), S Carr (hamstring), P Ramage (knee), J Barton (custody).

Manchester City (possible; 4-2-3-1): J Hart — N Onuoha, M Richards, R Dunne, M Ball — D Hamann, V Corluka — S Ireland, Geovanni, M Petrov — D Vassell. Injuries and suspensions: M Johnson (abdominal strain), D Sturridge (hip).

Referee: M Atkinson.