Leicester held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw earlier in the season, a point which kicked the Foxes on to wins against Stoke City and Manchester United.

Tonight they face the Premier League's highest scorers in home fixtures. The Gunners have 26 goals in front of their home fans but manager Arsene Wenger is concerned with the threat Leicester pose on the counter attack.

"They gave us a tough time at Leicester," says Wenger. "They are very physical and focused. We expect that again and they are good on the break as well, so it is about attacking well and not leaving space for them to counter."

A Leicester win tonight would really kickstart their fight against relegation. The bad news is that the Foxes haven't won at Arsenal since 1973.

Image source, PA

And they haven't won any of their last 17 Premier League matches against London clubs. And they have won none of their last 18 matches in all competitions against Arsenal.

And Arsenal have won the last seven home Premier League matches against the Foxes in a run of 21 home matches in all competitions unbeaten (W15 D6 L0).

And Arsenal have lost just one of their last 29 Premier League games at the Emirates.

But, you know. Stay positive.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's magic touch is working nicely at Burton, who climbed to the top of League Two on Saturday and are looking to extend a 10-match unbeaten run when they host AFC Wimbledon this evening. Shrewsbury, who dropped from first to third at the weekend, visit a Carlisle side who have won their last two matches, while Wycombe - unbeaten in 12 and lying second - are at home to Plymouth.

York, who dropped into the bottom two on Saturday, face a tough night at fourth-placed Luton. The only team below the hapless Minstermen are Hartlepool, who face the prospect of taking on bang in-form mid-table Northampton in a thick fog at Victoria Park. That mist can hide a multitude of sins, lads...

It looks like two from three for the League One automatic promotion spots, but MK Dons missed the chance to go top by losing 2-1 at Bradford last night, giving leaders Bristol City and second-placed Swindon the chance to pull away this evening. Steve Cotterill's City host Port Vale, while Mark Cooper's Swindon go to Oldham.

Fifth-placed Chesterfield host fourth-placed Preston. The winners get to keep Kevin Davies.

Two big games at the bottom; Crewe host relegation rivals Yeovil, while Scunthorpe boss Mark Robins returns to his former club Coventry.

BBC Radio 5 live

The TV and radio coverage for tonight's action will begin at 19:00 GMT. There's a Midweek Final Score on the BBC Red Button, while BBC Radio 5 live have build-up to all the matches.

The big Premier League game of the night sees Liverpool take on Tottenham at Anfield as both sides vie for a Champions League spot. Coverage on BBC Radio 5 live of the match begins at 20:00 GMT.

Join in with BBC Radio 5 live's Football Social at 22:00 GMT for reaction on all the night's action.

Hull City

New signing Dame N'Doye starts for Hull City as Steve Bruce makes two changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Manchester City on Saturday. Fellow striker Nikica Jelavic starts, as Sone Aluko and Gaston Ramirez drop to the bench.

Scott Sinclair starts his first match since 21 December 2013 as Aston Villa look for their first league win this year.

Tom Cleverley and Christian Benteke are among the Villa substitutes.

Hull City XI: McGregor, Bruce, Meyler, Huddlestone, Brady, Livermore, McShane, Jelavic, Dawson, Elmohamady, N'Dyoe.

Aston Villa XI: Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho, Westwood, Delph, Gil, Sinclair, Agbonlahor, Weimann.

Duncan Amitola: Escaped from work, went to the nearest bar to watch the opening fixture of Man Utd vs Swansea. Upon taking my seat and sipping my beer, right next to me was my immediate supervisor. It was a horror. But was so determined that I continued. Almost lost my job the following Monday.

Jack Knightley: Was told it was Arsenal or my girlfriend. Needless to say I still go to the Emirates....

What is the biggest sacrifice you've made to watch live football?

Let us know. You can get in touch at #bbcfootball, external, pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport's Google+ area., external

You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

Arsenal

Arsenal welcome back top scorer Alexis Sanchez after the Chile international missed two games with a hamstring injury.

He looks set to play as a striker as both Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck are on the bench, as is Aaron Ramsey as the Gunners make three changes from defeat at Tottenham. Mesut Ozil makes his 50th start for the club.

Leicester hand a debut to Robert Huth and visit Emirates Stadium without a win in 16 league meetings with Arsenal.

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Rosicky, Walcott, Cazorla, Ozil, Alexis.

Leicester City: Schwarzer, Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Upson, Konchesky, Mahrez, Cambiasso, James, Schlupp, Kramaric.

Image source, Getty Images

Another manager coming under pressure - bizarrely - appears to be Brentford boss Mark Warburton.

A report in the Times on Tuesday said Warburton would be dismissed by owner Matthew Benham even if the Bees win promotion to the Premier League.

The west London club, who were promoted from League One last season, are currently fourth in the Championship but say he will stay.

Despite confirming Warburton's status, a Bees statement also said they "plan for various possible eventualities".

The 52-year-old was appointed Bees boss in December 2013 following a two-and-a-half-year spell as sporting director.

He has won 33 of his 59 games in charge of the team and is currently on a rolling one-year deal at Griffin Park.

Brentford in the top flight? It could happen...

Matt Strachan: Once left an exam half an hour early, so I would make it home in time for an England game on TV.

Omar Aborida: My ex-girlfriend never forgave me for making her drive 1,000 km in France to see Arsenal play Montpellier in the Champions League.

What is the biggest sacrifice you've made to watch live football?

Let us know. You can get in touch at #bbcfootball, external, pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport's Google+ area., external

You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

Image source, Getty Images

Away from the meeting of the top two, Middlesbrough will be hoping to take advantage of a draw there by winning at bottom of the league Blackpool.

Play-off rivals Brentford and Watford meet at Griffin Park, Ipswich entertain Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich will try and keep pace with the top six with a win at Charlton.

At the bottom, Leeds need a win at Reading in the music festival derby, Brighton are away at Cardiff and Millwall are at Birmingham.

Sunderland

Sunderland welcome back striker Connor Wickham from a calf injury, but Lee Cattermole remains sidelined by a knee problem and Jack Rodwell misses out with a groin injury.

QPR striker Charlie Austin misses the game with a bruised foot picked up against Southampton on Saturday. Adel Taarabt drops to the bench after starting Saturday's match.

Sunderland XI: Pantilimon; Reveillere, Vergini, O'Shea, van Aanholt; Bridcutt, Larsson, Gomez, Johnson; Wickham, Defoe.

QPR XI: Green; Isla, Caulker, Ferdinand, Yun; Phillips, Barton, Henry, Kranjcar; Fer; Zamora.

Derby were play-off losers last season but could be set for promotion this time around, perhaps thanks to a ban on swearing and a change in approach.

The Rams 'try not to swear if we possibly can' and look to control the "inner chimp" which sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters talked about in his book 'The Chimp Paradox'.

Peters, who has worked with Liverpool, the GB cycling team and many other sports stars, including snooker's Ronnie O'Sullivan, uses the term to describe the section of the brain that deals with emotion and sets out the theory that people can learn skills to manage those emotions in order to achieve success.

Coach Paul Simpson said: "We are always talking to the players about keeping control of your chimp and not let it take over your head and rule your decision-making during a game.

"The days of ranting and raving and swearing at each other are long gone and we need to be a bit calmer about the way we go about things, and that's what we are trying to do."

What do you need when you've been bottom of the league since November and your manager was reportedly sacked - though in the end he wasn't - on Sunday?

A trip to the Emirates would be near the bottom of that wish list.

Arsenal are in fine form at home this season, with just one defeat and could record a sixth-straight home win tonight.

Image source, Arsenal

The Gunners love a good bit of passing too don't they? Slick pitch by the look of things tonight.

Can they dampen spirits at Leicester City further? (See what we did there...sorry).

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes says he has got his "dream manager" to replace Harry Redknapp, who resigned last week. But who is it?

The 50-year-old businessman said no announcement was imminent and that it would "take a while" to complete.

Tim Sherwood was contacted about the job, while Derby boss Steve McClaren and Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement were also in the frame - links apparently dismissed by Fernandes.

"Still a bit to go but I'm very happy," the Malaysian said on Twitter.

"Think I have got my dream manager. Not what anyone thinks. Press all wrong."

Who could that be?

It's Christmas Day in the Premier League offices and agents, players, pundits and club secretaries around the land are celebrating the bumper TV deal which was announced this afternoon.

Sky and BT Sport are shelling out a trouser-busting £5.1bn on the Premier League rights for three seasons from 2016-17. That's £5,100,000,000. Don't deliver it in coins, please.

Image source, Reuters

But what is the biggest sacrifice you've made to watch live football? Sold your drum kit? Split up with your partner? Jacked in a job? Missed a holiday?

Let us know. You can get in touch at #bbcfootball, external, pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport's Google+ area., external

You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

While the bottom five of the Premier League fight to stay up, the race to be in the top flight next season is heating up.

And it doesn't get much hotter than the top two meeting. Leaders Bournemouth host second-placed Derby at Dean Court, with Cherries manager Eddie Howe even managing to resist the usual cliché...

"I can't downplay it and say it's just another game," the 37-year-old told BBC Radio Solent.

"We're playing one of our rivals. For us it's about the performance - we want to give the best account of ourselves."

Only goal difference separates the two sides, with Middlesbrough only a point behind. It's going to be some run-in.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he has no idea when Jack Wilshere will return to full fitness.

The England midfielder, 23, has not played since November when he damaged his ankle ligaments in the 2-1 Premier League defeat by Manchester United.

He was ruled out for three months and is scheduled to return to training.

But before tonight's match Wenger told a news conference: "We have to monitor him daily. I don't know when he'll return."

So bottom side Leicester are away at Arsenal, but those just above them are also in action on a busy night of football.

Here's the full rundown of fixtures (19:45 GMT kick-off unless stated):

Arsenal (6th) v Leicester (20th)

Hull (18th) v Aston Villa (16th)

Sunderland (14th) v QPR (19th)

20:00 GMT: Liverpool (7th) v Tottenham (5th)

There is a separate live text commentary of the game at Anfield. You can follow that one from 19:00 GMT, while we focus on life at the bottom here.

Image source, Getty Images

With four wins all season, it has been a tough season for Leicester. But if ever there was a manager up for the fight against the drop, it is Nigel Pearson. This is a man who once fought off a pack of wild dogs in Romania.

I'm not making that up by the way. Check out this brilliant paragraph from the Telegraph's esteemed Henry Winter:, external

"Pearson was walking alone when confronted by the pack. One dog went straight for him, trying to occupy his attention while the other four circled behind, looking to bite his legs. Pearson blinded a couple with his walking pole, then fended the others off before diving into stinging nettles. The dogs loathe these because of their sensitive noses."

Do you think he's scared of a trip to the Emirates?