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 2 - 1 Nottingham Forest FC
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:35With their seventh straight win across all competitions, Aston Villa climb to sixth in the Premier League, holding on to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 at Villa Park in an absorbing end-to-end contest. The Villans were totally dominant for most of a one-sided first half, with Rogers firing in a fine opening goal before Malen converted from close range to give the hosts a merited two-goal advantage. However, having steadied the ship at half-time, Nuno's side fought back valiantly after the break, throwing men forward and taking 13 attempts at goal. Though substitute Jota Silva did pull one back just before the hour mark, Forest - with an xG of 1.2 - couldn't find an equaliser, while Villa - recording an xG of 2.52 - threatened to score several times on the break. Murillo's stoppage-time thunderbolt almost snatched a point, but it ultimately clipped the crossbar, leaving the Tricky Trees to contemplate an increasingly rare defeat. They stay third in the table, with another week to reflect on their costly start to today's game before tackling Everton. Meanwhile, Emery's men have kept their winning run rolling into a mammoth clash next week, when they play Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. That's all from Birmingham today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:26FULL-TIME: ASTON VILLA 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:25DOUBLE SAVE! Twice, Sels saves Forest, keeping their hopes alive! Rashford is sent clear by McGinn, and the on-loan striker sees his first effort saved at close range. Then, Sels leaps up to claw the rebound away when Rashford threatens to steer it home!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:23OFF THE CROSSBAR! Murillo comes so close to levelling the scores! The Brazilian centre-back raids forward to the edge of Villa's box, firing a superb strike towards the top-left corner. Martinez seems to be beaten, but the ball clips the top of the woodwork and flies behind!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:22There will be at least four more minutes added for stoppages, and that announcement is met with a nervous hushed repsonse from the home fans. Can Villa hang on?
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:21With Rashford's corner-kick from the left dangerously close to sneaking in at the near post, Sels has to palm it way hurriedly. Somehow, Forest then clear their lines. After a long spell on the back foot, Villa are finishing this second half strongly.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:20Ramsey's ball in from the left finds Rogers, who turns well near the penalty spot and then lashes the ball towards goal. Before it can travel far, Boly's body is thrust in the way, and the Forest sub makes a vital late block.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:17Showing off his renowned reflexes, Martinez makes a sharp save to tip away Jota Silva's goalbound header. The referee's assistant then raises his flag to indicate that the Nottingham Forest substitute was quite clearly offside in any case.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:15After Rogers wins a corner on the right, the initial set-piece delivery is punched away by Sels. However, it drops towards Maatsen, who is stationed a few yards outside Forest's area. Instinctively, the full-back lets fly, sending the ball several yards wide of the target.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:15Yellow Card Damián Emiliano Martínez Romero
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:13JUST WIDE! After Kamara blazes over at the other end, Williams and Gibbs-White combine to carve Villa's defence open on the right. With his options - and the angle - fast narrowing, Williams zips a powerful strike only inches wide of the far post: so close to an equaliser!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:10Stepping away from Tielemans just outside the box, Anderson tees up a 20-yard shot but then leans back and lofts it high over the crossbar. Nottingham Forest are almost shooting on sight, in the hope that one will fly in - perhaps even via a deflection.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:08In a packed penalty area, Gibbs-White leaps highest to meet a left-wing cross, but his wayward header slides well wide of the right-hand post. He couldn't quite time his jump right, failing to fully get over the ball.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:06Sels makes another save - this time down at his near post - as Tielemans hits a dropping ball from 20 yards out. Chances are coming thick and fast now at Villa Park, where the next goal could prove pivotal.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:04It's been a spirited comeback so far, but can Forest go on and turn this game totally on its head? Since half-time, they have had eight shots to Villa's three, with 58% of possession. They've got their hosts on the ropes.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:04Substitution Felipe Rodrigues da Silva Willy-Arnaud Zobo Boly
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:04Substitution Nicolás Martín Domínguez Ramón Sosa Acosta
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:03Substitution Marco Asensio Willemsen John McGinn
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:02Yellow Card João Pedro Ferreira Silva
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:02SHARP SAVE! Meeting Ramsey's threaded throughball close to the left byline, Asensio tests Sels at the near post: the ball is heading in, but Forest's goalkeeper stands up and makes a vital stop!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
19:01CLOSE! The action continues to swing from end to end, as Anderson first drags a low shot well wide of the left-hand post. Moments later, Gibbs-White prods a volleyed attempt past the right following a cross from Hudson-Odoi!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:59Sels does well to leave his line in anticipation, as Rogers sneaks away from two challenges on the right side of Forest's box, then evades Milenkovic and tries to shoot at goal. It's a smart stop from the Belgian goalkeeper.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:57Surprisingly, neither player is booked after Martinez and Jota Silva come together three times in quick succession, inside the Aston Villa area. A scrap threatens to break out, but tempers are eventually calmed and the game goes on.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:53Following the corner-kick, Anderson flashes a threatening shot across the box. Then, Hudson-Odoi chips a lofted pass towards Gibbs-White, but it skips straight over the right byline. In complete contrast to the first half, Nottingham Forest are totally on top.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:51Substitution Amadou Ba Zeund Georges Mvom Onana Boubacar Bernard Kamara
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:51Substitution Donyell Malen Jacob Matthew Ramsey
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:51As Forest continue to push forward, Williams hits the left byline again, but this time Anderson can't finish the move. Tielemans lunges in to make a last-ditch block, at the cost of a corner.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:51Substitution Oliver George Arthur Watkins Marcus Rashford
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:47Assist Neco Shay Williams
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:46After 10 minutes of the second half, Nottingham Forest have increased their possession share by some 20% compared with the first. They're certainly posing more of a threat now, as Villa sit back and defend their two-goal advantage.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:45CLOSE! Prepared to take another attempt at goal, this time from closer in, Williams fires well wide. Moments later, Hudson-Odoi finds some space and whips a low shot narrowly wide of the right-hand post, with Martinez diving down at full stretch!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:40Yellow Card Marco Asensio Willemsen
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:39Wasting a set-piece opportunity midway through Villa's half, Murillo lays the ball off to Williams, who then drives a hopeful shot past the right-hand post by some distance.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:38Yellow Card Felipe Rodrigues da Silva
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:36Aston Villa kick off, and we are back under way at Villa Park!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:34Substitution Anthony David Junior Elanga João Pedro Ferreira Silva
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:34Substitution Andrés García Robledo Ezri Ngoyo Konsa
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:34There must be a strong chance that Nuno makes some changes during the interval - if not in terms of personnel, at least tactically. His team were so easily exploited in the opening stages, before tightening up as the first half wore on. But, trailing by two, Forest must also go for goals. It'll be a tough balance to strike. For their part, Villa have lost just one of the last 49 Premier League games in which they've lead by at least two at half-time - winning 45 - so they are firmly on track for maximum points.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:28Fully capitalising on a shaky start by Nottingham Forest, in-form Aston Villa lead 2-0 at half-time in this Premier League contest between two Midlands rivals. Putting the Villans on track for a seventh straight win, Rogers coolly slotted home when left free by Forest's slack defence before - less than two minutes later - Malen tapped in Maatsen's superb cross. An uncharacteristically uncertain display from the visitors still featured a few typical counter-attacks, but Elanga and Hudson-Odoi both fired decnt chances wide. Nuno's men have a half-time xG of 0.33, compared to Villa's 1.22, so the scoreline is a fair reflection of events so far. Even making eight changes, Emery has forged a side that has been hungry and coherent, and they are within 45 minutes of pulling level with fifth-placed Manchester City.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:20HALF-TIME: ASTON VILLA 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:20As one minute of stoppage time is indicated, a loose first touch by Elanga denies him the chance to shoot, as Anderson picks his team-mate out with a throughball from the right. Moments later, Dominguez nods a floated cross from the left straight towards his compatriot, Martinez.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:18Gibbs-White hares down the left wing and apparently wins Nottingham Forest a corner, but then the referee raises his flag to indicate offside against the England international.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:17Unbeaten in eight league games at home to Nottingham Forest since 1994 - and on course to make that nine today - Aston Villa have now scored at least twice in each of the clubs' last eight clashes at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:13A little ambitiously, Onana takes aim from somewhere approaching 25 yards out, before sending his rising effort high over the crossbar. Moments later, at the other end, Yates side-foots a shot straight at Martinez from the edge of the box.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:10With a potential three-on-two situation opening up, Watkins surges through the centre before taking the wrong choice. Ignoring Malen's run down the right, he tries to deliver the ball left and instead gifts it back to Nottingham Forest.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:09Rather clumsily, Anderson trips Onana around 25 yards from his own goal, offering Villa a good chance to score from a free-kick. Tielemans and Asensio spend a while discussing who will take it, before the latter curls his left-footed shot straight at Sels.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:07Villa Park - now cast in shade - falls virtually silent as play slows to walking pace. As is customary, Martinez takes his time on the ball, waiting for Forest to commit players forward and offer some space.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:05Elanga's brief claims for a penalty are ignored by the referee - and the VAR - after a minor coming-together with Disasi in the Villa area. Still, the Swedish winger has again proved he'll put the hosts' new-look defence to the test.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:03Having been warned by two rapid counter-attacks, Villa are playing patiently now, preferring to keep possession inside their own half. If they can keep this lead intact until half-time, they'll be huge favourites to prevail in the second half.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:01It'll take an almighty comeback to turn things around, but Forest did so against Villa at the City Ground earlier this season - and with only a handful of minutes remaining. At least they have the luxury of time today, and over the last few minutes they've certainly perked up.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
18:00Nottingham Forest have lost all 78 of their previous Premier League games in which they've trailed by two or more goals, so it's no surprise that Opta's live win predictor now gives Aston Villa an 88% chance of going on to claim maximum points.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:57CHANCE! Rogers presents the ball to Yates in midfield, and the ball then falls nicely for Hudson-Odoi, around 25 yards from goal. He races into a shooting position on the right, but his low strike zips past both Martinez and the left-hand post! Forest are biting back!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:55CLOSE! Forest almost pull one back! On a classic counter-attack, Elanga streaks away from Garcia and then leaves Disasi in his wake before drilling a low shot just inches wide of the right-hand post!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:54Those two strikes - timed at just 138 seconds apart - have put Aston Villa totally control of this contest, and Nuno is deep in discussion with his coaches. Can he do something to stem the tide before half-time?
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:53This is the earliest that Aston Villa have scored two goals in a top-flight match since November 2022, when they took 11 minutes to net twice against Manchester United. Meanwhile, it's just the third time that Nottingham Forest have conceded two in the opening 15 minutes of a Premier League game.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:51Stunned by their awful start, Forest try to put up a response. Dominguez drives well wide of the target from around 20 yards out, skewing his low effort towards the left.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:47Assist Ian Ethan Maatsen
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:46Goal Donyell Malen
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:45Goal Morgan Elliot Rogers
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:45To this point, Forest have had just 29% of the ball - yet such a low possession share rarely concerns Nuno's men. They seem to be operating a back five today, with Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White and Elanga being responsible for leading the counter-attack.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:43Mid-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
17:41After 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
17:39SAVE! 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
17:37Buoyed 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
17:36These 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
17:33Wearing light blue, Nottingham Forest kick off, and we are under way in sunny Birmingham!
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:30Both 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
17:28Chris 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
17:28Perhaps 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
17:23SUBS: Carlos Miguel, Ibrahim Sangare, Harry Toffolo, Eric da Silva Moreira, Jota Silva, Ramon Sosa, Danilo, Willy Boly, Zach Abbott.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:23NOTTINGHAM 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
17:17SUBS: Robin Olsen, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, Marcus Rashford, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara.
Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
17:12ASTON 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
17:12Like 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
17:07Aston 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
17:02Hello 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
15:30Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
