Bellamy back for Reds

Craig Bellamy returned to the Liverpool starting line-up as Rafael Benitez’s side looked to secure their first Premiership away win of the season at Wigan.

The Wales international was cleared of assault by a Cardiff court on Wednesday, when he missed the home draw with Portsmouth.

Xabi Alonso was also back for the visitors after a recent hip injury, while Peter Crouch missed out with a back problem. Latics duo Chris Kirkland and Emile Heskey were included against their former club.

Reading manager Steve Coppell made one change to his starting line-up, with winger Glen Little missing out through a hamstring problem to allow John Oster to make his first Barclays Premiership start of the season.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, who had seen his side win just one of the previous seven games, replaced Ivan Campo with Stelios Giannakopoulos following the 1-0 defeat by Chelsea in midweek, which had followed the 3-1 success over Arsenal a week ago.

Blackburn defender Lucas Neill returned to the team against Fulham at Ewood Park after missing the last two games with a hamstring strain.

Stephane Henchoz also came into the side with Zurab Khizanishvili absent with a groin strain and Tugay suspended.

Blackburn were anxious to get away from the foot of the table against a Fulham side without regular goalkeeper Antti Niemi.

Niemi was injured in the defeat of Arsenal in midweek and Jan Lastuvka was handed his first league start. Ian Pearce returned after suspension and came in for Philippe Christanval.

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock, celebrating his seventh anniversary in charge of the Blades, was forced into three changes for the clash with Charlton at Bramall Lane.

Claude Davis, Mikele Leigertwood and Alan Quinn were all out after sustaining injuries in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Watford, with Leigh Bromby, Nick Montgomery and Stephen Quinn called in, the latter for his Premiership debut in place of his elder brother.

The Addicks, seeking to end a run of 21 league matches without an away win stretching back to October last year, were unchanged after last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Everton.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp was able to recall fit-again Glen Johnson after the on-loan Chelsea full-back recovered from the thigh injury which has ruled him out for the last month.

Redknapp made three other changes to the team which drew 0-0 at Anfield in midweek, with Manuel Fernandes replaced Richard Hughes, while Lomana LuaLua and top scorer Kanu were preferred up front to Benjani Mwaruwari and Croatian playmaker Niko Kranjcar, who dropped to the bench.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill dropped Dutchman Wilfred Bouma and Juan Pablo Angel from the team that lost against Manchester City with Steven Davis and teenager Isaiah Osbourne replacing them.