Ederson unsurprisingly decides to waste as much time as possible before taking his goal-kick and is shown a yellow card. He won't mind at all.
90' +4
It's now or never for Liverpool. Lovren blasts a lofted pass into the City box and manages to pick out Van Dijk, but the defender ends up glancing a header out for a goal-kick. That should be that for the home side.
90' +2
Liverpool are bossing possession but just can't find a way into the City penalty area. The hosts have been brilliant defensively all evening long and are now just a few minutes away from picking up a hugely important win.
90'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be five minutes of added time.
89'
Bernardo Silva gets yellow.
Silva catches Fabinho with a high tackle, leaving the referee with no choice but to show the Portuguese a yellow card. Liverpool can't make the resulting free-kick count, though, as the ball goes straight out of play.
88'
N. Otamendi enters the game and replaces V. Kompany.
Kompany has been moving slightly gingerly over the last few minutes, and he eventually makes way to be replaced by Otamendi.
86'
D. Sturridge enters the game and replaces G. Wijnaldum.
K. Walker enters the game and replaces Aymeric Laporte.
Meanwhile, Walker has come on to take the place of Laporte for the home side.
Liverpool have made their third and final alteration and it's an understandably attacking one, with Wijnaldum being replaced by Sturridge.
85'
Guardiola wasn't at all happy with the tackle on Fernandinho, resulting in him responding incredibly angrily. He's given a stern talking to by the referee but remains in the dugout.
81'
A cross from Shaqiri is slightly deep but manages to pick out Alexander-Arnold. The full-back then fires a pass across the face of goal, where it pinballs around dangerously before eventually being cleared.
Minute
Description
80'
Space opens up for the home side, allowing Sane to break forward. He then manages to pick out Sterling inside the box, but the latter is too slow on the ball and is dispossessed before he can shoot.
79'
Liverpool decide to go slightly longer as they desperately try to get Salah and Firmino involved in the game, but Alexander-Arnold's pass fails to find either and is well defended. It just isn't working for them at the moment.
77'
X. Shaqiri enters the game and replaces S. Mané.
Liverpool have made another attacking change, with Mane making way for Shaqiri in a straight swap over on the right.
76'
Sterling and Sane make a great pair, and that's certainly been on show today. The Englishman's last three Premier League assists have been for the German, who has scored his first league goal in almost a month.
74'
Liverpool push plenty of bodies forward as they try to respond to going behind for a second time, but Wijnaldum isn't able to find any luck on the edge of the City penalty area and Stones can comfortably thump the ball away from danger.
72'
L. Sané has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by R. Sterling.
It initially looked as if there was a hint of offside during the build-up, but Sterling was being played onside by Lovren. The Croatian was caught slightly too deep and gifted the England international with a pocket of space to work in.
GOAL! Sane puts City back in front! Space opens up for Sterling, who immediately darts towards the Liverpool penalty area. He then picks out Sane, who smashes a brilliant strike past Alisson and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. It's 2-1 to City with just under 20 minutes left to go.
70'
Sane gets the better of Alexander-Arnold with the help of Laporte and sprints down the left flank. He then tries to find Aguero with a throughball, but it's overhit and rolls into the hands of Alisson.
67'
Sterling is fouled as he cuts inside from the right wing, resulting in a free-kick for City in a promising position. It's sent into the box and towards Laporte, who's in a good position but can't quite make contact with the ball.
66'
City quickly push forward from the restart and almost carve out a chance on goal through Aguero. The striker's first touch is poor, though, and he ends up knocking the ball out for a goal-kick.
65'
İ. Gündoğan enters the game and replaces David Silva.
City have decided to make a change, with Gundogan coming on to replace David Silva.
64'
Roberto Firmino has scored a goal for Liverpool! Assist by A. Robertson.
GOAL! Firmino equalises! A wonderful looping pass from Alexander-Arnold sails into the penalty area and picks out Robertson on the byline. The full-back immediately knocks the ball across the face of goal, where Firmino easily nods it into an empty net to make it 1-1.
That was a really clever run from Robertson, who did well to latch on to Alexander-Arnold's inch-perfect pass. It totally took Danilo out of the game, leaving the Brazilian flat-footed as he tried to deal with the danger.
62'
Chance for Firmino! Mane is pulled back by David Silva, presenting Liverpool with a good chance to push forward. Alexander-Arnold steps up and sends a cross into the box, where Kompany heads the ball straight to Firmino and sets up the Brazilian to shoot. City have plenty of bodies back, though, and it's the leg of Ederson that ends up stopping the strike.
60'
Liverpool haven't had a shot on target since the 20th minute, which shows just how well City are doing to manage the game. The visitors have struggled to get forward since the break, and it might not be too long until Klopp decides to make another change.
58'
Decent strike by Danilo! The full-back skips past Wijnaldum and tries to beat Alisson with a long-range effort, but he can't quite strike it cleanly enough and fails to hit the target. It was worth a go, though!
57'
Fabinho enters the game and replaces J. Milner.
Liverpool have made their first substitution of the game, with Milner making way for Fabinho. It looks as if they're going to switch to a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Wijnaldum and Mane out wide and Firmino just behind Salah.
56'
Liverpool pile bodies forward once again as they try to find a way back into the game. This time the ball falls to Alexander-Arnold, who unleashes a thumping strike from 20 yards out that Ederson is able to watch sail wide of the near post.
55'
City lose possession and allow their opponents to break forward quickly. Salah is set up on the edge of the penalty area and tries to find a way inside, but he's immediately closed down and loses the ball.
53'
Liverpool aren't able to fully clear the danger from their own penalty area, allowing the ball to fall to Fernandinho. The Brazilian quickly shoots, but his 25-yard effort is overhit and fails to trouble Alisson.
52'
Sane cuts inside from the left flank and sprints towards the edge of the visitors' box. He then tees up Sterling, who takes on Robertson before both players go to the ground. The City fans appeal for a penalty but the referee isn't at all interested and waves play on.
50'
Henderson is dispossessed and City quickly counter-attack. It initially looks as if David Silva is going to be able to shoot from inside the box, but he's closed down well before Lovren shepherds the ball out for a goal-kick.
48'
City patiently pass the ball around as they keep Liverpool camped inside their own half of the pitch. Laporte eventually bursts down the left wing before trying to pick out Sterling, but his cross-field pass is deflected over to Mane instead.
46'
We're underway once again!
45' +3
HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 LIVERPOOL
45' +2
Aymeric Laporte gets yellow.
Laporte clatters into Milner and gives away a free-kick before being booked. The set-piece is sent short before Milner sends a cross into the box, where Van Dijk latches on to the ball but can't pick out a team-mate.
45' +1
Liverpool are able to enjoy a decent length of time on the ball but they're unable to do much with it. They're struggling to get their front three involved, leaving them increasing isolated inside the City half of the pitch.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be two minutes of added time.
42'
City immediately win the ball back from the restart and push forward once again. It looks as if they're going to be able to carve out another chance on goal, but this time the visitors are just about able to blast the ball back up the pitch.
40'
S. Agüero has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by Bernardo Silva.
GOAL! City have taken the lead! Bernardo Silva breaks down the left-hand side of the box before cutting the ball back to Aguero, who gets the better of Lovren before blasting a sublime strike straight into the roof of the net. It's 1-0 to the reigning champions!
That was good play by Bernardo Silva but Liverpool will be disappointed with their defending. They weren't able to clear the danger properly and allowed City to come back at them quickly.
38'
G. Wijnaldum gets yellow.
The yellow card is out once again, and this time it's Wijnaldum who finds himself on the receiving end after cynically dragging back Sane after being beaten out wide.
36'
Aguero, who looks well up for this game, breaks through the Liverpool back line and tries to latch on to the ball on the edge of the penalty area, but Alisson rushes out and manages to get to it first.
34'
Sane makes a run into the box and latches on to a great pass from Aguero before winning City a corner. It fails to result in a chance on goal, though, as Bernardo Silva is penalised for a push on Van Dijk.
32'
Liverpool are unable to make the free-kick count, as a deft chip into the penalty area fails to pick out a red shirt and is instead easily dealt with by Bernardo Silva.
31'
V. Kompany gets yellow.
A poor pass from Stones puts Kompany in real danger, forcing the Belgian into taking out Salah with a wild sliding tackle. It leaves the referee with no choice but to show the defender a yellow card and award Liverpool a free-kick in a promising position.
29'
Mane drifts out wide and links up well with Robertson. He then cuts inside and tries to play a quick one-two with Milner, but Danilo is there to dispossess the midfielder from behind.
27'
Chance for David Silva! City patiently move the ball around as they try to find a way through the sea of red shirts camped in front of them. They eventually go long and pick out Sterling, who spins and sets up Silva to unleash a half-hearted strike that's easily blocked.
23'
Sane twists and turns over on the left-hand side of the visitors' box before moving the ball over to Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese takes a few touches before trying to find Aguero, but he's closed down well and fails to do so.
21'
Aguero makes an early run towards goal and manages to latch on to the free-kick, but he's a yard or so offside and the linesman's flag is raised as soon as the Argentine tries to spin and shoot.
20'
D. Lovren gets yellow.
Aguero embarks on a determined run through the middle of the pitch and towards the Liverpool penalty area, where he's brought down by a cynical challenge from Lovren that results in a free-kick and a yellow card.
19'
Liverpool try to take advantage of that scare to City by pushing forward once again, but this time Alexander-Arnold isn't able to pick out a team-mate and the home side are able to clear the danger.
15'
Salah has really struggled to get on the ball so far, but he's finally able to do so inside the box. He receives a pass with his back to goal and tries to get the better of Fernandinho, but he's dispossessed by the Brazilian before committing a foul.
13'
A City attacking move comes to an end and Liverpool try to counter-attack quickly. Mane initially does well to penetrate the hosts' half of the pitch but Bernardo Silva is there to dispossess him from behind with a great piece of defending.
11'
Fernandinho goes long and manages to pick out Sterling deep down the right flank. The England international immediately takes on Robertson, but it's the full-back who comes out on top with a well-timed tackle.
9'
Alexander-Arnold bursts forward as Liverpool embark on their first attack of the night. He gets himself into a good position and sends a cross into the penalty area, where the ball bounces off Fernandinho and into the hands of Ederson.
4'
Sane drives down the left wing once again and this time manages to skip past Alexander-Arnold. He heads into the penalty area and unleashes a cross, but it's sent too near to Alisson and bounces into the goalkeeper's hands.
2'
Alisson is put under pressure early on and blasts the ball out for a throw-in. It's sent short and eventually worked over to Sane, who takes on Alexander-Arnold but can't find a way past the full-back.
1'
We're off! It's Liverpool who get us underway.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of today’s Premier League game between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad.
There’s no doubt tonight’s fixture is the biggest of the season so far, and even with five months remaining, it could end up determining who goes on to win the title race. Seven points currently separate these two teams, and it’s no wonder Pep Guardiola has described the game as being like a cup final for his side.
Shock defeats to Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester have resulted in City slipping down to third place, where they trail Tottenham by one point heading into this evening’s huge clash. The pressure is firmly on the reigning champions, who really can’t afford to leave empty-handed if they’re to continue challenging for the title.
All is going to plan for Liverpool, who have been in lethal form in the Premier League in recent weeks. The Reds have the opportunity to extend their domestic winning run to 10 games tonight and will be full of confidence thanks to the 5-1 hammering of Arsenal in their last outing.
Liverpool have been brilliant in front of goal all season, and that’s certainly been the case over the last month. They’ve managed to find the back of the net 22 times since the start of December, conceding just three goals during that run. Their front three were in fine form on the weekend and are sure to make a real nuisance of themselves once again today.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening...
Manchester City XI (4-3-3): Ederson; John Stones, Vincent Kompany, Aymeric Laporte, Danilo; Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, David Silva; Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane.
Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, James Milner; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.
Manchester City substitutes: Arijanet Muric, Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi, Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus.
Liverpool substitutes: Simon Mignolet, Alberto Moreno, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri, Daniel Sturridge.
The two sides are making their way out on to the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
It's advantage City at the halfway stage, and it's arguably a well-deserved lead for the reigning champions. Liverpool had gone close to scoring when a Mane strike hit the post and kick-started a goalmouth scramble, but the hosts have looked dangerous going forward and Aguero was finally able to fire them in front.
City have only had one shot on target so far but that's all they've needed to take control of the game. They were increasingly on top as the first half wore on and made life incredibly difficult for Liverpool, who need to try something different if they're to get back into the tie.
It's a massive win for City, who have not only moved back up to second place but now trail Liverpool by four points. There's a long way left to go in what is proving to be a fascinating season, and the battle between these two sides looks as if it's going to go right to the wire!
Thanks for tuning into our live coverage this evening. Until next time, goodbye!
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