1655: It's all over at the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal have been frustrated in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham, who have boosted their survival hopes with a much-needed point while at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea maintained their title pursuit with a 2-0 triumph over Tottenham. In the race for the European spots, Everton held out for a big 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Goodison Park while Aston Villa beat Reading 3-1 to go sixth in the table. In the other 1500 kick-off Premier League games today, West Ham beat struggling Fulham 2-1 and Wigan claimed a crucial 1-0 victory over Derby.
In the Scottish Cup, Motherwell forced a superb replay after coming back from 2-0 down at Hearts to draw 2-2 while Celtic, Hibernian and St Mirren were among the teams making it through to the fifth round.
In the Championship, Bristol City have gone top after a 1-1 draw with Colchester although this could change later with West Brom travelling to Hull. Watford's promotion challenge took a knock as they went down 1-0 at Preston while Charlton and Crystal Palace both won as Stoke were held by Ipswich in a 1-1 draw. Elsewhere there were victories for Burnley, Norwich, Cardiff, Leicester, Sheffield United and Southampton.
In League One the leading duo Swansea and Nottingham Forest both won while Doncaster kept up the pressure with a vital 1-0 win over fellow promotion rivals Carlisle. Dropping into League Two runaway leaders MK Dons were shocked 1-0 by Barnet while the pressure continues to mount on Bury boss Chris Casper after their 3-0 loss to Darlington.
1654: Fabregas tries his luck for Arsenal from outside the box but he slices his effort wide of the post and surely Birmingham have done enough to hold out for a draw.
1653: James Harper has scored a consolation goal for Reading but they still trail 3-1 at Villa Park.
1652: It's all over at the Riverside and Middlesbrough have earned a creditable 1-1 draw against Liverpool, who have dropped two more points in their fading title challenge.
1651: Hleb breaks free down the right side of the box but his low cross, which only needs a slight to find the net, misses everyone.
1649: There are only two minutes left at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal keep pressing for a winner against Birmingham. Meanwhile, John Carew has capped off a fine individual performance to score his second of the game and put impressive Aston Villa into a 3-0 lead over Reading.
1648: Anelka pounces on a Michael Dawson error inside the box to smash a left-foot strike against the bar and still it remains 2-0 to Chelsea against Tottenham.
1647: There is little time remaining in this afternoon's games and up at the Riverside it appears as if Liverpool will have to settle for a disappointing 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough.
1645: The points are in the bag for Leicester after Barry Hayles' strike has put them into a 2-0 lead over Coventry.
1644: Shiels has netted a hat-trick for Hibernian, who are now 3-0 in front against Inverness in their Scottish Cup clash.
1643: It doesn't look like it'll be Arsenal's day at the Emirates Stadium, where Flamini's decent effort from just outside the box has just been saved by Taylor.
1642: If Derby weren't considered as good as down before today, they should be now as Wigan's Antoine Sibierski has popped up to score the first goal of the game with time fast running out. It would be a huge three points for the Latics.
1640: With full-time approaching Preston have finally found the net through Neil Mellor in their home clash with Watford. They lead 1-0.
1639: It's all over for Tottenham at Stamford Bridge as Shaun Wright-Phillips' sizzling shot from outside the box finds the net to make it 2-0 in Chelsea's favour.
1638: Dion Dublin has scored as Norwich's second-half blitz against Barnsley continues - they now hold a comfortable 3-1 lead at Oakwell.
1637: Shunsuke Nakamura has lifted the Celtic fans to their feet for the third time this afternoon - they now lead Stirling 3-0 in their Scottish Cup clash.
1636: Arsenal keep pressing for a winning goal against Birmingham but Nicklas Bendtner's shot from inside the box is screwed wide of the target.
1634: Sheffield United have turned their clash with QPR around at Bramall Lane with Lee Henrie putting them 2-1 up.
1634: Drama at Tynecastle as Motherwell, who were 2-0 down, have shown great character to come back to level the match at 2-2 after Porter's brace.
1633: Celtic look to have booked their place in the next round with Scott McDonald making it 2-0 against Sirling at Parkhead. Meanwhile Morton have come from two goals behind to make it 2-2 in their clash with Gretna.
1631: Falkirk's Arnau Riera has made it 2-2 in their Scottish Cup clash with Aberdeen while St Mirren are now beating Dumbarton 3-0.
1629: Liverpool are back on level terms against Middlesbrough with Fernando Torres' terrific drive finding the net having crashed against the inside of the post.
1628: Fulham's relegation fears have just taken another major knock with James Noble setting up Anton Ferdinand to fire into the net. West Ham lead at Upton Park 2-1.
1627: Crystal Palace are flying against Wolves with a great goal from James Scowcroft making it 3-0 for the Eagles. Elsewhere a Damion Stewart own goal has given Sheffield United a vital equaliser against QPR.
1626: It nearly goes from bad to worse for Liverpool as Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing fires a shot from the left side of the box against the foot of the post.
1625: Robbie Blake has scored for Burnley and they now lead promotion hopefuls Plymouth 1-0 at Turf Moor.
1623: Liverpool are lacking quality against Middlesbrough and it'll be no surprise to see them lose at the Riverside today. And would such a result throw Rafa Benitez's future in even more doubt?
1621: Motherwell have started the fightback against Hearts with Chris Porter's strike making it 2-1. Also in the Scottish Cup, Morton have pulled one back in their game against Gretna but they still trail 2-1.
1620: Adebayor races away down the left for the Gunners and passes to Fabregas just outside the box but the midfielder's shot is sliced wide.
1619: Arsenal are pushing hard for another goal against Birmingham but they are growing frustrated by the visitors defensive tactics.
1618: Nicolas Anelka has only just come on for Chelsea and he's already had a great chance to open his account but Cerny makes a great save to deny the debutant's shot.
1617: Towering defender Martin Laursen has leaped high inside the box from an Ashley Young free-kick to head home for Aston Villa and double his side's advantage against Reading.
1616: Charlton's Zheng Zhi has scored his second of the game to put his side into a comfortable 4-1 lead over Blackpool at The Valley.
1615: Hibernian are sailing into the next round of the Scottish Cup with Shiels scoring again to put them into a 2-0 lead over Inverness.
1614: League One promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest look to have sealed the points against Leyton Orient with Grant Holt converting a penalty to put them 2-0 up.
1613: Arsenal come close to restoring their lead but Philippe Senderos' header from a Fabregas free-kick is saved by Taylor.
1612: Back in the Championship, Crystal Palace are now beating Wolves 2-0 with Sean Scannell scoring for the Eagles.
1610: Hearts have doubled their lead against Motherwell in the Scottish Cup after Andrius Velicka's strike.
1609: Birmingham have a corner and Sebastian Larsson's delivery finds Garry O'Connor, who heads the ball onto Jerome's foot and into the net. It'll be interesting to see who claims that one. Either way it's Arsenal 1 Birmingham 1.
1608: Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann has been shown the yellow card after he charged out of his area to chop down Gabriel Agbonlahor - but it could have been red.
1607: In the Scottish Cup, Gretna have just cruised into a 2-0 lead against Morton with Evan Horwood on target and that should see them through to the next round.
1605: Liverpool are back in action against Middlesbrough and the visitors have an early second-half penalty appeal turned down after Robert Huth's slight push on Andriy Voronin.
1550: We've now reached half-time in this afternoon's games and so far in the Premier League, Arsenal hold a narrow 1-0 lead over Birmingham, Chelsea are beating Tottenham by the same score while Liverpool find themselves 1-0 behind at Middlesbrough. Elsewhere, Aston Villa and Everton are in front 1-0 against Reading and Manchester City respectively while the games between Derby and Wigan and West Ham and Fulham are level.
In the day's Championship action, Charlton, Barnsley, Cardiff, Leicester, QPR, Southampton and Crystal Palace all find themselves in the lead but the big game between Ipswich and Stoke is 1-1. Dropping down into League One, leading duo Swansea and Nottingham Forest are beating Luton and Leyton Orient respectively and in League Two MK Dons are facing a shock 1-0 defeat against Barnet.
There have been several games called off in the Scottish Cup today but in the surviving matches Celtic, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibernian are among the teams who take a lead into the break.
1546: On the stroke of half-time at Bramall Lane Patrick Agyemang fires a powerful shot high into the roof of the net to give QPR a 1-0 lead over Sheffield United.
1545: Celtic have broken the deadlock in their Scottish Cup tie with Stirling thanks to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's goal.
1545: David Kitson is presented with a great opportunity at Villa Park but the Reading striker drags his shot wide of the mark. His side still trail 1-0.
1544: West Ham are playing some great football at Upton Park having recovered well from their early slip-up against Fulham. If it carries on like this in the second half there will only be one winner.
1542: Alexander Hleb slots a lovely pass through for Fabregas inside the box but the midfielder's shot sails over the box after a deflection off Liam Ridgewell. The resulting corner is headed over by Mathieu Flamini.
1541: Birmingham will be hoping to avoid falling further behind against Arsenal as we approach the break but the Gunners are doing all the attacking at the moment.
1540: St Mirren have surely made their Scottish Cup tie with Dumbarton safe with David Barron stretching their advantage to 2-0.
1539: In the Championship, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has struck for Cardiff in their game with Sheffield Wednesday.
1537: Aston Villa are dominating their clash with Reading but haven't been able to add to Carew's earlier effort.
1537: Moments later a clever dink into the area from Javier Mascherano finds its way to Yossi Benayoun but his shot is saved by Schwarzer.
1536: Liverpool are struggling to make any kind of an impact at the Riverside, where Middlesbrough still lead 1-0.
1535: Fulham's Antti Niemi has made perhaps one of the best saves of the season so far tokeep his side 1-1 with West Ham, tipping Ashton's shot onto the bar. It was so good, the Hammers striker patted him on the back.
1533: At Goodison Park, Mikel Arteta whips a cross into the box and Joleon Lescott makes his move before heading into the net to give Everton a 1-0 lead over Manchester City.
1532: Stoke are level against fellow promotion chasers Ipswich thanks to an equaliser from Ricardo Fuller. It's also 1-1 at Ashton Gate, with Ivan Sproule pouncing for Bristol City against Colchester.
1531: Arsenal continue to press for more goals against Birmingham, but the visitors are defending stubbornly and it remains 1-0, with that controversial penalty separating the sides.
1530: Charlton have restored their two-goal advantage against Blackpool with Zheng Zhi finding the net while Crystal Palace and Southampton are now leading Wolves and Scunthorpe respectively.
1529: West Ham break down the wing and when Fredrik Ljungberg's cross comes into the box Dean Ashton is there to pound home his header past Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi. It's now 1-1 at Upton Park.
1528: Everton come close to breaking the deadlock against Manchester City but Joe Hart makes a great save from Tim Cahill and the Australian can't take advantage from his follow-up effort.
1526: There's been a goal at the Riverside with Middlesbrough's George Boateng forcing the ball over the line from close range. It's a very scrappy goal to concede from Liverpool's point of view.
1525: Aston Villa are now beating Reading 1-0 with John Carew flicking the ball home from Ashley Young's free-kick.
1523: Emmanuel Adebayor steps up and slots the ball perfectly in the corner of the net although Taylor did get a slight touch on it having guessed the right way. It's 1-0 to Arsenal.
1522: Stephen Kelly brings down Eduardo inside the box and Arsenal are awarded a penalty, but the Birmingham players aren't happy.
1521: Juliano Belletti's stinging piledriver from about 30 yards flashes past Radek Cerny and into the net. An awesome goal and it all means Chelsea lead Tottenham 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
1519: Ipswich have a great home record this season and it looks like continuing today with Danny Haynes firing a shot in off the post to give them a 1-0 lead over Stoke. Also in the Championship, Martin Devaney has given Barnsley a 1-0 lead over Norwich.
1518: More goals at the Falkirk Stadium where Aberdeen are now winning 2-1 after Steve Lovell's effort while Mark Corcoran has put St Mirren ahead against Dumbarton.
1517: Birmingham attack against the run of play but Cameron Jerome's low shot across the face of goal is turned wide by Manuel Almunia.
1516: Moments later at The Valley, Blackpool's Ben Burgess powers home a thunderous strike to make it 2-1 in their clash with Charlton.
1515: Charlton have made a cracking start in their Championship clash against Blackpool with Luke Varney firing past Paul Rachubka to make it 2-0 already. Elsewhere in the division, Leicester lead Coventry 1-0 while earlier Kevin Lisbie handed Colchester an early advantage against Bristol City.
1513: It's been an open start at Stamford Bridge where it's currently goalless between Chelsea and Tottenham. The hosts have just forced a corner but it's subsequently cleared away.
1511: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard blasts a fierce shot towards goal from long range but Mark Schwarzer does well to make the save for Middlesbrough.
1509: There's been a flurry of goals in the Scottish Cup already. Dean Shiels has put Hibernian into the lead against Inverness, Falkirk and Aberdeen are level at 1-1while Motherwell are trailing 1-0 at Hearts thanks to Deividas Cesnauskis' strike.
1508: Arsenal continue to dominate against Birmingham but after a goalmouth scramble, the Blues are able to keep it 0-0.
1507: Fulham take an early lead against Fulham at Upton Park as a free-kick played into the box from Simon Davies evades everybody and finds the net.
1506: Arsenal have an early chance when a free-kick into the area finds William Gallas, who rises high to head the ball into the arms of Maik Taylor.
1504: Liverpool have bossed the early exchanges against Middlesbrough but Jeremie Aliadiere is now on the attack and forces a corner for the hosts. The ball comes into the box but Liverpool clear.
1503: In a crucial relegation battle at Pride Park, Wigan have started well against Derby but so far it remains goalless.
1500: This afternoon's football action across England and Scotland is now under way and we'll bring you all the latest updates from the best of the action, so stay tuned with us.
1459: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is forced to make a late change to his side with Olof Mellberg pulling out with a sickness bug minutes before kick-off in his side's Barclays Premier League clash with Reading.
Craig Gardner is elevated to the starting XI in his place and Villa are able to name an otherwise unchanged side following their 2-0 defeat by Manchester United in the FA Cup last weekend, with no place once again for Shaun Maloney.
Reading boss Steve Coppell names only three of the side which drew 2-2 at Tottenham in the FA Cup, in his initial XI.
Former Villa player Ulises De La Cruz, wantaway Stephen Hunt - a target for Sunderland - and Kalifa Cisse retain their places.
1458: Aberdeen draft in Steve Lovell to replace Derek Young as they revert to a two-man strikeforce for their Scottish Cup fourth-round clash with Falkirk.
Defender Zander Diamond gave the Dons a boost by agreeing a new three-and-a-half-year deal during the week but there are still places for Chris Clark and Barry Nicholson despite them rejecting extensions.
Falkirk show three changes from the team which drew goalless when these sides met in the SPL last weekend.
On-loan Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul returns after his suspension last Saturday and former Celtic and Motherwell midfielder Kevin McBride is brought in for his debut in place of Patrick Cregg.
The final alteration sees Bairns manager John Hughes replacing injured striker Michael Higdon with the fit-again Pedro Moutinho.
1457: New Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen stamps his authority in his first game in the dugout for the club by making a total of six changes to the side for the visit of Inverness in the Scottish Cup fourth round.
There is no place in the team for David Murphy, who was reportedly the subject of a failed improved bid from Birmingham last night, due to a hamstring problem.
With Lewis Stevenson also out with a hamstring complaint, Paatelainen is forced to hand Paul Hanlon his debut at left-back.
After last week's defeat to St Mirren, Abdessalam Benjelloun, Merouane Zemmama, Dean Shiels, Filipe Morais and Kevin McCann are all restored to the starting line-up.
Visitors Inverness have Phil McGuire, whose loan from Dunfermline is due to expire next week, in their side after completing the signing of the defender on a permanent two-and-a-half year contract yesterday.
1455: Everton welcome back Mikel Arteta from suspension, but are without Joseph Yobo, Ayegbeni Yakubu and Steven Pienaar, who are all away on African Nations Cup duty.
Leon Osman and Andrew Johnson are both injured, and that sees Nuno Valente and Victor Anichebealso restored to the starting XI following the Carling Cup semi-final first leg defeat at Chelsea in midweek.
Manchester City, who have not won a league game at Goodison Park for 16 years, have Elano back after missing the FA Cup draw at West Ham, with Stephen Ireland dropping to the bench. On-loan Nery Castillo makes his league debut up front.
1454: Morton manager Jim McInally sends out his team in search of an upset against Gretna in the Scottish Cup fourth round - having had to apologise to supporters for last week's 6-1 drubbing by Livingston.
Morton's new signing Ryan McGuffie features from the start for the Irn-Bru First Division club, aiming to put one over his former club who are bottom of the top-flight.
Gretna boss Davie Irons brings in central defender Danny Hall from Shrewsbury in an attempt to shore up his leaky defence and avoid a shock.
1452: Motherwell line up for their first match since the death of Phil O'Donnell with the backing of 3,500 travelling fans for their Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Hearts.
Paul Quinn wears the captain's armband while Keith Lasley face the difficult task of stepping into the midfield position occupied by O'Donnell until he collapsed with heart failure two weeks ago.
David Clarkson, O'Donnell's nephew, retains his place in the Well starting line-up after Well boss Mark McGhee called for the players to produce a "game to remember" as the best tribute to their former skipper.
Hearts, whose Tynecastle pitch is covered heavily with frost, are without Steve Banks and have to bring in Eduardas Kurskis in goal with Anthony Basso also injured.
Caretaker boss Stephen Frail also brings back Michael Stewart following suspension and the fit-again Andrew Driver. Eggert Jonsson drops to the bench and Calum Elliot misses out.
1450: Goalkeeper Petr Cech returns to the Chelsea line-up to face Tottenham - but £15million new signing Nicola Anelka has to be content with a place on the substitutes' bench.
Chelsea also recall Ashley Cole in place of Wayne Bridge, and Claude Makelele returns in the absence of Mikel John Obi.
Tottenham again leave England goalkeeper Paul Robinson on the bench, with coach Juande Ramos opting for Radek Cerny for the second successive game.
Striker Jermain Defoe is also among the substitutes for Spurs.
1447: Jimmy Bullard is set to end 16 months of injury hell after being named on the bench for Fulham's trip to West Ham.
Bullard, who began his professional career with the Hammers, has come through two operations and a tortuous recovery programme after dislocating his knee and wrecking three ligaments in a game against Newcastle in September 2006.
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson gives starts to Steve Davis and Chris Baird as he makes two changes to the starting team from last weekend's 2-2 FA Cup draw with Bristol Rovers.
France international Julien Faubert is included in the West Ham squad for the first time after recovering from a ruptured Achilles suffered in pre-season.
West Ham start with Jonathan Spector at right-back in place of injured captain Lucas Neill while Freddie Ljungberg replaces John Pantsil, who is at the African Nations Cup with Ghana.
1445: Robbie Savage is handed the captain's armband on his Derby debut as Rams boss Paul Jewell parades four new faces for the visit of former club Wigan to Pride Park.
With Matt Oakley surprisingly signing for Leicester yesterday in a £500,000 deal, Savage leads out the team against the Latics.
Along with Savage, signed from Blackburn for £1.5million, striker Emanuel Villa, winger Laurent Robert and defender Hossam Ghaly are all included as Jewell rang the changes.
Wigan boss SteveBruce also has a debutant on hand in Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios, who completed a move from Deportivo Olimpia yesterday after recently being on loan at Birmingham.
Palacios is one of eight changes to the Wigan side following last week's 3-0 FA Cup third-round victory at Sunderland.
Most notably, Titus Bramble returns from a one-match suspension, while Chris Kirkland returns in goal ahead of Mike Pollitt.
1440: Celtic fans will be delighted to see midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura returning to action for the Scottish Cup fourth round tie against Stirling Albion at Parkhead.
The Japan international, out since October with a knee injury, makes his long-awaited comeback against the club occupying bottom spot in the Irn-Bru First Division.
Nakamura replaces Derek Riordan from the side which beat Gretna 3-0 in their last outing.
New signing Andreas Hinkel, the German international who arrived last week from Sevilla for a fee reported to be just under £2million, makes his debut at right-back.
With Bobo Balde away with Guinea at the African Nations Cup, Gary Caldwell moves back in to his favoured position in central defence.
Stirling have former Celtic and St Johnstone player John Paul McBride appearing in midfield, supporting David McKenna in attack.
1435: Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez recalls six players for the resumption of their campaign while defender Daniel Agger is deemed ready for a place on the bench at Middlesbrough.
Skipper Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa, Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin all return to the side which could only draw 1-1 at Luton in the FA Cup last weekend.
There is a seat on the bench for Agger, who has been out of action since September with a fractured metatarsal.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate hands teenage full-back Jonathan Grounds his first senior start.
The 19-year-old is included at left-back in the absence of the sick Emanuel Pogatetz, and there are returns too for skipper George Boateng and Gary O'Neil with Julio Arca and Lee Cattermole suspended, while Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli also resume.
1432: St Mirren make two changes to the side who defeated Hibernian last weekend for today's Scottish Cup tie against Dumbarton.
Mark Corcoran and Craig Dargo are drafted into the starting line-up in place of Garry Brady and Stewart Kean.
Dumbarton make three changes for the fourth-round tie after defeating fellow Third Division side Albion Rovers in their last outing.
In comes Grant Evans, Sean Kerr and Kenneth Haswell; out go Chris Gentile, Ryan Russell and Paul McQuilken.
1430: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger recalls his first-team regulars for the visit of Birmingham as the Gunners look to stay top of the Barclays Premier League.
Philippe Senderos has passed a fitness test on the knee injury he picked up against Tottenham in the midweek Carling Cup tie to partner captain William Gallas in central defence, with Kolo Toure away at the African Nations Cup.
Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini are back in midfield, while Togo frontman Emmanuel Adebayor starts up front alongside in-form Croatian Eduardo.
England Under-21 winger Theo Walcott retains his place following a goal against Spurs to make his 50th career league appearance as Czech international Tomas Rosicky misses out, presumably through injury.
Birmingham have former Gunners Sebastian Larsson and Fabrice Muamba in their starting XI, while captain Damien Johnson is set to play with a protective mask two weeks after suffering a slight skull fracture.
1245: We were planning to bring you updates from the Scottish Cup clash between Clyde and Dundee United now, but that- along with the games at Airdrie, Cove Rangers, Huntly, Livingston at St Johnstone scheduled to kick off at 1500 - have been postponed. Join us from around 1430 for team news for the main games in the Premier League and Scottish Cup getting under way at 1500.
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