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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)

67' - Jurgen Klopp makes his third and final substitute as Dominic Solanke replaces Roberto Firmino for Liverpool.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:01

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:02

71' - Pep Guardiola brings on forgotten City defender Eliaquim Mangala for Nicolas Otamendi.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:05

Two of these have come today:

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:06

71' ​- Simon Mignolet gets down well to prevent Joel Matip from slicing the ball into his own net. Solid goalkeeping from the Liverpool man.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:07

GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 Liverpool (Sane)

77' - Benjamin Mendy crosses for Leroy Sane and the Germany international's first-time strike beats Simon Mignolet at the near post. This is turning into a rout.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:12

80' - Emre Can goes into the book for a rather frustrated lunge on Sergio Aguero.

The full-time whistle can't come soon enough for the visitors.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:15

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:16

83' - Sergio Aguero pounces on a mistake by Emre Can but his right-footed strike sails well over the crossbar.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:18

87' - Sergio Aguero gets on the end of Leroy Sane's low cross but his close-range effort is saved well by Simon Mignolet.

That really should've been 5-0 to the hosts.

Liam Corless9 September 2017 14:22

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