Follow live coverage as Nottingham Forest face Aston Villa 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:
Nottingham Forest FC 0 - 0 Aston Villa FC
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
18:10
Villa claim for a penalty when Rogers appears to be dragged down by Anderson just inside Forest's area. The referee waves away the away side's protests, and a subsequent VAR check confirms his decision - no penalty!
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
18:08
Much of Forest's attacking play is going through Hudson-Odoi, who has already attempted five crosses in this game - more than any other player. For a while now, Villa have been pressed back, albeit without being placed under serious pressure.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
18:04
CLOSE! After a tame Anderson shot is deflected wide, the same player takes an outswinging corner from the right. He delivers a curling ball into the box, where Murillo rises highest and plants a header narrowly wide of the left-hand post!
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
18:02
Kamara clears another cross from the left by Hudson-Odoi, who is keeping Cash and Konsa busy out on that flank. After a cautious start, Nottingham Forest are slowly coming out of their shell.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
18:00
From tight to the left touchline, Williams sends over a dangerous cross to the back post, where Wood meets it with a nod-down into the six-yard box. Dominguez can't reach it, though, and Villa clear their lines.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:59
The visitors are up against precedent in this match, as Aston Villa are winless in their last five Premier League games against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Furthermore, they have lost each of their last three away games in the league.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:58
Still, the first shot on target has yet to arrive in a rather subdued and tactical encounter. Both coaches are renowned for their attention to detail, so perhaps that should be no surprise.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:55
After another spell of Nottingham Forest possession in Villa's defensive third, Hudson-Odoi sends an inswinging cross over from the left wing. It's headed away to safety by Kamara, though.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:53
Murillo starts a counter-attack, that has Villa caught slightly out of shape. However, when Forest reach the final third, Yates elects to shoot from around 20 yards out, clearing the crossbar by some distance with a wayward attempt.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:52
McGinn chests down a long ball up from the back, picking out Duran on the edge of the area. Full of confidence from his midweek feats, the latter needs no more invitation to shoot, but his first-time effort is sent high over the crossbar.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:49
The action resumes, as Yates jogs back on with the intention of running off whatever his injury is. The game continues to take place in midfield, where Villa are still passing without much urgency - a clear pattern has been set.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:48
Forest captain Yates drops down to the ground again, calling for medical help. He seems to have sustained an ankle injury, so Nuno sends some substitutes to warm up..
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:46
Both Rogers and Yates play on, as a safety-first opening phase continues. Forest are content to sit deep and let their visitors have plenty of the ball in non-threatening areas.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:45
Yates is left in a heap on the ground after a midfield challenge, but his team-mates play on as Forest begin to build an attack. He eventually gets up and limps back into action; however, Rogers is soon sinking down to the turf in pain. Play is halted.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:42
With the teams locked together on Premier Leage points, Opta's live win predictor can hardly split them when it comes to who is most likely to prevail today. Forest have a 36% chance of victory, while Villa have a 35% chance as things stand.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:40
Villa continue to build up play deliberately, seeking an opening to exploit. McGinn spots a slither of space and slides a low throughball for Digne, but the latter's curling cross is plucked out of the sky by Sels.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:37
Clad in a deep blue kit, Aston Villa have had most of the ball early on, quietening a noisy crowd in Nottingham. The hosts are accustomed to ceding possession, as they prefer to counter-attack in any case.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:36
Today marks Nottingham Forest’s 5,000th match in the top four tiers of English football, becoming the 12th side to reach that milestone in Football League history. Can they celebrate with a win that would take them up to fourth place in the Premier League?
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:34
Aston Villa kick off, and we are under way at the City Ground!
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:31
The players are out on the pitch, and kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:26
Aston Villa also opt for a single change today, with Mings returning to the visitors' back four at the expense of Torres. After being dropped in midweek, Watkins stays on the bench, with the mercurial Duran starting back-to-back games instead.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:26
Nuno makes just one change to the Nottingham Forest XI that started last week’s win at Manchester United, as Jota Silva drops out and Nicolas Dominguez comes in. Ten-goal top scorer Wood spearheads the hosts' attack.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:17
SUBS: Robin Olsen, Ross Barkley, Kosta Nedeljkovic, Ollie Watkins, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana, Lamare Bogarde.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:17
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne; Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara; Matty Cash, John McGinn, Morgan Rogers; Jhon Duran.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:17
SUBS: Carlos Miguel, Morato, Taiwo Awoniyi, Harry Toffolo, James Ward-Prowse, Jota Silva, Anthony Elanga, Ramon Sosa, Willy Boly.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:12
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic, Neco Williams; Nicolas Dominguez, Ryan Yates; Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi; Chris Wood.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:12
Aston Villa were also 3-2 winners last time out, having beaten RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. Continuing the Villans’ recent revival, that result put them back inside the top eight of the league-phase standings. Unai Emery’s men will now seek a third consecutive Premier League win, which would take them above Forest in the table.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:12
Quickly bouncing back from their 3-0 defeat to an ailing Manchester City side just a few days earlier, Nottingham Forest conquered the champions’ city rivals last time out. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men beat Manchester United 3-2 at Old Trafford, lifting them into the Premier League’s top five. The Tricky Trees are now level on points with today’s visitors, but they have won just one of the clubs' last 11 top-flight meetings - albeit, that sole success was a 2-0 home victory last term.
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
17:07
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa at the City Ground!
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
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…
