On the ball! Guess the footballer
has launched a new puzzle series titled On the ball. It is accessible via our app on both iOS and Android platforms. Consider trying it out while awaiting the kick-off of the matches.
Detailed coverage of the Newcastle versus Manchester United match is available, led by the respected Scott Murray, accessible here.
Key insights from the latest team announcements include:
- Baleba returns to Brighton’s starting lineup
- Mosquera replaces the injured Saliba at centre-back for Arsenal
- Haaland and Foden are back in Manchester City’s starting eleven
- Domínguez is included while Hudson-Odoi is dropped by Nottingham Forest
- Jorgensen takes over as Chelsea’s goalkeeper, replacing Sánchez
- Emery introduces Maatsen, Mings, and Bailey into the Aston Villa squad
- Latest on Wilsons: Harry Wilson is out, Callum Wilson starts
Fulham v West Ham: team news
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Iwobi, Chukwueze, Cairney (captain), King; Jiménez.
Subs: Lecomte, Andersen, Reed, Rodrigo Muniz, Bobb, Lukic, Castagne, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe.
West Ham (4-4-2): Hermansen; Wan-Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, Diouf; Bowen (captain), Fernandes, Soucek, Summerville; Wilson, Castellanos.
Subs: Areola, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Mavropanos, Traoré, Lamadrid, Magassa, Scarles, Kanté.
Referee: Matthew Donohue. VAR official: John Brooks.
Aston Villa v Chelsea: team news
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Cash, Konsa (captain), Mings, Maatsen; Douglas Luíz, Onana, Bailey, Rogers, Buendía, Watkins.
Subs: Edward, Bogarde, Sancho, Abraham, Torres, Digne, Bizot, Lindelof, Barkley.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Hato; James (captain), Caicedo; Palmer, Fernández, Garnacho; João Pedro.
Subs: Sánchez, Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Santos, Sarr, Guiu, Lavia.
Referee: Jarred Gillett. VAR official: James Bell.
Brighton v Arsenal: team news
Brighton (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Wieffer, van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu; Baleba, Gross (captain); Gómez, Hinshelwood, Mitoma; Rutter.
Subs: Steele, Minteh, Welbeck, Milner, Ayari, De Cuyper, O’Riley, Veltman, Howell.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhães, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka (captain), Eze, Gabriel Martinelli; Gyökeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Gabriel Jesus, Norgaard, Trossard, Madueke, Havertz, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh. VAR official: Michael Salisbury.
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest: team news
Manchester City (4-1-3-2): Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Días, Guéhi, Aït Nouri; Rodri; Cherki, Bernardo Silva (captain), Foden; Semenyo, Haaland.
Subs: Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Aké, Marmoush, Doku, González, Savinho, Khusanov.
Nottingham Forest (3-4-2-1): Sels; Milenkovic, Jair Cunha, Murillo; Aina, Sangaré, Anderson, Williams; Dominguez, Gibbs-White (captain); Igor Jesus.
Subs: Gunn, Morato, Hudson-Odoi, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Netz.
Referee: Darren England. VAR official: Tony Harrington.
Wednesday's fixtures
Kick-off times are 7.30pm GMT unless otherwise stated.
- Premier League: Aston Villa v Chelsea
- Premier League: Brighton v Arsenal
- Premier League: Fulham v West Ham
- Premier League: Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
- Premier League: Newcastle v Manchester United (8.15pm)
- Scottish Premiership: Aberdeen v Celtic (8pm)
This season’s title race evokes memories of the dystopian 1980s film They Live. The competition has been prolonged, demanding, and at times difficult to watch, with neither leading team demonstrating complete dominance. Both Arsenal and Manchester City were fortunate to secure three points from challenging matches against Chelsea and Leeds respectively; they now face the task of returning to competition tonight.
Arsenal travel to Brighton, a venue where they have remained unbeaten in their last five visits. Manchester City host Nottingham Forest, a team currently fighting relegation and having lost their last three matches at the Etihad by a combined score of 11-0. Later in the evening, Manchester United visit Newcastle, aiming to make a significant late challenge in what has become a two-team title contest.
Aston Villa and Chelsea have both been surpassed by a resurgent Manchester United but have gained some respite in the battle for a top-five finish following Liverpool’s unexpected defeat at Wolves. The two sides meet at Villa Park tonight, both experiencing inconsistent form and eager to regain momentum before their European fixtures resume next week.
Finally, West Ham travel to Fulham seeking to bolster their survival campaign and intensify pressure on Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, and Leeds United, who are positioned above them. However, the outlook is challenging for Nuno Espírito Santo’s team: Fulham have won seven of their last ten home night matches, whereas West Ham have secured victory in only one of their eight London derbies this season.
