The headline act comes from Hampden Park, where Dundee United and Aberdeen meet for a place in the League Cup final.

The Dons won the trophy for a sixth time last season and will certainly not give it up without a fight, while United have not had their hands on the cup since 1980.

These east coast rivals are very evenly matched, with each enjoying a convincing away victory in the league this season and just three points separate the teams dubbed the 'New Firm' back in the days when Jim McLean and Alex Ferguson were scaring the living daylights out of their players.

There are also three Premiership matches this afternoon, including a Highland derby. Inverness CT can go second with a home win against bottom club Ross County.

You can follow the action on our Scottish live text.

Mark Hughes has to reshuffle his Stoke side from their FA Cup win over Rochdale as Stephen Ireland comes in for the injured Bojan Krkic. Asmir Begovic comes back in goal to replace Jack Butland.

Bobby Zamora misses out for QPR with Nico Kranjcar playing off leading scorer Charlie Austin in an otherwise unchanged side to that which lost to Manchester United last time out.

Stoke XI: Begovic; Bardsley, Shawcross (c), Wollscheid, Wilson; Nzonzi, Whelan; Arnautovic, Ireland, Moses; Walters.

QPR XI: Green, Isla, Dunne, Onuoha, Hill, Vargas, Henry, Barton, Fer, Kranjcar, Austin.

Newcastle look threatening now. Don't rule out a few more goals for the visitors with Hull looking increasingly ragged.Wins for QPR and Leicester would send the Tigers bottom, if this results stays as it is.

Image source, PA

Adnan Januzaj makes his first Premier League start since November for Manchester United, who host Leicester City. Striker Radamel Falcao also starts.

Full team news from all the 15:00 GMT kick-offs to follow shortly.

Image source, Getty Images

We've all seen this sort of image before, back in the mists of time, down Mexico way.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at KC Stadium

"Hull are lacking confidence. They still haven't managed to work a real opportunity for Nikica Jelavic. I thought Gaston Ramirez would be the player to provide their creative spark going forward, but he has faded after starting brightly. Another goal for Newcastle and that is Hull dead and buried."

Almost game over as Ayoze Perez flicks the ball towards goal but goalkeeper Allan McGregor parries away. Hull fans are not happy!

Image source, Getty Images

Hull have reacted well to going 2-0 down but their problems remain in front of goal. This time, Abel Hernandez's shot from an angle is deflected away. The snow is hammering down now at the KC Stadium.

Striker Daniel Sturridge has been named on the bench for Liverpool in today's game against West Ham after almost five months out with a thigh injury. Steven Gerrard, meanwhile, is not included in the Reds' squad.

David Simpson: Sammy with an absolute whammy!

Gavin Richmond: Sammy Ameobi, that was outrageous! What a goal son!

Jerry Elumeze: Great strike by Ameobi, but no decent keeper should be beaten from that distance.

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

Brentford are still scrapping to get back in it at 1-0 down to Middlesbrough at Griffin Park and have made a double substitution. Jon Toral is on for Toumani Diagouraga and top-scorer AJ Gray has been replaced by on-loan Everton striker Chris Long.

Leeds and Huddersfield are trading chances with the score level at 1-1 at the John Smiths Stadium. Joel Lynch has headed over form a corner for the hosts, while Alex Mowatt has fired over from distance for Leeds.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at KC Stadium

"That would have been one of the best own goals we have ever seen. It was incredible. Fabricio Coloccini just booted it straight up into the air, and it sliced off his boot and almost dipped underneath the Newcastle crossbar. Do that again 100 times and you might recreate it once. You have to mention the weather again. It is a mixture of snow and sleet, it's bitterly cold, very windy, and miserable. Especially if you are a Hull fan."

Almost the perfect response by Hull as they are inches away from puling a goal back in bizarre fashion. Fabricio Coloccini is looking relieved after he somehow slices his clearance over goalkeeper Tim Krul towards his own goal but Vurnon Anita heads the ball off the line. What a let-off.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at KC Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

"What a strike. Absolutely magnificent from Sammy Ameobi, he hits a belter into the far corner. I think it might have caught Allan McGregor a little bit by surprise, but there was swerve and dip on it. It gets even worse for Hull. They have a mountain to climb, and Steve Bruce is looking very forlorn. He has to make changes and quickly."

Image source, Getty Images

Stunning, simply stunning. Hull's Gaston Ramirez passes the ball straight to the visitors in midfield. Jack Colback feeds Sammy Ameobi on the left and he brilliantly drills the ball home from 25 yards. Goalkeeper Allan McGregor has no chance. Real trouble for Steve Bruce.

Former England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at KC Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

"Is Ahmed Elmohamady's first-half handball (see 45 mins) worse than Diego Costa's stamp? Elmohamady scores the goal, runs off celebrating, and then he has the audacity to moan at the referee as he comes off a half-time. Surely that has to be one of the worst things you can do. It could be one for 606 later this evening."

You can listen to this evening's 606 with Robbie Savage and Jason Mohammad on BBC Radio 5 live from 18:06.

Vurnon Anita's shot is so scuffed and wayward, it almost turns into a perfect through ball for Remy Cabella. The Frenchman puts his hands on his head as the ball bobbles just past him.

At the other end Gaston Ramirez takes the ball of Jack Colback but skies over from 20 yards. Some horrible shooting going on.

Game on.

The teams are back out at the KC Stadium. Can Hull improve as an attacking force? They need to if they are get anything from this.

Alan Green
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"I smiled when I read how Ben Foster described the Tony Pulis regime as "brutal"; the England goalkeeper, I'm sure, was smiling too for he knows that the club is getting the wake-up call it so badly needed.

"Pulis will allow no rest days, no slacking off, and it should surprise no-one that the Baggies are unbeaten in four games since he took over from Alan Irvine, sad though I was at seeing the Scot lose his job.

"Spurs might be out of the FA Cup and were given quite a scare in the League Cup the other night at Bramall Lane but now they have a Wembley final to look forward to.

"With their Europa League campaign not due to resume for a couple of weeks, they can concentrate on finding the momentum to mount a league challenge that still holds out the dizzying possibility of a top four place."