Football Focus

The start of Football Focus is moments away over on BBC One.

Dan Walker is joined by Mark Lawrenson and Kevin Kilbane to look ahead to the weekend's football.

There are also interviews with Leicester's Robert Huth, Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen and Everton full-back Seamus Coleman.

Watch on BBC One from 12:00 GMT or at the top of this page.

Liverpool loanee Mamadou Sakho is not expected to start for Crystal Palace because he lacks match fitness.

Fellow deadline-day acquisition Luka Milivojevic is not ready to feature, while Jeff Schlupp and Bakary Sako are out with hamstring problems.

Sunderland have no new fitness concerns but remain without six injured players, while Papy Djilobodji is banned.

New signings Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson are both available, with Oviedo the more likely to start on Saturday.

Image source, Rex Features

John Motson
Match of the Day commentator

This is an interesting tussle between two teams that are in the bottom half of the table after a season blighted by inconsistency so far. 

All eyes will be on Jose Fonte on his return to St Mary's just weeks after giving up the captain's armband at Southampton and moving to West Ham. 

Saints fans will be cursing his departure even more now that his former central defensive partner Virgil van Dijk faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. 

They have been boosted, though, by the arrival of striker Manolo Gabbiadini, who should invigorate an attack that has struggled slightly without the injured Charlie Austin, while West Ham will be hoping Robert Snodgrass can help make up for the departure of Dimitri Payet.

Image source, Reuters

Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk has been ruled out for up to three months with an ankle injury.

Manager Claude Puel is boosted by the return of Jay Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse, while new £14m signing Manolo Gabbiadini is also in contention.

West Ham's Andre Ayew remains on Africa Cup of Nations duty but Cheikhou Kouyate has returned from the competition and is available.

Sam Byram is a doubt after injuring his hamstring against Manchester City.

Danny Mills
Ex-England defender on Radio 5 live

We have seen some teams play Chelsea and have tried to match their system but they’re not used to doing it. It is what Chelsea do week in week out.

You have got to find a different way to win the game. You wouldn’t go to Arsenal and try to out pass them.

If Arsenal are going to win this game they have to do something different. I would go three up front, play very, very, high and occupy the three centre halves.

That forces Chelsea’s two wing backs back and suddenly you gain a bit of impetus. You have got to be brave.

Steve Wilson
Match of the Day commentator

A disappointing FA Cup exit aside, 2017 is going rather nicely for Everton - three wins (including the thrashing of Manchester City), one draw and only one goal conceded.

So Bournemouth will travel to Goodison Park with no great expectation that they'll end their record of having lost every game they've ever played there.

When you consider that they've only played at Everton three times that is not actually as bad as it sounds - but another loss would be no surprise.

Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has returned from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations and could be involved against Bournemouth.

Yannick Bolasie,Muhamed Besic and Dominic Calvert-Lewin remain sidelined.

Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe could deputise for Callum Wilson, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Charlie Daniels is still unavailable because of a hamstring problem.

Image source, Reuters

Chelsea are looking to get back to winning ways after drawing with Liverpool and boss Antonio Conte makes just the one change as Pedro comes in for Willian.

Chelsea XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Diego Costa, Hazard.   

Image source, .

Arsenal make three changes as Theo Walcott returns to the starting line-up in the place of Olivier Giroud. Hector Bellerin returns to the side with Gabriel making way while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces the injured Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez. 

Image source, .

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator

Tottenham seemed to be coming on strong in the title race last month after impressively beating Chelsea and West Brom at White Hart Lane, but draws at both Manchester City and struggling Sunderland have taken away some of that momentum. 

It means they go into this weekend's fixture nine points behind top spot with increasingly little room for error in matches like this one. 

On paper it looks like safe home win territory. Spurs have won the last six at home while Boro are without a win in the league since mid December and not claimed all three points on the road since August against Sunderland.

However, they have managed draws at Arsenal and Manchester City, while only losing out to a late goal at Old Trafford in another tight game.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Barward-Symmons: re: reunions, have never seen anything like Lampard's return against Chelsea - looked genuinely heartbroken when he scored.

Arsenal

Three changes for Arsenal including the return of Theo Walcott. Striker Olivier Giroud is dropped to the bench. Full team news coming up.

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin, Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi, Sanchez. Subs: Gibbs, Gabriel, Giroud, Ospina, Welbeck, Reine-Adelaide, Maitland-Niles.

Chelsea

Pedro returns to Chelsea's starting line-up in place of Willian.

Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Pedro, Costa, Hazard. Subs: Begovic, Fabregas, Zouma, Willian, Batshuayi, Terry, Chalobah

Tottenham's Danny Rose is out with a knee injury, joining fellow defender Jan Vertonghen on the sidelines. 

Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Kieran Trippier are also absent but Hugo Lloris returns in goal after illness. 

Middlesbrough remain without the injured pair of George Friend and Gaston Ramirez, while Calum Chambers is doubtful with a foot problem. 

New signing Adlene Guedioura is available but is expected to start on the bench.

Image source, Rex Features

Final Score

It's a busy day of fixtures and as ever the Final Score team are on air at 14:30 GMT.

Jason Mohammad is joined by Trevor Sinclair and Dion Dublin to bring you their views and updates on the goals as they go in around the grounds.

You can watch on the Red Button and online from 14:30 and on BBC One from 16:30.

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator

Both these clubs have given themselves a terrific foundation for a successful season. They are separated by only four points and have managers who continue to get the best out of their players. 

That was certainly the case for Tony Pulis when he witnessed Saido Berahino score 20 goals in a season for West Brom. 

Berahino then became one of his more challenging individual cases, and Pulis will be hoping the striker isn't making any headlines on his instant return to The Hawthorns.

Mark Hughes, who finally got his man, will hope Berahino can help his team surpass expectations in the long term. 

In the shorter term, he'll pray Peter Crouch's renaissance of four goals in five games continues.

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom defender Jonny Evans will miss a fourth league game in a row because of a calf injury.

New loan signing Marc Wilson is doubtful with a hamstring problem, while Brendan Galloway has a knock.

Stoke are likely to be without Glen Johnson and Xherdan Shaqiri because of injury, while Jon Walters and Geoff Cameron both remain out.

Striker Saido Berahino could make his full debut for the Potters against the club he left two weeks ago.

Image source, Rex Features

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Stamford Bridge

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have been here before - into February and questions being asked about whether they have got the stomach and resilience for a serious Premier League title challenge.

And it is all because they start today's game at leaders Chelsea nine points adrift after that damaging home defeat by Watford on Tuesday.

All logic suggests a loss at Chelsea today will kill off Arsenal's title hopes for another season - it is that important for the Gunners and Arsene Wenger.

Image source, Getty Images

There are a host of players and managers facing their former clubs today. What are the best and worst reunions? 

Joe Baldwin: Matt McClure did both. Returned to Wycombe playing for Dagenham & Redbridge, scored an early goal then got sent off! 

Kwasi Boafo: David Luiz returning to Stamford Bridge with PSG and scoring the goal that eliminated Chelsea from the Champions League. That did hurt.

Image source, Getty Images

Let us know at #bbcfootball, external, on Facebook, external or text 81111.

John Roder
Match of the Day commentator

Last weekend, a lifelong Watford fan I know was convinced that the Hornets were heading for relegation after taking just three points from their previous seven league fixtures.

However, the win at Arsenal on Tuesday might prove to be a turning point for Watford's season.

We all know about Burnley's form - they are in a Champions League place when it comes to home fixtures, but are bottom of the table for away matches.

Watford

Watford will have Jose Holebas available again this weekend following the defender's two-match suspension.

Defender Christian Kabasele and midfielder Nordin Amrabat are both doubtful because of injury.

Burnley's new club record signing Robbie Brady and fellow midfielder Ashley Westwood could make their debuts after joining on deadline day.

However, Steven Defour has been ruled out for at least a couple of weeks after suffering a hamstring injury.

Image source, Getty Images