Manchester City v Liverpool: Live matchday blog
Manchester City and Liverpool played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium, with James Milner's opener from the penalty spot cancelled out by Sergio Aguero's equaliser.
The manager's verdict
Jürgen Klopp reflected on his side's performance in their 1-1 draw with Manchester City, Adam Lallana's gilt-edged chance and how he sees the battle for the top four in his post-match press conference.
Click here to read what he had to say.
Here's how that result has impacted the top of the table...
Here's the story of the game in stats and Opta widgets...
Full Time
It's all over at the Etihad Stadium, where it ends 1-1 between Manchester City and Liverpool after an incredibly intense game.
James Milner put the Reds in front from the penalty spot just after half-time, but Sergio Aguero levelled for the home team.
Both sides could have won it with numerous chances at either end of the field, but ultimately the points are shared.
Chance
Another good chance goes to waste in this crazy game - this time, thankfully, it's Aguero who blasts De Bruyne's cross to the back post high over the bar when unmarked.
This could have easily been 4-4.
Substitution
Another LFC change - Lucas on, Firmino off.
Yellow Card
Mane sees yellow after a challenge on Silva.
Silva pulls the ball back for Aguero, who hooks well wide at the near post.
Liverpool break at speed through Mane, who plays Firmino into space in the box, but he drives wide at the near post.
It was another good opportunity for the Reds.
Chance
Now at the other end, Sterling hooks the ball over Mignolet but Milner clears it to stop it going over the line.
Chance
Liverpool see a glorious chance to regain the lead go begging as Lallana completes misses his kick from Firmino's knock back six yards from goal.
There was no flag and it would have stood, despite City's protests.
Chance
De Bruyne sees a scuffed effort come back off the post after Aguero had bounded into the area.
Substitution
Liverpool change and Coutinho is off for Origi.
Firmino shoots into the side netting from a tight angle. It looked a promising situation for the Reds.
Goal
Goal - Sergio Aguero
The hosts level as Aguero gets in front of Klavan to steer De Bruyne's cross beyond Mignolet from close range.
City threaten as Aguero heads Silva's cross back across the face of goal, but no-one is on hand to reach it and Liverpool eventually clear.
Substitution
City change - Toure off, Sagna on. Suspect we'll see Fernandinho pushed into midfield.
Chance
Coutinho slides Firmino into space inside the box as Liverpool spring a counter, but Caballero thwarts the Brazilian's effort. A good chance for the Reds to add a second.
Get in!
Goal
MILNER SCORES!
No mistake from the captain! Get in!
Yellow Card
Clichy is booked.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL
Firmino goes down under Clichy's challenge and the Reds have a spot kick.
Chance
Lallana's low cross finds Mane, whose shot on the turn is deflected over by the dive of Otamendi.
Chance
Lallana's low cross finds Mane, whose shot on the turn is deflected over by the dive of Otamendi.
Kick-Off
Second half
We're back under way at the Etihad as the hosts re-start the game
Half-time odds
Here's how the match stats look after that opening 45 minutes...
Half Time
It's goalless at the break at the Etihad between Manchester City and Liverpool after an intense opening half, with chances for both sides.
Yellow Card
A yellow card for Matip now after a challenge on Aguero.
Chance
An even better save from Caballero, this time to keep out Lallana's powerfully-hit half-volley after a corner was only cleared to the edge of the City area.
Chance
Firmino jinks one way and then the other before shooting, but Caballero keeps it out with a fine fingertip save.
Chance
How did that not go in for City?
Silva crosses into the six-yard box, Sterling is stopped from scoring by Milner's tackle, but it rolls for Fernandinho with the goal at his mercy and he somehow - thankfully - shoots wide.
Matip meets a Milner free-kick at the back post, but he's off balance and skews his header wide.
Coutinho collects the ball on the corner of the box, shifts it onto his right with a drop of the shoulder before striking over the bar.
Match shot
Now Wijnaldum goes down in the area under a challenge from Toure after skipping his way into the box. Again, referee Michael Oliver isn't interested.
Another nervy moment for the visitors at the back as Sane drills a low ball into the area, but Milner clears before Sterling can reach it.
Chance
Mane outstrips Otamendi and speeds into the area, before going down between Caballero and the City defender. No penalty, but the best chance of the game for the Reds so far.
Now a chance for Liverpool as the ball falls for Mane inside the area, but his attempt cannons against a defender with Caballero out of position.
Yellow Card
Toure is booked for a challenge on Can.
Chance
Huge let off for Liverpool as City break at speed. Sane's drive is saved by the boot of Mignolet, but the ball breaks for Silva; however, he clips his half-volley wide of the post when a goal seemed certain.
Yellow Card
Firmino sees yellow for a challenge on Silva.
Aguero is seemingly inches away from turning Fernandinho's cross beyond Mignolet, but he can't reach it and the ball rolls across the six-yard box.
De Bruyne's powerful low cross to the left heads towards the inside of the near post, where Mignolet needs to make the game's first save to turn it behind.
City apply some pressure with a couple of corners in quick succession, but thankfully they come to nothing.
Some good news from elsewhere today...
Coutinho sends a free-kick into the City area from a promising position on the right, but it sails over the heads of everyone in the middle and goes out for a throw on the far side.
Lallana goes to ground as he attempts to negotiate his way through a crowd of City defenders inside the box, but the referee isn't interested in any penalty appeals.
Some early defending for Liverpool to do as Fernandinho drills a low cross in from the right, but Klavan boots it to safety.
Kick-Off
We're under way...
....Adam Lallana starts the game. Come on you Reds!
Here come the teams...
Weather
Cheeky little weather update for you guys ahead of kick off here - and it is absolutely lashing down at the Etihad. Could make things interesting. Or maybe not. Probably not, to be fair.
As you were.
A reminder of today's two line-ups...
Out to warm up...
What are the odds?
Our partner BetVictor is offering the following match prices...
Manchester City - 10/11
Draw - 14/5
Liverpool - 16/5
Click here if you fancy a flutter.
Here's a glimpse inside the Liverpool dressing room at the Etihad...
Here’s the Liverpool team in full…
Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Klavan, Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Coutinho, Firmino.
Subs: Karius, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn, Lucas, Lovren, Origi.
TEAM NEWS
The team news is in and it confirms Roberto Firmino is fit to start for Liverpool after recovering from injury.
He leads the line at the Etihad Stadium in the only chage to the line-up deployed against Burnley last time out, while Divock Origi and Dejan Lovren are included in the squad named on the bench.
Simon Mignolet is the man on pre-match media duties for Liverpool at the Etihad...
Here's what Pep Guardiola has to say of the Reds in his programme notes...
"Let me welcome manager Jürgen Klopp and his coaching staff to the Etihad Stadium.
"Our paths have crossed regularly in the Bundesliga and now the Premier League, so we know what to expect from our visitors this evening.
"Any time City plays Liverpool it is a big occasion and this is no different. They are a top team chasing a place in next season's Champions League."
It's a rainy day at the Etihad - which our ever-accurate weather update earlier predicted...
Meanwhile
It's all over in the early kick-off and Manchester United have claimed a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough.
No favours from elsewhere for the Reds today in their bid for a top-four finish.
Stat attack
The Reds have won each of their last four league meetings with City, scoring 10 goals in the process - their best run since May 1981, when they won five in a row.
Focused Fernandinho
Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho is targeting a reaction today as he and his teammates look to put their midweek Champions League defeat to Monaco behind them.
“We have to keep our heads up. It’s a great game to play – especially at home in front of our fans. We have to give an answer to our fans,” he told the club's official website.
“[Monaco] was not the result we wanted.
“We have two competitions to play – the league is not finished yet and we have the semi-final of the FA Cup so we are looking forward to that.”
Phil's take
Interesting stuff from Coutinho on the importance of today's game.
"City are one of the big clubs in England, no doubt about that, and right now we are in a race with them for second place in the table. We need to win it."
Behind the scenes
See how preparations for the big match went with our gallery of shots from Friday's session at Melwood here.
Team news
Wondering how the opposition are faring in terms of injuries and suspensions ahead of today's game? Wonder no more.
The hosts have just two players missing at the moment - long-term injury absentees Ilkay Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus.
Goals, goals, goals
I'd say the clip below is the perfect way to warm up for today's game.
Weather
Take a brolley
If you're heading to the Etihad Stadium this afternoon, you'll be shocked to hear that you may have to prepare for some drizzle in Manchester.
We're looking at temperatures of around 13 degrees celsius come kick-off and an 85 per cent chance of rain.
Fitness update
Liverpool were without the services of Roberto Firmino for last week's win over Burnley, but will he return to action today?
Hello
Good morning and welcome to Liverpoolfc.com's live matchday blog for the Reds' trip to Manchester City in the Premier League.
It's another big game for Jürgen Klopp and his team against a rival for a top-four finish, but their record in these fixtures has been outstanding so far this season.
Can they claim a huge three points? Stick with us to find out!