Alan Hutton, signed from Rangers, is set for a debut alongside Jonathan Woodgate, who delivered an impressive first performance in the midweek goalless draw at Everton after moving south from Middlesbrough.
Gilberto could also make a first start while Ledley King could be fit to return from a knee injury.
* Arsenal are without Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky and Denilson, who both have hamstring strains, for their game at Manchester City on Saturday (1245). Striker Robin van Persie will also miss the trip despite returning to training after his layoff with a thigh problem.
City are expected to welcome back defender Micah Richards after a two-game absence with a knee injury. They are still hopeful that the Premier League will allow the transfer of Benjani Mwaruwari from Portsmouth to go through after the paperwork for the deal appeared to have missed the midnight deadline on Thursday.
* Chelsea, still without Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien, Mikel John Obi and Didier Drogba on international duty and captain John Terry with a broken foot, also miss Ricardo Carvalho through suspension as they seek a 10th straight victory in their game at Portsmouth.
Andriy Shevchenko remains doubtful with a back problem but there could be a place on the bench for Frank Lampard who seems to have finally shaken off his thigh injury.
Portsmouth will hope to throw Jermain Defoe straight into the fray after securing the striker from Tottenham Hotspur in the last few minutes of the transfer window.
* Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson, who scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Portsmouth in his last appearance, could return at Liverpool (1715) after recovering from a hamstring strain. Michael Chopra is back from suspension but Dwight Yorke and new signing Andy Reid are both injured.
* Middlesbrough are confident that their club deal to bring Brazilian striker Afonso Alves from Hereenveen was completed correctly and that he could feature in their game against Newcastle United on Sunday (1330).
Dutch club AZ Alkmaar are challenging the deadline-day deal with FIFA saying they had a pre-contract arrangement with the player.