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Two clubs have been making waves in the Championship this week - and they may both be relieved to have the distraction of some on-field action tonight.

Nottingham Forest will be managerless for the visit of Charlton after sacking Billy Davies yesterday and then not persuading Neil Warnock to step into the breach. Presumably Harry Bassett or Big Ron are standing by the phone. Anyone got Frank Clark's number? A win for Forest could move them back into the top six.

Charlton - who have filled plenty of column inches themselves of late - need the points to stay up.

Leeds, whose new owner Massimo Cellino is now not the owner, are in Bournemouth - assuming that they found someone to pay for the fuel for the coach.

Cellino said yesterday that more investment was required immediately, telling BBC Sport that the club needed "help, blood and money" in "hours, not days". The Cherries may fancy their chances...

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Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini speaking to Sky Sports: "It is a very beautiful stadium and a win is very important for both teams. Maybe we have more points, but I don't feel that we are the favourites.

"Maybe Manchester United are not in their best season, but they are a top team with great players.

"Winning today is one of ten steps that we must take towards the title. We hope that we can play as well as we did at the Etihad in September."

Chris Waddle
BBC Radio 5 live at Old Trafford

On Manchester City chasing league leaders Chelsea: "I would rather have the points in the bag than games in hand. When you're talking three games in hand, it's not as easy as people think to win the games. If you're top you're saying 'come and catch me'. Mourinho is clever in saying what he is but people know what he's up to now."

You can listen to full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live.

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Manchester United have scored just nine league goals from midfield with teenager Adnan Januzaj weighing in with a third of those.

Manchester City have 35 with Yaya Toure scoring 16.

In the face of those statistics, David Moyes has admitted his side are lagging behind their city rivals.

"We still think Marouane Fellaini can get some goals. But I do agree," he said.

"They have quality - very good midfield players who are goalscorers."

The relative strengths of the two midfields are being weighed up on 5 live right now.

Image source, Reuters

Pep Guardiola is refusing to celebrate just yet but the Bundesliga title will surely be Bayern's by the end of the night after a super header by Mario Gotze from Bastian Schweinsteiger's inch-perfect cross. Bayern's travelling fans are in party mood. Hertha's players are struggling to get a touch.

Tonight is the 46th different starting XI that David Moyes has picked this season.

Adam from Colchester: In which footballing dimension does an immobile midfield featuring Carrick, Cleverley and Fellaini beat City's dynamic and mobile midfield? I want to give Moyes a chance tonight but he has proven once again how utterly clueless he is! He has to go if we lose tonight. Forget what Bobby Charlton says, he clearly is just trying to save face after supporting the appointment in the first place!

Jim, London: Please please Moyes don't put Mata on the wing tonight. Was nothing learned at the weekend?

Referee Lee Probert will be paying attention to the Arsenal pen pics in the programme. Both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs start for the Gunners tonight after Andre Marriner's mysterious case of mistaken identity at the weekend.

Chris Waddle
BBC Radio 5 live at Old Trafford

"David Moyes should play Juan Mata in the hole and I think he will be used there now when United don't play one of the big boys.

"It's Manchester City though and Moyes is showing a lot of respect for them and he's obviously thinking he won't do what he did at Liverpool and get hammered in the middle of the park. So it's a tight three in the middle and Mata will be told he can wander when United have the ball."

You can listen to full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live.

All too easy for the defending champions, who have one hand on the league trophy (I believe that may well be the Meisterschale) already. Hertha fail to deal with a cross and it is all too easy for Toni Kroos, who slots home from 14 yards.

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Tonight is assistant John Carver's last game at the controls of Newcastle before manager Alan Pardew returns to take touchline charge after his ban for aiming at Hull midfielder David Meyler.

"It has been a fantastic experience and I have thoroughly enjoyed it," he said.

"I have had great support from the rest of the staff but I am looking forward to getting back to reality on Saturday."

BBC Radio 5 live

Sir Bobby Charlton is one of the faces that the television cameras have been picking out in the wake of Manchester United's defeats at Old Trafford this season.

But United's record goalscorer insists his frowns have been because the team have been playing "really really badly", rather than any underlying doubts over the choice of David Moyes as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor.

"It doesn't mean we are going to change everything. I'm absolutely certain that we picked the right man," he said.

Not everyone agrees. They are discussing David Moyes and Manuel Pellegrini's first seasons in Manchester on 5 live right now.

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty at Old Trafford:

"Some surprise that Tom Cleverley is included in Manchester United's starting line-up as one of four changes from the win at West Ham United. No place for Shinji Kagawa, who did well at Upton Park.

"United manager David Moyes clearly has his eye on Manchester City's strength in midfield and will be hoping the likes of Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata can provide the creative force for his side in attack.

"Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini opts for Edin Dzeko to lead the attack ahead of Alvaro Negredo."

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We're just underway at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin where Bayern Munich will be crowned champions of Germany for the 24th time if they secure a 19th consecutive league victory at the hands of Hertha Berlin.

With their Champions League quarter-final at Manchester United just a week away, Bayern have made no secret that their focus is on Europe as they bid to become the first team to defend the title.

Chris Tapsell:, external AT LAST! Moyes fields 3 in midfield! Let's hope for some good old-fashioned #mufc counter-attacking football.

Hi:, external If you're going to play 4-3-3, play it with Fletcher, not Cleverly. And Kagawa not playing is a disgrace

Andrew Tarpey, external: Tom Cleverley works well in a three man midfield, don't understand what people are moaning about,

BBC Radio 5 live

Whatever you are looking out for tonight, there is only one place you need to turn.

Mike Ingham, Alan Green and Chris Waddle will be commentating on Manchester United v Manchester City on BBC Radio 5 live - their coverage has just started.

John Murray and John Hartson are in place at the Emirates for Arsenal v Swansea for BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

And if that is not enough, a special midweek edition of Final Score will be hoovering up every goal as it goes in on the red button.

Image source, Reuters

David Moyes spoke in the build-up to tonight's game about the need for his midfield to start contributing more goals.

With Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley sitting in midfield, will it free Marouane Fellaini to stride forward and cause a bit of chaos in the City box?

Fellaini has been a man in search of a role so far this season. Let's see how this one suits him.

Benji, Bristol: I think I can speak for all Liverpool fans tonight when I say this is the first, and if can assure you last, time I will ever be cheering on Manchester United!

Natalie Hinchliffe: Hope to see United get back to winning ways tonight, want to see Kagawa and Mata out on the pitch, fingers crossed for a crucial win for the reds!

Ryan: City's striking hasn't been top notch for a few weeks now, their midfield is the key tonight. With United's midfield poorer each week, I'm going for a 1-1 draw. I can also see a sending off for United.

Michu makes his first start for Swansea since 15 December as one of four changes from the team that lost 3-2 at Goodison Park.

Swansea starting XI: Vorm, Rangel, Williams, Chico Flores, Taylor, Britton, Shelvey, de Guzman, Routledge, Michu, Bony.

Two changes for Arsenal from the team thrashed at Chelsea, with Thomas Vermaelen replacing the injured Laurent Koscielny, while Mathieu Flamini comes in for Lukas Podolski.

Arsenal starting XI: Szczesny, Sagna Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Flamini, Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Cazorla, Giroud