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Premier League build-up BBC Radio 5 Live This video can not be played Premier League build-up BBC Radio 5 Live Use 'watch & listen' tab for live coverage Four games at 19: 30 GMT - Brighton v Arsenal, Villa v Chelsea, Fulham v West Ham & Man City v Forest Newcastle v Man Utd at 20: 15 Charlotte Coates, Alex Brotherton & Gary Rose Newcastle v Man Utd (20: 15 GMT) Simon Stone BBC Sport Manchester United reporter at St James' Park Noussair Mazraoui replaces Diogo Dalot at right-back for
Manchester United as Michael Carrick makes one change to his starting line-up
from Sunday’s win over Crystal Palace. It is the Moroccan’s first start since December, when he
went on Africa Cup of Nations duty. Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire have recovered from the illness
that forced them off against Palace. Dalot is on the bench where he is joined
by 18-year-old defender Godwill Kukonki. Manchester Utd XI: Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Maguire,
Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko. Substitutes:
Bayindir, Mazraoui, Zirkzee, Malacia, Amad, Ugarte, Heaven, T Fletcher,
Moorhouse. Man City v Nottingham Forest (19: 30 GMT) Under Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have won 24 of their 26 Premier League games on a Wednesday at the Etihad Stadium (two draws and no defeats), averaging 2. 85 points-per-game. That's the best of any club under a single manager on a specific day of the week in the competition’s history (10+ games played). Brighton v Arsenal (19: 30 GMT) Tom Mc Coy BBC Sport journalist After a run of one win from 13 league games, Brighton have regained momentum by beating Brentford and Nottingham Forest, meaning Albion have the chance to claim three consecutive victories for the first time this season. If they are to manage that feat, the predatory instincts of Danny Welbeck are again likely to be key. The evergreen 35-year-old scored his first league goal from open play since November in the 2-0 win against the Bees and was also on target in Sunday's 2-1 triumph versus Forest. That took the Englishman's tally to 10 Premier League goals this season, equalling the career-best figure he set last term. Welbeck has consistently proved a thorn in the side of former club Manchester United, scoring eight times in all competitions since leaving his hometown team in 2014. But it has been a different story when reunited with Arsenal, where he spent the next five seasons. He has managed only one Premier League goal against the Gunners since departing in 2019, with that strike coming in a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates during his single season with Watford. The veteran has not netted a league goal against the north London side since joining Brighton in 2020. Man City v Nottingham Forest (19: 30 GMT) During his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola spoke about the increased focus on set-pieces in the Premier League this season. "I remember as a young boy every time in Spain people would say 'in England when there's a corner people would celebrate like a goal'. So nothing has changed, " Guardiola said. "I am a manager. I can't say 'I don't like set-pieces'. I adapt and do it. Football is not being played in one way since football was created. "Football in England is different than Spain and Italy. That's why the Champions League is nice - everyone plays in a different way. "How boring would it be if everyone plays the same way. If I don't like it, it's my business. If I don't like, I don't watch but I have to adapt. " Newcastle v Man Utd (20: 15 GMT) Simon Stone BBC Sport Chief Sports News Reporter Can Manchester United really catch Arsenal? It is a question that keeps being asked by United fans amid the club's current impressive form under head coach Michael Carrick. Deep down, most realise it is virtually impossible but there is a feeling among some United supporters that Arsenal crumble under pressure and therefore it cannot completely be ruled out, even though the present gap is 13 points, although United do have a game in hand. Many have not forgotten in 2012, their own side had an eight-point lead on Manchester City with six games left and ended up losing the title to Sergio Aguero's memorable injury-time goal. Part of that collapse did include a City win over United and Carrick's side do not have to play the Gunners again. The question was put to Carrick ahead of the trip to Newcastle. It would have been defeatist to say it can't happen. But he thinks the odds are stacked against United. "Listen, you can't rule anything out in football, but we've got to be realistic, " he said. "We've just got to try and keep winning games and see. " Aston Villa v Chelsea (19: 30 GMT) Aston Villa are on a terrible run and are going to fall out of the top four at this rate. Chelsea are not exactly flying at the moment either, but their biggest problem is that they can't keep 11 players on the pitch - they probably would have got something against Arsenal on Sunday if not for Pedro Neto's silly red card. It's hard to back either team to get the win, so I am going to sit on the fence here. Sutton's prediction: 1-1 Aston Villa v Chelsea (19: 30 GMT) Noel Sliney BBC Sport Chelsea are enduring their own slump in form, albeit not to the extent of Villa's. They won their first four league fixtures under head coach Liam Rosenior but have since drawn at home to promoted pair Leeds and Burnley, despite leading late on in both games, and then paid for errors and ill-discipline away to Arsenal on Sunday. Pedro Neto's red card during that match was Chelsea's seventh in the Premier League this season – three more than any other club in the division – and their ninth in all competitions. Rosenior subsequently warned his players that he will not pick those he cannot trust to "stay disciplined". Sunday's defeat highlighted two other areas the head coach must quickly address if he is to guide Chelsea to Champions League qualification through their league placing. Firstly, the Blues conceded two soft goals from corners against Arsenal and have let in seven overall from such situations in Rosenior's 13 matches in charge. It also means they have only once beaten a current top-six side this season – Liverpool back in October – and have the worst head-to-head record of those teams, with Aston Villa having the best. With four games still to play against sides currently above them, Chelsea's top-five prospects may rest on whether they can significantly improve their results in those fixtures. Brighton v Arsenal (19: 30 GMT) Bukayo Saka is set to make his 300th Arsenal appearance tonight at 24 years and 180 days old - becoming the fourth youngest to reach this milestone in the club's history. Brighton v Arsenal (19: 30 GMT) Rob Green Former West Ham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live Every performance like the game against Chelsea where the narrative comes about Arsenal not being great and it's set-pieces, it just cranks up that little narrative again, that tension again. It'd be interesting to see tonight playing at Brighton who have won the last couple of games themselves, and they'll be really keen to give it a go. You feel for Arsenal there's still such a long way to go and it has started. I was at the game against Manchester City, and it felt like that pressure in that game was immense and that was in September. We're only at the start of March and the emotional energy that's gone on there has been incredible. They've kept it going which has been fantastic with one or two little creaks along the way. If they can grind out a couple more results they'll think they can do it and should do it. Newcastle v Man Utd (20: 15 GMT) Some Newcastle fans have accused Eddie Howe of being too loyal to certain players in his squad. The head coach has refuted these allegations stating, "I'll always pick players that I think will give us the best chance to win the next game. " Listen below for injury updates, John Anderson's predicted line-up and Howe's full response to questions around his "favouritism": This video can not be played Man City v Nottingham Forest (19: 30 GMT) Tom Mc Coy BBC Sport journalist Nottingham Forest's Premier League goals tally of 26 goals this season is the second lowest in the top flight, with only Wolves having netted fewer. Chris Wood led the line effectively last term, hitting 20 Premier League goals, but has not played since October because of a knee injury. Forest have therefore turned to Igor Jesus, who joined from Botafogo last summer for £10m. While the 25-year-old is his side's top scorer this season he has struggled to make an impact when it matters most. Ten of his 12 goals have come in cup competitions, where he has demonstrated elite finishing, scoring with 35. 7% of his shots and outperforming his expected goals figure by more than four. But it has been a very different story in the Premier League. While he has attempted 50 shots, only 10 have been on target and just two have resulted in goals – a paltry shot conversion rate of 4%. Newcastle v Man Utd (20: 15 GMT) Former Newcastle defender John Anderson says he sympathises with Yoane Wissa with the striker struggling for form since joining the Magpies. In response to being asked about some fans already writing Wissa off, Anderson says he feels for the DR Congo international following a lack of preseason, a rare injury and being unable to get up to speed as a result. Anderson added, "his best is most definitely yet to come. " This video can not be played Man City v Nottingham Forest (19: 30 GMT) Rob Green Former West Ham goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live Vitor Pereira's new manager bounce hasn't happened for him. And you look at Nottingham Forest and we talk about West Ham below them and all of these teams play at the same time and it's great because you don't see it much in the Premier League now. You're feeling now we're looking at showdown stuff. Games where people are eyeballing each other. Forest have it all to do against Manchester City. Newcastle v Man Utd (20: 15 GMT) Simon Stone BBC Sport Manchester United reporter at St James' Park It is exactly 30 years ago tonight that Eric Cantona struck the decisive goal in a 1-0 win here that went a long way towards Manchester United pipping Newcastle for that season's Premier League title. It was a memorable game, one that Newcastle dominated, only to find Peter Schmeichel is outstanding form. Neither side are near that level these days, although Manchester United have improved markedly under boyhood Newcastle fan Michael Carrick, who has won six and drawn one of his seven games in charge. With Liverpool losing at bottom club Wolves last night and Aston Villa hosting Chelsea, victory here would put Manchester United in prime position to secure a return to the Champions League next season. Newcastle Brighton v Arsenal (19: 30 GMT) 16-year-old Max Dowman returns to the Arsenal squad after missing the last few months with an ankle injury. Fulham v West Ham (19: 30 GMT) After picking up three wins in four games between January and February, West Ham have hit a minor blip. The Hammers are winless in their past three games, though they did earn draws against Manchester United and Bournemouth before losing 5-2 to Liverpool on Saturday. Nuno Espirito Santo has made his side tough to beat, but they simply need to win more games. With 10 games left to play, they are 18th in the table and two points adrift of safety. Victory at Craven Cottage tonight would put pressure on the sides immediately above them - Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United. Aston Villa v Chelsea (19: 30 GMT) Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport Chelsea reporter Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is not injured and has been left out for no2 option Filip Jorgensen. It's impossible not to link the situation to Sanchez's performance at Arsenal on Sunday, where his kicking put Chelsea under pressure early on, and lost the flight of the ball for the second goal at the Emirates Stadium. Jorgensen is a capable back up but had a bad game when coming in at Villa Park last season, costing Chelsea with a mistake in the 90th minute as Marco Asensio won the game late. Man City v Nottingham Forest (19: 30 GMT) Manchester City are looking for a seventh consecutive win in all competitions to keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal. Pep Guardiola's side began 2026 with four draws, one defeat and one win, but since then have developed a knack for grinding out results and surviving pressure. After beating Leeds 1-0 on Saturday - City's fourth consecutive league win, three of which have been by a one-goal margin - Guardiola hailed the result as a "huge victory", and praised his team's "incredible focus. " 39% of City’s Premier League wins this season have been by one goal (7/18). It’s their highest proportion of wins by a single goal since 2012-13 (52% - 12/23). Man City v Nottingham Forest (19: 30 GMT) Nottingham Forest have not enjoyed the 'new manager bounce' they would have hoped for after hiring Vitor Pereira last month. Pereira - Forest's fourth manager of the season - enjoyed a perfect start with a 3-0 win away at Fenerbahce in the first leg of their Uefa Europa League play-off round tie. However, after that Forest lost 2-1 at home to the Turkish side and were beaten by Liverpool and Brighton in the Premier League. Pereira's side are 17th in the Premier League table, two points above the relegation zone and two points below 16th-place Tottenham. Newcastle v Man Utd (20: 15 GMT) Simon Stone BBC Sport Chief Sports News Reporter Michael Carrick has enjoyed a phenomenal start to his second stint in charge of Manchester United, racking up six wins and a draw from his first seven games. At some stage, he knows there is bound to be a defeat or a 'blip'. The key is to make sure it does not become an extended sequence of negative results. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started his time in charge of United in 2018-19 with eight successive wins. He ended the same season with eight defeats in 12 matches. When Carrick took over at Middlesbrough in 2022, he won 15 of his first 21 games. He ended in with two wins in 10 as Boro crashed out at the play-off semi-final stage. It is the kind of form reversal United need to avoid as they chase a spot in next season's Champions League, especially as, after Wednesday's trip to Newcastle, they have a home game against fellow European qualification hopefuls Aston Villa, and also have matches against Chelsea and Liverpool to come. Last Updated 4th March 2026 at 01: 16 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. To watch and listen, you need to enable Java Script in your browser. Premier League build-up. BBC Radio 5 Live. Audio Premier League build-up BBC Radio 5 Live Listen live Build-up to Newcastle v Manchester United. BBC Radio Newcastle. Audio Build-up to Newcastle v Manchester United BBC Radio Newcastle Listen live Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal. BBC Radio 5 Live. Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal BBC Radio 5 Live Listen here at 19: 30 Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal (04/03/2026) BBC Radio Sussex. Brighton & Hove Albion v Arsenal (04/03/2026) BBC Radio Sussex Listen here at 19: 25 Manchester City v Nottingham Forest (04/03/2026) BBC Radio Nottingham. Manchester City v Nottingham Forest (04/03/2026) BBC Radio Nottingham Listen here at 19: 30 Newcastle United v Manchester United (04/03/2026) BBC Radio Newcastle. Newcastle United v Manchester United (04/03/2026) BBC Radio Newcastle Listen here at 20: 15 Reaction to Newcastle v Manchester United. BBC Radio Newcastle. Reaction to Newcastle v Manchester United BBC Radio Newcastle Listen here at 22: 15 Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
