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Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is doubtful for the most significant Merseyside derby for years after it was confirmed he had strained an adductor muscle - a similar injury to the one he sustained in the World Cup final.
The Spain striker limped off after just 10 minutes of Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Blackpool at Anfield.
Manager Roy Hodgson said the 26-year-old had strained his groin but did not know the severity of the injury.
Torres pulled out of Spain's squad for the forthcoming EURO 2012 qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland on Monday and had a scan at the club's Melwood training ground.
"Fernando was assessed at Melwood and underwent a scan", said Dr. Peter Brukner, head of sports medicine and sports science.
"He will have intensive treatment over the next couple of weeks but it is too early to say if he will be fit for the game against Everton."
The derby, at Goodison Park on 17 October, is hugely significant with Liverpool currently wallowing in 18th place in Premier League after their worst start to a campaign since 1953/1954, when they were relegated.
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Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun will miss Israel's EURO 2012 qualifiers against Croatia and Greece and faces several months on the sidelines after discovering a new injury.
A scan carried out on Tuesday revealed that Benayoun is suffering from a tear to his Achilles tendon as well as the calf strain he picked up during the Carling Cup loss to Newcastle. The newly-discovered injury is expected to take several months to heal.
"I hope to help the team, but unfortunately this is not a simple injury", Benayoun told the Israeli FA website.
"The team and I will cross our fingers. After more tests I will know exactly what the continuing treatment will be."
Benayoun, a vital component in Israeli coach Luis Fernandez's plans, had been hoping to play in the fixtures against Croatia in Tel Aviv on Saturday and Greece in Athens next Tuesday despite his existing calf problem.
The former Liverpool star scored a hat-trick in Israel's opening Group F qualifier at home to Malta and then participated in the goalless draw against Georgia in Tbilisi.
The midfielder has not played since aggravating a hernia problem in the 2-0 win against Stoke on 28 August, missing 7 Chelsea matches and 2 EURO 2012 qualifiers.
He had surgery for the problem last month before suffering a groin strain on his return to training but is now hoping to be fit enough to make the clash at Villa Park.
"I don't really want to set dates but I'm hoping to return after the international break", he told Evening Standard.
"I've got a good couple of weeks to work with the physios. Hopefully I won't be too far away."
"I'm a horrible person to be around when I'm not playing so it's been frustrating for me."
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Arsenal are set for a double boost as Nicklas Bendtner and Cesc Fabregas are both set to be ready to return to action after the current international break.
Fabregas has been out with a hamstring problem sustained against Sunderland at the beginning of the month, but after being left out of the Spain squad for their 2 upcoming EURO 2012 qualifiers, should be fully fit for the club's next game against Birmingham City.
Bendtner has been a long-term absentee, struggling with a groin problem since the summer's World Cup, but the Dane now believes he is over the worst of his problems.
"Now I am ready to train", Bendtner confirmed.
"Some of the boys have time off because of their internationals, but otherwise I train together with the other first-team players at Arsenal and I have enjoyed myself so much."
"I have no pain in the groin and have trained so hard physically that maybe I am in my best shape ever."
"I need only a couple of reserve team matches to be quite sharp in football terms. It is my hope that I can be with the first team in 14 days."
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Liverpool's dire season continued on Tuesday as their Dutch international forward Dirk Kuyt was taken to hospital with a right ankle injury.
Kuyt, who has already missed several weeks of the season with a shoulder injury, was taken off in the 29th minute of the Holland EURO 2012 qualifier with Sweden after falling awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Daniel Majstorovic.
A scan was unable to provide a clear diagnosis due to swelling around his right ankle and it may be several days before the 30-year-old discovers the extent of the problem.
The early indication, however, is that Kuyt sustained serious ligament damage and will be out until January as a consequence.
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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has signed a new 2-year contract extension which will keep him at Anfield until June 2013.
The centre-back, who will be 33 in January, has been keen to secure his future which will more than likely see him end his career at the club he joined as a schoolboy.
Bootle-born Carragher has been a key member of the side since making his debut in 1997 and is currently 6th in the list of all-time Liverpool appearances, having played 641 times so far.
He has won 10 major honours with the Reds, including 2 FA Cups, 2 Carling Cups, a UEFA Cup and the Champions League.
West Bromwich could be without Premier League player of the month Peter Odemwingie for their match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Striker Odemwingie is struggling to recover from a knee strain sustained during the 1-1 draw against Bolton.
Midfielder Jerome Thomas is also a doubt, having missed the Bolton match with a calf injury.
Head coach Roberto Di Matteo reported that all of his players involved in international matches have returned unscathed.
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Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he will be without star pair Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard for the weekend trip to Aston Villa - but has welcomed John Terry back to the fold.
The Blues meet Gerard Houllier's side on Saturday evening in their first Premier League match since the international break. It had been hoped during that time that Lampard could have recovered from a hernia operation but he is still a fortnight away from match fitness.
Speaking to the club's official website, Ancelotti stated: "Frank Lampard is not available, Drogba is not available, Sturridge is not available, Kalou is not available, Alex is not available, Benayoun is not available, Terry is available".
"The line-up will be Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry and Cole, Ramires, Essien and Mikel, strikers Kakuta, Malouda and Anelka."
He added: "Lampard is getting better but he needs to have some weeks again, maybe 2 weeks to be fit 100%, he had a problem on his adductor and we have to pay attention. He is working individually and needs 2 weeks again".
"Drogba had a fever this week and was not able to train, he started today but is not fit. He took antibiotics in the last days and needs to train next week and I'll know if he is available for the game in Champions League."
"Alex may be available next week and also Kalou will surely be available for the Champions League."
Everton manager David Moyes is without two of his star midfielders for Sunday's match against Liverpool after seeing Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar both ruled out of the big derby showdown.
Moyes did receive some good news about Phil Jagielka though. The hamstring injury that saw him withdraw from the England squad is not as bad as first thought, but the defender is still likely to miss this Sunday's important clash.
South African Pienaar has a groin problem, whilst Fellaini injured his hamstring on international duty with Belgium and is likely to be out for at least a month.
Losing two key players is not ideal preparation for an Everton side that are already missing young stars Jack Rodwell and Victor Anichebe. The game is also likely to come too soon for striker Louis Saha.
Everton have been plagued with injuries for the opening months of the last few Premier League campaigns but Moyes will be hoping that the team he does field will have the incentive of the derby atmosphere at Goodison Park to spur them on.
Both Everton and Liverpool are in the bottom 4 of the Premier League with 6 points each and this will certainly add extra spice to a derby that has not failed to live up to expectations in recent years.
Everton supporters will be hoping that the loss of their two key midfielders will not harm their chances too much, although it will surely mean that the team will be relying even more on the likes of Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta if they are to gain a crucial 3 points and continue to pile on the misery for Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson.
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Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz has confirmed that he is set for an exit from Eastlands in the January transfer window.
Despite a high profile transfer from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2009, the 29-year-old was plagued by injuries in his first season at the club and has not got a look in this term.
The striker claims he is injury free and training well, but cannot convince manager Roberto Mancini to hand him a chance.
"Competition for places is great and I'm working every day to try and convince the coach, but I'm still not getting picked", he told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
"I'm not getting the playing time to convince anybody and my priority is to leave in the January transfer market."
"I'm 29 and still hope to fulfil my dream of playing in Spain. It is the dream of most South American players, hopefully it will happen."
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Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez will miss Saturday's Premier League trip to Wolverhampton with a thigh injury.
Tevez suffered a dead leg during the loss to Arsenal last Sunday and was forced off early in the second half.
Manager Roberto Mancini had hoped the Argentinian would be fit to feature at Molineux but the game will come too soon.
Yet City do not consider the injury to be serious and have said they expect the 26-year-old to be back in training next week.
The club also confirmed Tevez has been given permission to travel to Argentina to visit his family but he will report back on Monday.
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Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart has been named as Premier League Player of the Month for October, with Everton's David Moyes taking the Manager of the Month award.
Van der Vaart, a deadline-day signing from Real Madrid, scored 3 goals during the month as well as laying on another for Roman Pavlyuchenko against Fulham.
Everton took 10 points from their 4 league games this month to earn Moyes his award, beating Birmingham, Liverpool and Stoke City and drawing with Spurs - whose equaliser came from Van der Vaart.
It is the eighth time Moyes has won the award - and the third in 2010 - while he has also been named as the LMA Manager of the Year on 3 occasions since joining the Toffees in 2002.
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Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will be sidelined for another 3 weeks after suffering a muscular injury in training on Thursday.
The England star, 32-year-old, suffered an injury to his abductor muscle towards the end of Thursday's session, having been on course for a return to action on Sunday against Sunderland following a 2-month stint on the sidelines with a hernia problem.
Brazilian defender Alex will also miss the match with a knee injury but Nicolas Anelka is back after missing the midweek win over Fulham with a back injury.
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Chelsea's defensive problems have snowballed with news that centre-half Alex will be sidelined for up to 8 weeks with a knee injury.
Alex has pulled out of Brazil's squad to play Argentina this week and is poised to have surgery which will rule him out for the period, the English champions stated on their website.
Alex has already been absent from the last 2 Premier League fixtures against Fulham and Sunderland because of the problem, although he had linked up with Brazil for their midweek friendly in Qatar.
Chelsea's England defender John Terry missed the club's shock 3-0 home defeat by Sunderland on Sunday and could also be ruled out for months with a nerve problem in his leg.
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Defoe's availability comes as midfielder Tom Huddlestone begins a 3-month lay-off with an ongoing ankle injury that will require surgery, while Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon remain long-term absentees.
Tottenham returned to the winner's list with a 4-2 triumph over Blackburn at the weekend, their first league victory in 5 games, and are equal on 19 points with fifth-placed Bolton.
Former Arsenal defender William Gallas will be in for a rowdy reception from the Emirates faithful after transferring to Spurs in the off-season; a move that saw him become just the 6th player since 1913 to cross to the Gunners' bitter rivals.
Arsene Wenger's side have rebounded strongly after a shock 1-0 defeat to Newcastle earlier this month, racking up away wins at Molineux and Goodison Park in their last 2 fixtures to sit just 2 points behind league leaders Chelsea.
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Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is facing a lay-off of up to 4 weeks after injuring a hamstring in England's friendly with France.
Gerrard limped off with just 6 minutes remaining in England's loss on Wednesday and is due to have a scan on the injury on Thursday.
The club were angry the national squad reneged on an agreement that would have seen the 30-year-old play just an hour in the friendly fixture, but an injury to Gareth Barry meant Gerrard had to stay on the pitch.
Liverpool club doctor Peter Brukner described the injury as "significant", but said more would be known after the scan.
Chelsea have promoted Michael Emenalo to the position of assistant first team coach after a 3-year spell as chief scout at the club.
Emenalo joined the English champions in October 2007. Chelsea said that his appointment was in recognition of his work at the club.
The former Nigeria defender will continue in a scouting capacity as well as assisting manager Carlo Ancelotti while he "updates" his coaching qualifications, according to the club's website.
Chelsea's former assistant manager Ray Wilkins left the club last week after a 2-year spell working alongside Luiz Felipe Scolari and Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge.
Wilkins was told his contract would not be renewed despite being praised by Ancelotti for his role in helping the Italian coach settle in English football last season.
Wilkins departed despite assisting Ancelotti as Chelsea claimed a Premier League and FA Cup double.
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England midfielder Joe Cole is set to make his Liverpool comeback in Sunday's Premier League clash at White Hart Lane.
Cole, who joined the Reds on a free transfer from Chelsea this summer, has missed the last 5 matches with a hamstring injury.
"Joe should be back for Sunday", said manager Roy Hodgson.
"We were hoping he would be back to face West Ham, but it has taken that little bit longer."
"Joe is not that far away really, so hopefully he will have recovered in time for Tottenham."
"Hamstring injuries are tricky and I'm afraid we can only rely on what the sports science people tell us and if they say he needs more time we just have to wait."
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Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas could be out of action for up to 3 weeks after injuring his hamstring in Tuesday's Champions League defeat by Sporting Braga, manager Arsene Wenger said.
Fabregas was substituted in the 69th minute of the 2-0 loss in Portugal with his team-mate Emmanuel Eboue also suffering a knee injury.
The Gunners lost in the stunning Estadio Municipal after a late double from Matheus, which leaves Arsenal yet to guarantee a place in the last 16 and set to finish runners-up to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Wenger's men also found themselves reduced to 10 players following a late challenge by Brazilian Matheus which left full-back Eboue facing a spell on the sidelines with medial ligament damage.
"Eboue will be out for a while and we will have to assess Fabregas", Wenger told the club's website after the match.
"It could be 2 to 3 weeks. It is very disappointing because I had a hesitation to play him before the match started. I took the gamble and it backfired on us."
Arsenal face Aston Villa in a Premier League clash on Saturday and Wigan Athletic in the Carling Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
