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As it happenedended

Manchester City vs Liverpool - as it happened: Pep Guardiola's men run riot against 10-man Reds

Re-live all the action from the Etihad Stadium

Charlie Wood,Liam Corless
Friday 08 September 2017 08:27 BST
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(Getty)

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Manchester City and Liverpool have enjoyed good starts to the season, with two wins and a draw each from their opening three fixtures. But with City’s vast expenditure this summer, Pep Guardiola will be expecting nothing less than victory (three full-backs for a combined £130m demands as much).

The Catalan knows that this is the season for silverware, after a year in which he often struggled to master English football’s physicality. There can be no room for excuses, and there are no good reasons why City should not expect, let alone hope, to win the title.

Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are fiercely competitive characters, even by the standards of Premier League managers, and will set up their sides to attack and dominate the other as much as possible.

It promises to be an engrossing encounter.

See who comes out on top by following all the live action below:

Here's everything you need to know about the match.

What time does it start?

Manchester City vs Liverpool kicks off at 12:30 BST on Saturday 9th September.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League from 12:30 BST. Highlights will be shown at 22:30 BST on BBC One.

It’s a big game for…

Roberto Firmino: Liverpool have been boosted by the news that influential Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is unlikely to recover from injury in time to feature in this match.

Firmino has started the season well (AFP/Getty)
Firmino has started the season well (AFP/Getty) (Getty)

All eyes will therefore be on Liverpool's leading man Firmino, who will fancy his chances against City's patched-up defence. Expect goals.

Best stat…

3: The number of years since Man City last beat Liverpool in the Premier League. Their last was a 3-1 win at the Etihad on August 25th 2014.

Remember when…

Willy Caballero’s penalty-saving heroics against Jurgen Klopp’s men clinched the League Cup for City in 2016.

Player to watch…

Kevin De Bruyne: The 26-year-old Belgian has started the season in dazzling form, occupying a new role deeper in midfield.

De Bruyne is City's key player
De Bruyne is City's key player (Getty)

A wide range of passing is not the first skill associated with De Bruyne, but it is one he has exhibited abundantly this term. His versatility will be tested, though, against an in-form Liverpool.

Past three meetings…

Manchester City 1 (Aguero) Liverpool 1 (Milner), Premier League, March 2017
Liverpool 1 (Wijnaldum) Manchester City 0, Premier League, December 2016
​Liverpool 3 (Lallana, Milner, Firmino) Manchester City 0, Premier League, March 2016

Form guide…

Manchester City: WDLWWW
Liverpool: WWWWDW

Odds…

Manchester City to win: 17/20
Liverpool to win: 16/5
Draw: 14/5
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

Half-time - Jon Moss brings the first half to a close.

He might as well blow the full-time whistle now because this game is effectively over as a contest. 

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:26

46' - The second half is underway at the Etihad and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on for his Liverpool debut. He's replaced Mo Salah.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:40

50' - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dinks a through ball to Roberto Firmino but good defending from John Stones sees the ball go behind for a Liverpool corner. 

There's not been much more to report on since the break. It's all been rather pedestrian as you might expect from an 11v10 encounter.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:46

53' - Sergio Aguero has the ball in the back of Simon Mignolet's net but the flag is up.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:47

GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Liverpool (Jesus)

53' - This time there's no offside flag as Sergio Aguero hands Gabriel Jesus a tap-in! Who doubted that those two would be able to link up effectively?

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:49

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:50

57' - There will be no hat-trick for Gabriel Jesus today. He's just been replaced by Leroy Sane.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:51

59' - James Milner replaces Gini Wijnaldum for Liverpool. 

Jurgen Klopp surely now has one eye on Wednesday's Champions League game against Sevilla at Anfield.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:54

Injured City goalkeeper Ederson is currently being assessed for potential cheekbone and jawbone fractures.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:55

65' - Leroy Sane finds himself in a bit of space down City's left wing but his cutback is blazed well over the bar by Kevin De Bruyne.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 13:59

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