Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was banned for two games by UEFA on Thursday after accusing referee Anders Frisk of improper conduct in the Champions League clash with Barcelona while the London club were fined 50,000 euros (65,000 dollars).

However, the ban applies to European matches only which means Mourinho is free to supervise his side at St Mary's on Saturday where Chelsea, 11 points clear at the head of the table with eight games remaining, will look to take another step towards their first top-flight title in 50 years.

Mourinho is set to be without the services of Dutchman Arjen Robben, who was injured on international duty with the Netherlands.

Although scans have shown no fracture to the ankle, he is likely to be out of action for up to a month.

But no further injury problems means the Stamford Bridge side will be able to welcome back England midfielders Joe Cole and Frank Lampard, as well as defender John Terry, back from their impressive displays in the World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan.

However, Chelsea fans expecting a pleasant day out on the south coast may be in for a surprise. Under Harry Redknapp, Southampton have given themselves a chance of survival after looking like cast-iron certainties for relegation earlier in the season.

The Saints are still just a point above the drop zone but in giant English striker Peter Crouch, Redknapp believes he has a forward who can unsettle a defence which has conceded a mere 10 league goals this term and someone worthy of international honours.

Redknapp, Lampard's uncle, said: "Some people might laugh but Peter has scored 13 goals in 18 games for us and nobody has had an easy game against him. Against Middlesbrough last time out he was unplayable.

Second-placed Manchester United welcome Blackburn Rovers to Old Trafford knowing anything other than a win will all but end their fading title hopes.

Among the players they will be welcoming back from international duty is Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy who grabbed his first goal since November 27 during the Netherlands' 2-0 victory over Armenia on Wednesday after being trouble by calf and achilles problems.

Reigning champions Arsenal, third, are at home to basement club Norwich where even an unlikely victory for the Canaries is unlikely to prevent them dropping down a division.

Nigel Worthington's men are four points adrift of second-from-bottom West Brom

Arsenal could welcome back Brazil's World Cup winner Gilberto for the first time since September when the midfielder was sidelined with a fractured vertebrae.

Striker Thierry Henry is also a slight doubt but England defender Sol along with Edu, who is still suffering from a hamstring problem. Henry's fellow France Robert Pires is back in contention after recovering from flu.

Everton currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League place. But the Toffees, who travel to West Brom on Sunday, are just four points ahead of Liverpool.

However, Rafael Benitez's men are themselves only a point in front of Bolton who they face on Saturday.

FIXTURES
(1400GMT unless stated)
Saturday: Arsenal v Norwich, Birmingham v Tottenham, Charlton v Manchester City (1145GMT), Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough, Liverpool v Bolton, Manchester United v Blackburn, Newcastle v Aston Villa, Southampton v Chelsea (1615GMT)

Sunday: Fulham v Portsmouth (1230GMT), West Brom v Everton (1505GMT)