Premier League Wednesday preview: Title rivals in action and Champions League shootout

The Premier League midweek round continues on Wednesday, with five further games and interest at both ends of the table. 

Arsenal and Manchester City are both in action as the next chapter in their title battle unfolds, while there's a huge game in the race for Champions League qualification. 

Here's a look at the big stories going into Wednesday's fixtures of Matchday 29. 

Villa need thriller against Blues 

The race for Champions League places is one that's set to go down to the wire, but both Aston Villa and Chelsea can press home their claims as they come face-to-face at Villa Park. 

Neither side comes into the clash in particularly good form, particularly Villa, with only two wins in their last eight and head into the game having lost to bottom-placed Wolves on Friday night. 

That run has seen an 11-point lead they had over Manchester United at the start of the year diminish, but they do remain six points better off than their visitors on Wednesday. 

Liam Rosenior has only suffered defeats to Arsenal since taking over as Blues boss, but they've failed to convince in the last few outings, dropping points against both Leeds and Burnley. 

A win in Birmingham would get their Champions League ambitions back on track, and with Villa floundering and looking one-dimensional, it could be the perfect time to play Unai Emery's men. 

James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images

Title fight's next round 

Ding ding, it's round 29 in this season's title fight, with both Arsenal and Manchester City landing the right jabs at the weekend to keep the gap to five points at the top of the table. 

The leaders head to the South Coast to face a Brighton team they've already beaten in league and cup action already this campaign, and begin a run of games where the Gunners play several of the midtable sides. 

Having come through against Chelsea, they'll be favourites to see off the Seagulls, despite their recent upturn in form, which has seen back-to-back wins for Fabian Hurzeler's men. 

As for their title rivals, who have now won six on the spin, they entertain a Nottingham Forest side, yet to feel any kind of new manager bounce under Vitor Pereira. 

City look to be in the midst of another fabled late-season run and are expected to motor through relegation-threatened Forest, who have scored just twice in their last three visits to The Etihad. 
Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Carrick can put pressure on Howe 

Michael Carrick will return to his native North-East, having enjoyed an unbeaten start to his interim post at Manchester United. 

Sunday's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace wasn't pretty, but United once again got the job done and now looks odds-on for a Champions League spot come the end of the season, such has been the turnaround under the former midfielder. 

There has also been nothing pretty about Newcastle's league form, whose season is in real danger of petering out after last week's home defeat to Everton. 

The Magpies are 13th in the league, with the top four now a distant dream, and realistically, only an FA Cup run can save their season, unless they can shock Barcelona in Europe next week. 

The last thing they need is a rampant United side, with the league's most in-form front man turning up at their door and increasing the pressure on Eddie Howe a little more. 

Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images

West Ham to land hammer blow to relegation fight 

With Nottingham Forest facing an uphill task in Manchester and Tottenham not in action until Thursday, West Ham have a real chance of putting heat on the two teams above them as they travel to Craven Cottage. 

The Hammers were much better against Liverpool than the 5-2 scoreline suggested on Saturday, but it means it's just one win in the last five for the East Londoners, which hasn't helped their survival hopes. 

A trip across the capital won't be easy either, with Fulham eyeing a late surge for a European spot after their win over Spurs saw them move within three points of seventh-placed Brentford. 

With Forest and Burnley next on the Cottagers' agenda, Marco Silva's men could have a major part to play in the relegation scrap, starting with the Hammers' visit. 

How to watch the Premier League in Canada

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