Key events
Wednesday’s fixtures
Kick-off 7.30pm unless stated; all times GMT.
Premier League
Aston Villa at Chelsea
Brighton v Arsenal
Fulham v West Ham
Manchester City v Nottingham Forest
Newcastle v Manchester United (8.15pm)
Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen v Celtic (8pm)
Preamble
This season’s title battle reminds me of the famous fight scene from dystopian 80s classic “They Live”. It’s been long, attritional and hard to watch at times, with neither party looking truly convincing. Arsenal and Manchester City were both fortunate to collect three points from bruising encounters with Chelsea and Leeds; now they have to get back in the ring tonight.
Arsenal go to Brighton, where they haven’t lost in their previous five trips. City host Nottingham Forest, who are battling relegation and have lost on their last three visits to the Etihad by an aggregate score of 11-0. Later, Manchester United visit Newcastle, hoping to make a dramatic late entry into a two-horse title race.
Aston Villa and Chelsea have both been overtaken by a surging United side, but earned a reprieve in the top-five chase with Liverpool’s shock defeat at Wolves. They meet at Villa Park tonight with both teams in stuttering form, and both eager to get back on track before European campaigns resume next week.
Finally, West Ham head to Fulham looking to revive their survival push and turn up the heat on Forest, Spurs and Leeds above them. The bad news for Nuno and co: Fulham have won seven out of their last 10 night matches at home, while West Ham have won one of their eight London derbies this season.
