Football: Nick Harris analyses the weekend match by match

Aston Villa v C Palace

Yorke 9 Leading scorer Dyer 8 Last season: No fixture

Aston Villa manager John Gregory has problems in attack, and will give a fitness test to Stan Collymore before today's game. The England international has been struggling with foot and groin injuries that have kept him out of Villa's last two games against Chelsea and Barnsley, but he could be available to face Palace. Savo Milosevic is still under treatment for medial knee ligament damage, but he may well return against Atletico Madrid in the Uefa Cup on Tuesday, if not today. Dwight Yorke is suspended after reaching five bookings.

Crystal Palace's new player-coach Attilio Lombardo is likely to start the game on the bench. His chances of a successful debut in charge have been bolstered by the return of striker Neil Shipperley to the squad after a long term injury. Centre-back Hermann Hreidarsson is suspended, while Simon Rodger is likely to have recovered from flu in time to play. Palace, seven points adrift of a Premiership safety, will be hoping to recover from the 6-2 midweek defeat at Chelsea. They last won at Villa Park in 1991, and their only other win their was on their first visit in 1967. Both those games finished 1-0.

Barnsley v Southampton

Redfearn 10 Leading scorer Davies 12 Last season: No fixture

Barnsley left wing-back Darren Barnard could be fit today, three days after it was thought he may have broken his leg. Barnard only sustained a calf injury in the 1-0 win at Aston Villa, and manager Danny Wilson says his defender now has "a good chance of making it". Although midfielder Jovo Bosancic returns from a two-match ban, Wilson is without injured quartet John Hendrie (ankle), Ales Krizan (knee), Arjan de Zeeuw (groin) and Peter Markstedt (neck). Barnsley have won three of their last four Premiership games and could move out of the relegation zone with a win today.

Southampton will be without Carlton Palmer because of a one-match ban. Palmer, who has been very influential for the Saints since his pounds 1m move from Leeds earlier in the season, picked up the suspension against his former club two weeks ago. Kevin Richardson is likely to replace Palmer but leading scorer Kevin Davies and midfielder David Hughes will be out for the next month with long-term ankle and rib injuries respectively. The Saints have won four of their last five Premiership games, including away at Elland Road and Anfield.

Bolton v Sheffield Wed

Blake 11 Leading scorer Di Canio 13 Last season: No fixture

Bolton midfielder Jamie Pollock is suffering from flu and will not be available for selection today. The news follows a week of alleged unrest between the player and the manager Colin Todd which resulted in Pollock asking for a transfer. Todd also has selection problems over Scott Sellars (leg), who sat out last week's 2-1 defeat at Liverpool with the injury, which came on the back of a two-match ban. Mark Fish is likely to get his first start since mid-January. Fish missed the whole of February on international duty with South Africa and was kept on the bench last weekend. Bolton last won on 1 December.

Goce Sedloski is included in the Sheffield Wednesday squad today, for the first time since his pounds 1.75m move from Hajduk Split. The Macedonian international defender received clearance to play this week.

Petter Rudi (hamstring) and Mark Pembridge (stomach) have both shrugged off minor knocks but midfielder Graham Hyde is suspended. Following last week's 2-0 win over Manchester United, Wednesday manager Ron Atkinson believes his side need nine points from their nine remaining games to guarantee Premiership safety.

Everton v Blackburn

Ferguson 9 Leading scorer Sutton 19 Last season: 0-2

John Spencer, the Scottish striker signed on loan from Queen's Park Rangers this week, will make his Everton debut today. Fellow Scot Duncan Ferguson will miss the match, serving the last game of his three- match ban, while Gareth Farrelly is also suspended. Defender Craig Short and midfielder Gavin McCann are available again after injury. Everton have not won in their last five Premiership matches and go into today's game just two points above the relegation zone, having played one more game than the bottom three.

England goalkeeper Tim Flowers is likely to return for Blackburn after a shoulder strain. Flowers has missed three matches but safely negotiated a fitness check and will replace Alan Fettis. There is a doubt over England winger Jason Wilcox, who suffered a stomach strain during the 4-0 defeat at Leeds on Wednesday, but he still has a chance of being fit to start. Blackburn could also recall Billy McKinlay and have midfielder Lars Bohinen and defender Tore Pedersen available. French full-back Patrick Valery is out with a virus, while forward Kevin Gallacher serves the final game of a three-match ban.

Manchester Utd v Arsenal

Cole 22 Leading scorer Bergkamp 18 Last season: 1-0

Alex Ferguson has injury problems for this morning's match. England midfielder Nicky Butt is almost certain to be missing with a calf strain and with Gary Pallister and Ryan Giggs still on the injured list, Ferguson won't name his side until the last minute. Phil Neville should be fit after missing the midweek 1-1 draw against West Ham with a slight hamstring injury and Ronny Johnsen, also missing on Wednesday after suffering from concussion during the 2-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday last week, should be added to the squad.

Arsenal's goalkeeper Alex Manninger (thigh and knee) and full-back Nigel Winterburn (foot) have both been passed fit. Arsene Wenger has one main selection decision to make, between 18-year-old Nicolas Anelka and fellow striker Christopher Wreh. Wreh scored the only goal in the 1-0 midweek win over Wimbledon, which put Arsenal nine points behind today's opponents with three games in hand. David Seaman, Ian Wright and Steve Bould are all nearly fit again. They are not in today's squad of 18, but all three should be available for Tuesday's FA Cup quarter-final replay against West Ham.

Newcastle v Coventry

Barnes 7 Leading scorer Dublin 19 Last season: 4-0

Steve Watson is Newcastle's only injury worry for today. Greek international defender Nikos Dabizas is in line to at least be on the bench, while Alessandro Pistone could be given a recall, after missing the last two matches through suspension. Having beaten Barnsley 3-1 in last weekend's FA Cup quarter-final, Newcastle are in line to meet today's opponents in the semi-final if Coventry overcome Sheffield United in their replay. The Magpies have won only one of their last five Premiership games, and start the day six points clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand.

Coventry defender Paul Williams stands by for his first senior football since a hernia operation two months ago and is expected to be on the substitutes' bench. Marcus Hall is likely to recover from a calf strain, while veteran goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic plays his 496th League game for the club as City try to extend their run to 10 matches unbeaten. John Salako is out with an injured back, while long-term absentees Liam Daish and Gary McAllister have both had knee surgery this week.

Tottenham v Liverpool

Ginola 8 Leading scorer Owen 19 Last season: 0-2

New signing Moussa Saib has joined Tottenham's infamous injury list already and will not play today. Manager Christian Gross intended to give the pounds 2.3m Algerian midfielder his first Spurs start after two brief substitute appearances but he injured his back in a midweek reserves match. Chris Armstrong returns to partner Jurgen Klinsmann in attack. Goalkeeper Ian Walker and defender John Scales, who have both been out long term, are nearly fit but will not play today. Les Ferdinand is still more than a week away from full recovery after a knee ligament injury.

Phil Babb stands by to make his Liverpool comeback at White Hart Lane after missing five games with a knee injury. The Republic of Ireland defender has been badly missed in the Anfield side's defence, and the club have won only one game, last week's 2-1 win over Bolton, in his absence. German striker Karlheinz Riedle will not play due to a thigh injury, while Mark Kennedy - back from a loan spell at QPR - has not recovered from a finger operation earlier in the week.

West Ham v Chelsea

Hartson 20 Leading scorer Vialli 17 Last season: 3-2

West Ham captain Steve Lomas will miss today's derby with Chelsea with a thigh problem. The Northern Ireland midfielder joins defender David Unsworth, striker Paul Kitson, right-back Tim Breacker and goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko on the Hammers' casualty list. Midfielder John Moncur and striker John Hartson are suspended, so Ian Bishop is favoured to come into the midfield. West Ham have drawn their last five games. They have one of the best home records in the Premiership, having lost just once this season in the League.

Chelsea's player-manager Gianluca Vialli is likely to rest himself for the trip across London.The Italian scored twice in Wednesday's 6-2 win over Crystal Palace, a feat matched by Tore Andre Flo when he came off the bench, and the Norwegian is likely to be rewarded with a start at Upton Park. Roberto Di Matteo, rested on Wednesday, replaces the suspended Dennis Wise, while Michael Duberry is ready to return, possibly in place of Steve Clarke. Danny Granville continues to deputise for Graeme Le Saux and Dmitri Kharin will play in goal.

Wimbledon v Leicester

Euell 8 Leading scorer Marshall 8 Last season: 1-3

Wimbledon's captain Vinnie Jones is doubtful for today after picking up a leg injury in the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal in midweek. England Under-21 defender Ben Thatcher pulled a hamstring in the same game and, like Jones, will have a late fitness test. Midfielder Ceri Hughes, who has had hamstring trouble for some time, and vice-captain Robbie Earle could both return after long absences through injury.

The Dons may play with three strikers, with Jason Euell, Carl Leaburn and Marcus Gayle the most likely combination to start up front. Wimbledon are just four points above the relegation zone but have games in hand on all the sides below them.

Leicester manager Martin O'Neill has recalled on-loan Steve Claridge from Portsmouth and Julian Watts from Huddersfield to ease his selection problems. The Foxes are without Matt Elliott and Muzzy Izzet, both starting suspensions, while Ian Marshall's planned comeback may be delayed. O'Neill is also waiting on the fitness of Tony Cottee, Garry Parker, Spencer Prior and Pontus Kamark. Leicester have won only once away against Wimbledon, last March, 3-1.

Derby County v Leeds

Wanchope 15 Leading scorer Hasselbaink 15 Last season: 3-3

Jim Smith is most likely to name an unchanged side for tomorrow's home game against Leeds. Derby gave one of their best performances of the season when they beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 two weeks ago to stay on course for a top-six finish and will hope to maintain that form today. Striker Dean Sturridge, who missed that game following a car crash, starts a two-match ban so Jamaican international Deon Burton will again partner Paulo Wanchope in attack. Both sides will be especially keen for a win today to maintain their European hopes and take a three-point advantage over the other side.

Leeds' George Graham is likely to name an unchanged side for the first time since the end of November for the game. Not since successive wins over West Ham and Barnsley on November 22 and 29 has Graham had the luxury of being able to keep faith with a settled team. However, with striker Rod Wallace and midfielder Bruno Ribeiro both completing two-match bans, Graham seems certain to pick the same side which beat Blackburn 4-0 on Wednesday.