Image source, Getty Images

While Newcastle boss Eddie Howe manages against his former club Burnley, Clarets goalkeeper Martin Dubravka faces the club he served for seven years.

The Slovakia stopper, 36, made 162 Premier League appearances for the Magpies between 2018 and February this year.

Dubravka, who is on the cover of the match programme tonight, has three top-flight clean sheets this season.

Howe was in charge of the Clarets for 21 months between January 2011 and October 2012 before leaving to take charge of Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, Burnley boss Scott Parker spent two years in Newcastle's midfield between 2005-07.

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche: "It's a strange one when you don't win a game but the momentum from the performance [against Manchester City] is important, and we want to build on that performance tonight."

On starting Oleksandr Zinchenko in place of Nicolo Savona: "Sav's done great but we're giving him a break for a very experienced player."

On the importance of winning tonight's game: "We were two points in there [the bottom three] and now we're five points out, so we want to build on that. It's an important game - but they all are."

Clinton Morrison
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live at Emirates Stadium

On Declan Rice's absence for Arsenal tonight:

It's a huge blow. When I heard that on my way here I thought, 'that is the one player that they can't do without'. Especially in a game like this, Timber will be back so Rice would have gone back into midfield, Villa are quite strong in midfield and that is where you need those powerful runners. Odegaard and Zubimendi take the ball ever so well but you need players like Rice.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport Arsenal reporter at Emirates Stadium

Jurrien Timber comes back into the side after missing the win over Brighton. Gabriel also starts after returning from injury in the same game. There's also a huge boost as Kai Havertz is named on the bench for Arsenal.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Trossard, Saka, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Eze, Martinelli, Jesus, White

Unai Emery makes five changes to the side that beat Chelsea last time out. Ollie Watkins starts after his two goals from the bench in that win. There's no Matty Cash or Boubacar Kamara who miss out through suspension.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne, Bogarde, Onana, Tielemans, Rogers, Sancho, Buendia, Watkins

Subs: Bizot, Wright, McGinn, Garcia, Malen, Jimoh-Aloba, Maatsen, Hemmings, Routh

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on Sky Sports

Chelsea have struggled with forming relationships at the back this season, but that has been due to players like Wesley Fofana being unable to play three games in a week.

But football is a team game and Enzo Maresca enjoys utilising all of his squad.

They have slipped behind Liverpool now though, so this is a massive game for him tonight. He will be looking for a result to get the fans back on side, against a Bournemouth team who are in freefall.

Newcastle United

Image source, Reuters

Yoane Wissa's first Premier League start for Newcastle comes four months after his £55m move to the north east from Brentford.

It's been a frustrating time for Wissa, who picked up an injury soon after joining.

But, with the games coming thick and fast, he gets the nod ahead of Nick Woltemade.

Will Wissa mark the occasion with a goal?

Alan Shearer
Former Premier League striker on Match of the Day

Image source, Getty Images

We are nearly halfway through the season and you have to say that Aston Villa are genuine title contenders. Do I think they'll win it? No, but that is purely because the depth of their squad isn't quite there.

But anything is possible under Unai Emery.

His game management is superb as he showed yet again with his three subs at Stamford Bridge. They weren't in the game in the first half, but the introduction of Ollie Watkins, Jadon Sancho and Amadou Onana was inspired. His team just does not know when they are beaten."

Sophie Brown
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea are fifth but lie 13 points behind Arsenal, and have six points fewer than they did at this stage of last season.

Home form has been costing them, and the defeat at Stamford Bridge by Aston Villa at the weekend – which came despite them dominating the visitors for the first hour – means Chelsea have already lost three home league games this season, having only lost two in the whole of 2024-25.

In all three, they have gone 1-0 up - a worrying trend for the Blues, who have dropped 11 points from winning positions at home this season, which is more than any other side.

In fact, it is twice as many as the majority of top-flight clubs. Perhaps most tellingly, the four clubs above them in the table – Arsenal, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Liverpool – have not dropped any.

BBC Radio 5 Live

5 Live have reporters at all six games tonight with Steve Crossman presenting around-the-grounds coverage.

Their coverage starts in the next few minutes.

Listen as well at the top of this page and on BBC Sounds.

Everton

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Everton manager David Moyes has been speaking before his side's match at Nottingham Forest.

Moyes says midfielder Jack Grealish is still suffering from the illness which caused him to miss the draw with Burnley, but he has had no choice but to include him in the squad because of a lack of options.

"Honestly, we don't have an awful lot [of options] to make changes," said Moyes.

"Jack is on the bench but he shouldn't be, he is still ill. We may have to use him but, if I had it my way, he wouldn't be on the bench at all."

On facing Forest after beating tonight's opponents 3-0 earlier in December: "It was a great result for us at home. We know their strengths and they have a good squad."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter at Old Trafford

Image source, EPA

It is amazing to think when Wolves beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in April, they were recording a fifth successive top flight win for the first time since 1970 and then manager Vitor Pereira was still able to celebrate by having a beer at a local pub to Molineux with the fans.

Wolves have not won an away game since.

They have lost 19 of their last 22 Premier League games across two seasons - and are bottom of the table with two points, 16 from safety, and, regardless of what happens tonight, look certain to drop back into the Championship after eight years at the elite level.

Newcastle United

In a Premier League packed with players from around the world, Newcastle start with five English players - Nick Pope, Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes - at Turf Moor.

Seven of their nine substitutes are also English - Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Aaron Ramsdale, Jacob Ramsey, Leo Shahar, Sean Neave and Sam Alabi.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter at the City Ground

It may not be the night's most glamourous game but it feels crucial for Nottingham Forest.

Victory would move them just four points behind mid-table Everton but crucially could extend the five point advantage over the relegation zone.

There has been an air of calm since Sean Dyche arrived at the City Ground two months ago - after the chaotic start to the season under Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou - but that changes with a glance at the table.

Forest are still in trouble in 17th despite Dyche's strong start - winning seven of his 14 games in all competitions - and victory against the Toffees could be a game which is looked back on at the end of the season as key.

Ask Me Anything

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While four players will miss this round of midweek matches three suspension, a total of 39 players are currently one yellow card away from a suspension.

Should those players avoid getting a caution in these game week, the number of cards needed to pick up a ban for yellow cards is 10.

Read more in our full explainer here

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Image source, Getty Images

We may only be approaching the halfway point of the season, but this feels like a huge game for both Burnley and Newcastle United.

Burnley have stopped the rot of late, following successive draws against Everton and Bournemouth.

But Scott Parker’s side remain six points from safety, and have to start picking up wins sooner rather than later.

“We’re fighters,” Parker writes in his defiant programme notes.

“We’ve got a great spirit and we will be giving everything to the cause between now and the end of the season."

Fourteenth-placed Newcastle, meanwhile, desperately need a result at Turf Moor, having only won once on their travels since mid-April in the Premier League.

2025 has been a momentous year for Eddie Howe’s side after they ended a seven-decade wait to win a major domestic trophy and qualified for the Champions League.

But their patchy form in recent months means they simply have to end the year on a high.

Arsenal have the opportunity to end 2025 five points clear at the top.

That's because nearest rivals Manchester City are not in action.

There are six fixtures tonight, with the other four on Thursday - New Year's Day - before another round of games on Saturday and Sunday.

And if that's not enough, there is a full Premier League programme next midweek, with games taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have gradually pulled away from trouble since Sean Dyche's appointment in October, but the former Everton boss will be desperately hoping his side can bounce back from back-to-back defeats to further ease their relegation concerns.

Responding to their 3-0 loss at Everton little over three weeks ago with a 3-0 win over Tottenham, Forest have since suffered narrow losses to Fulham and Manchester City to leave them five points above the bottom three.

This has not been a fixture which Forest have enjoyed since returning to the Premier League, winning just one of their past seven matches against Everton.

And Dyche has not had anything to celebrate in his final fixture of the calendar year over recent seasons, losing his final Premier League match with Burnley in 2021, Everton in 2023 and Nottingham Forest in 2024.