Late match:
Portsmouth v Chelsea (1715 GMT)

By Charlie Henderson

1657: FULL-TIME Manchester City 0-1 Wigan
City are the day's big losers. No points from their last four games and they are now one place above the relegation zone. Wigan are on the climb, jumping above Sheffield United and leapfrogging their hosts.

1657: FULL-TIME Sheffield United 1-1 Everton
That penalty and the point mean Everton go sixth, while the Blades stay in 16th. That Lieutenant Pigeon song was Mouldy Old Dough. It was recorded in their front room, which is more interesting than anything Newcastle and Middlesbrough came up with today.

1656: FULL-TIME Arsenal 2-1 Reading
The Gunners win for the first time in four games and avoid becoming the first English team to lose four consecutive matches in four different competitions. They are now a point behind Liverpool in third, with a game in hand. Reading drop a place to seventh.

1656: FULL-TIME Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa
Boos ring out, but was a draw really any surprise? That is the fifth successive time these two teams have shared the points and is the 12th draw for each in the Premiership this term.

1656: FULL-TIME Watford 2-2 Charlton
Despite letting slip a two-goal lead, Watford are off the bottom for the first time in almost three months. But a draw was not really what either team would have wanted from this match. Charlton remain six points off 17th spot.

1655: What a chance for Charlton. Kevin Lisbie sees an effort blocked and then he blazes his follow-up wide.

1653: FULL-TIME Newcastle 0-0 Middlesbrough
Dull. Get your money on that being the last game on Match of the Day. The programme starts at BBC One at 2225 GMT tonight.

1651: Three minutes of added time to be played at Vicarage Road as Darren Bent hits a tame shot at Richard Lee after a sweeping Charlton move.

1650: GOAL Watford 2-2 Charlton
Alan Pardew is now the picture of animation on the touchline punching the air in delight after Darren Ambrose heads in from Alex Song's cross.

1649: Chaos in the Arsenal box in a game of a head tennis before the ball drops for Steve Sidwell. His fierce drive is saved at the near post by Jens Lehmann.

1648: GOAL Arsenal 2-1 Reading
A consolation or the start of a comeback? Cesc Fabregas glances a Reading corner beyond Jens Lehmann at the near post for an own goal. The PA announcer gives it to Leroy Lita.

1646: Charlton boss Alan Pardew strikes the pose of a very unhappy manager on the sidelines. Arms crossed, glare fixed. His side are minutes away from ending the day a further point adrift of safety.

1644: Arsenal break with verve again but Julio Baptista and Jeremie Aliadiere both pull the trigger in the box at the same time and get in the way of each other.

1641: Emmerson Boyce is off. Clearly that challenge from Richard Dunne did more damage than at first thought. David Unsworth is on for Wigan.

1640: Tamas Priskin steals in between the Charlton centre-backs but he takes too much time and Talal El Karkouri recovers to block his shot. That could have wrapped up a rare Watford win, but the home fans are in buoyant mood anyway as time ticks down.

1637: That goal means are Everton are right back in the hunt for a first league win at Bramall Lane since 1972 when Lieutenant Pigeon were at number one. Those were the days. Apparently they were a Coventry band with a mother and son in their ranks.

1635: GOAL Sheffield United 1-1 Everton
Blades keeper Paddy Kenny takes his eye off an easy ball, Andrew Johnson steals in and the keeper tap tackles the striker as he turns on goal. Mikel Arteta scores from the spot, smashing the ball in off the underside of the bar.

1634: Everton boss David Moyes gets a telling off from the fourth official at Bramall Lane. The Scot is getting infuriated at how the long the ball boys are holding on to the ball.

1633: Emmerson Boyce is in a bad way at Eastlands. He was on the receiving end of a thunderous challenge for a high ball from Richard Dunne in the Wigan box. He gingerly gets backs to his feet and is good to go after a bit of treatment.

1631: They don't make linesman's flags like they used to. There's a broken one at Bramall Lane now. For Arsene Wenger it's just a case of them not making linesmen like they used to.

1629: Chris Tarrant's checking out his nails at the Emirates. He is there as a guest of Reading's John Madejski. Cilla Black's on the other side of the chairman. On the pitch Steve Sidwell flashes a shot wide of the Arsenal goal.

1628: GOAL Watford 2-1 Charlton
It had been coming. Alex Song plays in Luke Young with a delightfully weighted pass into the area and the Charlton skipper slides the ball beyond Richard Lee. Game on. perhaps it is going to be one of those days for the Addicks after all.

1627: This is going to be one of those days for Charlton. The Addicks are really going for it. Alex Song plays in Matt Holland, but one-on-one he blazes the chance over the Watford crossbar.

1626: Jerome Thomas cuts in on to his right foot on the left touchline and Darren Bent heads his whipped cross narrowly wide of the Watford goal.

1625: Former Arsenal trainee Steve Sidwell heads a corner narrowly over the Gunners goal.

1623: GOAL Arsenal 2-0 Reading
The Gunners break but the chance seems to have gone begging when Julio Baptista fails to release Theo Walcott. But the Beast was right to go it alone, he bashes his way past Graeme Murty and toe pokes the ball beyond Marcus Hahnemann.

1622: Something to report from Newcastle. Scott Parker fizzes a shot just wide of the Boro goal.

1620: Cesc Fabregas floats an exquisite pass over the Reading rearguard but Theo Walcott fails to meet it with anything approaching the same panache and his tame effort is smothered by Marcus Hahnemann.

1619: Newcastle against Middlesbrough has yet to raise itself above the mundane.

1617: Watford are still outplaying Charlton and Damien Francis hooks a volley narrowly over the away goal.

1616: Aston Villa are being outplayed by Fulham at the minute and Martin O'Neill is doing his nut on the touchline. He has not seen his team win away from home for one day short of four months. You can understand his exasperation.

1614: GOAL Sheffield United 1-0 Everton
Rob Hulse steals in front of Joseph Yobo at the near post to steer a low cross from Colin Kazim-Richards home. That's a first Blades goal against the Toffees since August 1993.

1610: GOAL Arsenal 1-0 Reading
Arsenal's Gael Clichy is in overdrive going down the left and he is up-ended in the box by Andre Bikey. Gilberto Silva steps up to score from the spot, just. Marcus Hahnemann went the right way but could not get a touch on the ball.

1608: A great save from Reading's Marcus Hahnemann to deny Cesc Fabregas, while Fulham's Michael Brown hits the post.

1606: Charlton have also made a change with Chinese striker Zheng Zhi has come on for the mis-firing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Watford birthday boy Jordan Stewart is off for Lloyd Doyley.

1605: The action resumes. Emile Mpenza is on for his Manchester City debut in place of Georgios Samaras.

1603: Fulham have not beaten Aston Villa at Craven Cottage since 1974. Villa have not won at Craven Cottage since 1970.

1558: The Reading fans can entertain themselves with a rendition of "Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie, Rub your beard all over my body", to the tune of Madonna's Erotica track. It is one of their favourites and it will be apt as Oddie lives only about four miles from the Emirates.

1554: Who needs dancing girls and pom-poms at half-time when you've got a tombola with the winning ticket to be picked from an over-sized wooden football. Old-school entertainment on Family Day at Vicarage Road where the kids have taken to whacking each other round the head with inflatable tubes. You know, the sort that make a noise when you bang them together.

1549: HALF-TIME
The whistle goes at Vicarage Road and the Emirates and the rest are soon to follow. Boos from the home fans great the whistle at Eastlands.

1544: Tim Cahill is off at Everton. The Australian, a reported AC Milan target, has a foot injury and is helped round the touchline. Leon Osman comes on.

1542: Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka sends a shot just wide of the Newcastle goal. It is almost six years since Boro returned from their 88-mile round-trip to St James' Park with three points in the bag.

1541: Another chance for Watford. Hameur Bouazza burns up the pitch down the left and leaves Luke Young in his wake, but Talal El Karkouri heads clear after Tamas Priskin fails to get enough on Bouazza's cross.

1539: Micah Richards comes hurtling into the Wigan box like a bowling ball, takes out a host of Wigan players as he climbs to head the ball on goal but Emmerson Boyce is on hand to clear off the line.

1537: That's it for Hatem Trabelsi. Stuart Pearce has seen enough and the Tunisian, who does not appear to be injured, is replaced by Sun Jihai.

1536: Action of note at Bramall Lane - finally. Sheffield United centre-back Claude Davies hooks a Tim Cahill header off the Blades line.

1535: Manchester City's Hatem Trabelsi is booked for taking out Antonio Valencia on the halfway line. It could have been worse as he was the last man.

1533: If those at St James' Park thought they had it bad, Sheffield United against Everton is not exactly an edge-of-the-seat thriller. According to the text commentary, attacking throw-ins are beating defending throw-ins 17-6.

1532: Charlton's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink loses possession and Watford break. Jonathan Fortune's clearance from Tommy Smith's cross could have gone anywhere. Fortunately for the visitors it goes behind for a corner and not in the net.

1531: A spectacular miss for Arsenal where Julio Baptista rolls a square ball to Cesc Fabregas on the edge of the six-yard box in front of an open Reading goal. The Spaniard conspires to get the ball caught up in his feet.

1529: A broken linesman's flag brings the fourth official on with a spare at the Emirates. That's the sort of action they must be gagging for at St James' Park.

1527: The answer to the question 'What's going on at Newcastle v Middlesbrough?' is 'Nothing!'. Well, not exactly nothing as they haven't given up playing and all gone home, but it is nothing of note.

1525: A flurry of goals there and the long and the short of it is that Charlton are back in a whole heap of trouble after that 4-0 rout against West Ham seven days ago. As it stands they are seven points from safety. Make that eight when you take into account goal difference.

1524: GOAL Fulham 1-1 Aston Villa
Carlos Bocanegra throws himself at a deep Franck Queudrue free-kick and heads in inside the six-yard box.

1523: GOAL Watford 2-0 Charlton
Tommy Smith floats a delightful ball across goal and Damien Francis steals in at the back post to thump in a second for the Hornets.

1522: GOAL Fulham 0-1 Aston Villa
Not great defending from Fulham either, and that results in a Villa goal. Gareth Barry picks up the ball in midfield and drives forward before releasing John Carew on the right of the box where he clips a delicate finish beyond Antti Niemi.

1520: GOAL Manchester City 0-1 Wigan
Another goal down at the bottom of the table and it could be significant with Caleb Folan nodding in after poor Manchester City defending.

1517: Watford could be climbing off the bottom of the table for the first time in almost three months. Although we thought that when they took the lead against Wigan and they blew it then.

1516: GOAL Watford 1-0 Charlton
Tamas Priskin dinks a cross in, and while Scott Carson parries the initial header from Damien Francis, Hameur Bouazza is on hand to hammer in the loose ball.

1515: Watford's Richard Lee is down well at his post to push away an audacious attempt on goal from Charlton striker Darren Bent.

1514: Wigan's Caleb Folan outstrips Sylvain Distin and gets to the dead-ball line where his pull-back is an invitation for Lee McCulloch who contrives to blast over an open goal from eight yards.

1513: Good build-up play from Arsenal and a snap shot from Julio Baptista whistles wide of the upright.

1511: Tamas Priskin is through on goal after a slip by Talal El Karkouri, but he snatches at the effort and it is straight at Charlton keeper Scott Carson. A good chance.

1508: Reading manager Steve Coppell has also spotted something and goes for technology high in the stands at the Emirates. He's on the mobile to assistant Wally Downes.

1507: Well, it's all a bit quiet around the grounds. Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd has got the pen and paper out to make some early notes.

1506: Gareth Barry deflects a shot from Fulham skipper Michael Brown on to the Aston Villa bar.

1504: Newcastle's James Milner has an early effort on goal from distance. The returning Mark Schwarzer is behind it all the way in the Boro goal.

1503: Reading have lasted longer than the 58 seconds they went before conceding against Arsenal in the reverse fixture. But the Gunners are piling on the pressure with a couple of early corners.

1501: First to start today is Fulham against Aston Villa.

1500: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger emerges to take his seat in the technical area. he may have to get used to another perch at the Emirates if the FA throws the book at him in the next few weeks. It is the first time the Gunners have kicked off at home at 1500 GMT on a Saturday in 2007.

1459: The teams are out at the six grounds.

1458: So then, we're set fair with the weather (fingers crossed), so bring on the action.

1457: There was a sharp shower at Fulham about 30 minutes but it is all clear there now, as it is at the other five Premiership grounds.

1455: And last, but by no means least, is the match between Fulham and Aston Villa, who could yet be dragged into the relegation battle. These two are the season's draw specialists with 11 each this season and they have shared the spoils in their last four meetings. What chance a draw then?

1454: So what are we left with? There is the Tyne-Tees clash between Newcastle and Middlesbrough. The winners will sneak into the top half of the table.

1452: Reading goals against Arsenal are rare, but wins are like hen's teeth. Six games played and it is six losses for the Royals.

1451: Reading are looking for a rare goal against Arsenal. It is a little over 20 years since Trevor Senior found the back of the net in an FA Cup final defeat against the Gunners.

1448: And Sheffield United are by no means out of the relegation mire yet. They host Everton and are looking for a first goal against the Toffees since 1993. Dane Whitehouse netted that day.

1446: And it is not much better on the stats front at Eastlands where it the division's third worst attack (Manchester City) at home to the third weakest defence (Wigan). FA chief executive Brian Barwick has picked that match for his perusement today.

1445: At Vicarage Road it is the Premiership's worst attack (Watford) against the league's weakest defence (Charlton).

1443: After that late excitement the attention turns to the bottom of the table, with Watford and Charlton and Manchester City and Wigan in action.

1441: FULL-TIME Liverpoool 0-1 Manchester United
United are now 12 points clear at the top of the table and John O'Shea's last-minute winner, when the visitors were down to 10 men, had Sir Alex Ferguson dancing a doddery jig of delight on the touchline.

Chelsea have two games in hand, the first of which is today's late game at Portsmouth, but is that that for the Premiership race?

Graham Taylor thinks so. The former England manager and Radio Five Live pundit describes it as a "defining moment" of the season.

Brazilian Gilberto Silva plays in defence for Arsenal, with compatriot Denilson alongside Cesc Fabregas in the centre of midfield. Julio Baptista partners Theo Walcott up front. Reading striker Dave Kitson makes his first start in the Premiership since sustaining a knee injury in the opening fixture of the season.

Fulham goalkeeper Antti Niemi is back in the side along with Ian Pearce and Franck Queudrue, while Martin Laursen and Wilfred Bouma are back to bolster the Aston Villa defence at Craven Cottage.

Manchester City make four changes from side beaten at Portsmouth. In come keeper Nicky Weaver, Hatem Trabelsi, DaMarcus Beasley and Georgios Samarras for Andreas Isaksson, Sun Jihai, Ousmane Dabo and Darius Vassell. Emile Heskey has recovered from a hamstring strain to allow Wigan boss Paul Jewell to name the same starting line-up that beat Newcastle last week.

Newcastle midfielder Charles N'Zogbia returns from injury to replace Damien Duff, while Kieron Dyer and James Milner also come back into the starting XI. Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer replaces Brad Jones following a back problem while Stuart Parnaby takes up the right-back slot with Abel Xavier on the bench.

Sheffield United make four changes with Rob Kozluk and Chris Lucketti out through injury and Nick Montgomery and Michael Tonge both serving one-match suspensions. Chris Morgan returns for his first start since 1 January, with Claude Davis his partner at centre-back. Phil Jagielka plays in midfield, with Colin-Kazim Richards starting on the wing and Jon Stead in for Rob Hulse in attack. Everton are unchanged.

Watford keeper Ben Foster has still not recovered from a dead leg so Richard Lee continues to deputise, while Tamas Priskin and Gareth Williams get rare starts as Steve Kabba and Darius Henderson drop to the bench. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink starts for Charlton in place of the injured Marcus Bent. Osei Sankofa and Jon Fortune come into defence in place of Souleymane Diawara (suspended) and Ben Thatcher (injured).