Liverpool go close early on as Jordan Henderson's left-wing corner is met at the back post by Philippe Coutinho, but he can only volley wide.

Oh it is a great start for the Premier League leaders as Oscar gobbles up a gift presented to him by Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Swansea man's wayward pass is straight to Oscar, who rifles home.

Image source, Getty Images

The Holte End is looking pretty busy at Villa Park so it appears as though a few efforts to arrange a boycott for the opening eight minutes - representing every year of Randy Lerner's reign - has failed.

Now Villa just need to end their six-match winless run...

Right then, how will the latest chapter in this season's Premier League story play out? We are under way in the six top-flight fixtures...

On this day of returning Spurs to White Hart Lane, former manager Martin Jol, unceremoniously dismissed in favour of Juande Ramos in 2007, is in the crowd. Jermain Defoe receives polite applause when his name is read out by Spurs announcer Pete Abbott over the PA system.

Gary Hegarty: Stevie Fletcher and Defoe to rip Spurs apart today!

Ben Hibburd: Does anyone know what Van Gaal's philosophy is anymore?

Mohamoud Abdi: Forget about Kane and Austin partnering Rooney for England. How about Defoe?

Join the conversation on Twitter at #bbcfootball,, external text us on 81111 (UK only), or drop us a line on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+, external page.

Former Tottenham and Stoke striker Garth Crooks
Final Score

"I'm surprised how prickly Van Gaal has been with the British media. But maybe he's being very clever, just like Jose Mourinho. Top managers are very clever. We're not talking about Manchester United, we're talking about Louis van Gaal."

Roy Hodgson is in attendance at Loftus Road today, will Charlie Austin put on a show for the England boss?

A run of seven wins from the last eight games has seen Newport County steadily climb up the table and Justin Edinburgh's side could move into second place with victory at Cambridge United on Saturday. The 14th-placed U's ended a four-game winless run last week though, with a 1-0 win at struggling Carlisle.

Shrewsbury Town have slipped off top spot and down to fourth since the start of 2015 but they are still unbeaten at home and welcome a Hartlepool side with the worst away record in the league to New Meadow on Saturday. It should be points in the bag for Micky Mellon's side, who can move back into the automatic promotion places.

Meanwhile, league-leaders Wycombe will be looking to extend their eight-game unbeaten run at ninth-placed Bury, who have won just one of their last eight league games and are on the slide. Gareth Ainsworth's side are just one point ahead of Burton, who travel to troubled Portsmouth and are still looking for their first win on the road under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

BBC Final Score

Image source, Getty Images

Time for our second vote of the day, this time in conjunction with Final Score.

Three strikers - Jermain Defoe, Wilfried Bony and Radamel Falcao - have been in the news this week, and we want to know which of those players you think will score the most Premier League goals between now and the end of the season?

You can vote at the top of the page or tweet @bbcsport, external using #bbcfalcao #bbcbony or #bbcdefoe. Terms and conditions can be found here.

It's tight at the top of League One with leaders Swindon Town ahead of second-placed Bristol City on a goal difference but will be confident of staying there with victory over a Chesterfield side they beat 3-0 earlier in the season. Mark Cooper's side have lost just twice at home this term and have won their last three games in a four-match unbeaten run.

Meanwhile, the Robins, who have won five of their last six matches, travel to 17th-placed Scunthorpe to face a side that have been transformed under manager Mark Robins. The former Manchester United striker's side are on a seven-game unbeaten league run that includes five victories.

At the other end of the table, bottom side Yeovil will be seeking only their second home win of the season as they host fifth-placed Bradford. Gary Johnson's side are currently six points off safety and have won just five games all season, but one of those victories came against the Bantams earlier this season.

Blackburn Rovers striker Rudy Gestede has not travelled to the DW Stadium to face Wigan today amid interest from Premier League side Hull City. Rovers boss Gary Bowyer confirmed Hull's interest in on Friday and said other clubs were also interest in the Benin international, who has scored 24 goals in 45 appearances.

High-flying Bournemouth travel to Rotherham looking to bounce back from their first defeat in 15 Championship outings - a 2-1 home loss to Norwich - to keep the pressure on Derby at the top of the league. Eddie Howe's men can take heart after beating the Millers 5-1 in the FA Cup a fortnight ago.

New Norwich manager Alex Neil masterminded that victory at Bournemouth in his first game in charge and will make his Carrow Road bow against a Cardiff City team that sits just six points below his seventh-placed side. Victory in front of the home fans could move Norwich back into the play-off places.

Meanwhile, Millwall manager Ian Holloway hosts third-placed Ipswich with a vote of confidence from chairman John Berylson ringing in his ears following a run of just one win in 13 games in all competitions. However, the Tractor Boys are also looking to get back to winning ways after two 1-0 losses - to Derby in the league and Southampton in the FA Cup - in the last seven days.

Players are disappearing down tunnels up and down the country ahead of the 15:00 GMT kick-offs. We've previewed the Premier League action pretty extensively, so time for a quick look at what to keep an eye on in the Football League...

The snow has been falling heavily at Turf Moor for a match that is crucial to both teams at the wrong end of the Premier League. Fingers crossed there is no repeat of the early abandonment of Rangers v Hearts last night. There are no signs of it settling on the pitch at the moment.

Adam, Edinburgh: Louis van Gaal persists with the 3-5-2 formation it looks like. Wonder how long it will take him to realise fans don't like it and has not worked out the way he hoped? We know he's stubborn but it's boarding on ridiculous now.

James: Probably an unpopular opinion, but I'm becoming more and more disillusioned with van Gaal. Poor team selection constantly - when will he realise that 3-5-2 doesn't work? When will he realise we are at our best with four at the back? Doesn't he realise Robin van Persie is past it? Why does he persist with Ander Herrera on the bench when he and Daley Blind are probably the best central midfielders we've got? Why can't he let Radamel Falcao finish a match? What is his so-called philosophy and when are we going to see results? Not happy at the minute.

Join the conversation on Twitter at #bbcfootball,, external text us on 81111 (UK only), or drop us a line on the BBC Sport Facebook, external or Google+, external page.

Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live

"You'd question the length of his contract at 32, but would Jermain Defoe have come back to the Premier League for any less than that?

"He will score goals and every club in the bottom half of the table would have asked, 'can we afford Jermain Defoe?'

"If he scores eight goals and keeps the club up, that £14m investment is nothing."

Martin Keown
BBC Sport

"I don't think Harry Redknapp's job is in any danger. He got them up through the play-offs. The chairman will stick with him, and I would as well.

"If he can get another striker in on loan, they have a chance. He wanted Jermain Defoe but they couldn't get him."

MOTD's John Murray at the King Power Stadium

"In life, more often than not, you tend to get what you pay for. Of course, in football it doesn't always work like that.

"At Leicester City, the evidence suggests the club is prepared to speculate in an attempt to accumulate the required number of points to stay in the Premier League.

"Last summer, their transfer record was broken with the arrival of Leonardo Ulloa for an initial £8m. The return so far: eight goals in 22 appearances in all competitions, including the only goal when these clubs met in the Potteries in September.

"Now they have broken that record again by paying £9m for the Croatian forward Andrej Kramaric. The message is clear - they need goals."

MOTD's Steve Wilson at Loftus Road

Image source, PA

"It's a hell of a five-a-side team: Kevin Hitchcock, Kevin Bond, Glenn Hoddle, Les Ferdinand and Joe Jordan.

"There has probably been many an occasion on which Harry Redknapp has wished he could roll back the years and pick his coaches, assistants - and whatever it is that Ferdinand does - in his Premier League squad.

"Some reports this week have suggested that Redknapp's immediate job prospects depend on him not losing to Manchester United. Whatever the odds on that actually are, it's not something you'd like your employment prospects to rest on."