Manchester City v West Brom: Premier League – live! | Football

20 min: On halfway Dias nudges it along to Ake, who promptly gives it back. Then Gundogan takes over. He works it back to Dias. It is all very neat and tidy. But City’s patient probing is yet to carve a bona fide opening. They’re hogging the ball, at least.

18 min: Ilkay Gündogan sprays a Hollywood pass towards the flank in search of Sterling – but it is a little stay, much to Guardiola’s frustration. More often than not, West Brom have 11 men behind the ball. City are trying to wear them down.

16 min: … cleared by Dara O’Shea, who did well to see the ball out a moment ago. Johnstone plunged West Brom into trouble with a poor kick, allowing Sterling to race forward. West Brom get away with it but back City come, Foden propelling them forward down the left flank and he wins another corner, which is cleared.

14 min: Sumptuous interplay as De Bruyne, Gundogan and Jesus pop it around … but then the offside flag goes up. Party over.

13 min: … it’s floated high into the box and that is easy for Sam Johnstone to claim, straight down his throat. That’s the first time the West Brom goalkeeper has been really called upon.

12 min: De Bruyne buys a free-kick off Ajayi, 30 yards from goal …

9 min: Grant will be kicking himself. He did the hard part, stepping inside Ake after the ball deflected off Cancelo. But the finish was poor and, in the end, it was a fairly comfortable save for Ederson. How Slaven Bilic could do with his £15m signing making a dent.

8 min: Ederson saves well from Karlan Grant – but the West Brom forward should have buried it! He was allowed to roam into the box, cutting inside Nathan Ake before pulling the trigger with his right foot. But it was tame – powder-puff, if you will – and the lack of conviction allows the City goalkeeper to push it clear.

7 min: … it comes to nothing. And what a chance up the other end!

5 min: Ilkay Gündogan being preferred to Fernandinho suggests City are going to go more front-foot than that lukewarm derby a few days ago. City win a corner …

3 min: O’Shea plays a ropey pass towards Kieran Gibbs and, although painfully undercooked, Raheem Sterling cannot nick it away and gallop clear. That’s another little let-off for West Brom. City are feeling themselves into the occasion.

2 min: Cancelo bombs down the right flank, breezing beyond Grady Diangana, who is not the best defender in the world. He then plays a one-two with Kevin De Bruyne but the Belgium midfielder overcooks the return pass ever so slightly.

2 min: Manchester City are stroking the ball about nicely, as you’d expect. West Brom look compact and organised. They need to stay that way.

The teams lineup at the Etihad. Kick-off is almost upon us …

A big (and very late) goal at Molineux …

Team news news: to recap, Manchester City make four changes from the derby stalemate on Sunday. Benjamin Mendy, Nathan Aké, Phil Foden and Ilkay Gündogan replace Kyle Walker, John Stones, Fernandinho and Mahrez. West Brom also tweak personnel, with Slaven Bilic opting for three changes. The captain, Jake Livermore, returns in place of Filip Krovinovic, while Kieran Gibbs and Grady Diangana replace Branislav Ivanovic and Callum Robinson, both of whom have to make do with a spot on the bench.

Wolves v Chelsea is drawing to a close at Molineux. Meanwhile, the teams are limbering up at the Etihad. Guardiola is all smiles pre-match. He is hoping his side re-find their killer instinct. They are 17 goals down compared to this stage last season and Riyad Mahrez is their top scorer with four goals. Jesus again gets the nod up front but at least Agüero is an option off the bench.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Cancelo, Aké, Ruben Dias, Mendy; Rodri, Gündogan, De Bruyne, Sterling, Foden; Jesus

Subs: Steffen, Walker, Agüero, Laporte, Bernardo, Torres, Mahrez

West Brom (3-5-2): Johnstone; Ajayi, Gibbs, O’Shea; Furlong, Gallagher, Sawyers, Livermore, Phillips; Diangana, Grant

Subs: Button, Peltier, Ivanovic, Krovinovic, Grosicki, Robinson, Austin

Referee: Peter Bankes
VAR: Martin Atkinson

Believe it or not, this is ninth v 19th. The Manchester derby was far from riveting but Pep Guardiola’s side remain in a good place. Victory would take them within three points of the summit. The good news for West Brom? Sergio Agüero might only be fit enough for the bench. The bad news? City can call on Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Ferran Torres, Phil Foden, and have not conceded in more than nine hours of Pep-ball. Slaven Bilic’s position is under increasing scrutiny following five defeats in six matches, but the Croatian was never going to be judged on trips to the league’s elite. West Brom have shown glimpses of quality and gave Tottenham a fright last month but, in truth, they have been porous defensively, shipping a league-high 25 goals. The only thing preventing West Brom from propping up the table is Sheffield United’s dire start and defeat would see them equal their club record for fewest points after 13 games. “We have to frustrate them, we have to make it hard for them,” Bilic said.

Kick-off: 8pm (GMT)