Follow live coverage as Aston Villa face Nottingham Forest today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Aston Villa FC 1 - 0 Nottingham Forest FC
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:43
Mid-range shooting is a speciality for Tielemans, so when he receives the ball 25 yards out and turns sharply, the Belgian midfielder swiftly takes aim at the target. He slashes an early shot well wide of the left-hand post, though.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:41
After Garcia strides up the right wing unopposed, he delivers a cross into the box for his compatriot Asensio, whose feather-touch guides the ball a few feet wide of the left-hand post. With Nottingham Forest sitting back, Aston Villa are on top.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:39
SAVE! Sels shuts out Maatsen! An exchange of passes on the left flank sends Villa's Dutch full-back away, and he reaches the edge of the area before seeking the bottom-right corner. However, Forest's clean-sheet specialist makes a smart save to deny him.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:37
Buoyed by his goal in midweek, Malen makes a lively burst along the right flank and then aims to deliver a dangerous ball into the box, but his cross-shot is comfortably cut out by an untroubled Sels at the near post.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:36
These two Midlands clubs - both former European champions - are harbouring ambitions of Champions League qualification, and this game may prove to be a precursor to this season's FA Cup final. In the early stages, Villa are having most of the ball in midfield.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:33
Wearing light blue, Nottingham Forest kick off, and we are under way in sunny Birmingham!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:30
Both teams are out on the pitch at Villa Park, and kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:28
Chris Wood's absence continues, and Nottingham Forest’s top scorer is today joined on the sidelines by Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina, the latter of whom pulled up with a calf injury on Tuesday. As Aina is unavailable, and Alex Moreno can't play against his parent club, Morato deputises at left-back. In all, Nuno makes three changes - Dominguez and Hudson-Odoi are also promoted from the bench.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:28
Perhaps with one eye on Paris Saint-Germain - their upcoming Champions League opponents - Aston Villa have made eight changes, which is their most from one league match to another this season. Only Martinez, Tielemans and Rogers are retained, while Watkins returns to lead the Villans’ attack. Ross Barkley and Leon Bailey are still unavailable.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:23
SUBS: Carlos Miguel, Ibrahim Sangare, Harry Toffolo, Eric da Silva Moreira, Jota Silva, Ramon Sosa, Danilo, Willy Boly, Zach Abbott.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:23
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Neco Williams, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato; Ryan Yates, Elliot Anderson; Nicolas Dominguez, Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga; Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:17
SUBS: Robin Olsen, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, Marcus Rashford, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:12
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Andres Garcia, Axel Disasi, Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen; Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans; Donyell Malen, Marco Asensio, Morgan Rogers; Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:12
Like Villa, Nottingham Forest are anticipating a trip to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final later this month, but first they aim to firm up their top-three place in the Premier League. Nuno’s men took down Manchester United in midweek, when a superb solo goal by ex-United winger Anthony Elanga made it five straight wins for his current club. The Sweden star also scored a last-gasp decider in December’s 2-1 fightback victory for Forest when they last met today’s hosts.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:07
Aston Villa’s midweek trip to Brighton not only ended in success but also brought a third consecutive 3-0 win, with a trio of January signings getting on the scoresheet. Despite posting six straight wins across all competitions, the Birmingham club only sit seventh in the Premier League table and are intent on catching the top five. Before today’s game, the Champions League quarter-finalists are unbeaten in 14 league fixtures at Villa Park, where only Arsenal have defeated Unai Emery's team in the top flight this season.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:02
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest at Villa Park!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
15:30
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
