Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Liverpool concluded the Premier League action before the international break with a 4-0 victory over fellow title challengers Arsenal, and Jurgen Klopp's side have another opportunity to make an impact at the top of the standings on their trip to the Etihad Stadium. City, so far, have failed to hit top gear since Pep Guardiola made numerous signings in the transfer market but having had a couple of weeks to plan for this match, the Spaniard will demand that his players up their level today.

This match-up is usually a tasty encounter on its own but their is an added incentive for victory being recorded at just after 2.15pm this afternoon. With both teams sitting just two points behind leaders Manchester United, a win would take either side to the top of the standings ahead of the remainder of the games on Matchday Four. It's obviously still very early days, but both clubs will want to sit ahead of United before Jose Mourinho's team face Stoke City later on today.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the team news. Both managers had some key decisions to make...

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Ederson; Danilo, Stones, Otamendi; Fernandinho, Walker, De Bruyne, D.Silva, Mendy; Aguero, Jesus

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Gundogan, Mangala, Sane, Bernardo, Foden, Delph

LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Klavan, Moreno; Can, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Karius, Lovren, Gomez, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Solanke, Sturridge.

Right then, let's start with City, who have made three changes to the team which defeated Bournemouth before the international break. Kyle Walker, John Stones and Sergio Aguero have all been brought back into the team, with Vincent Kompany, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling the trio to drop out. Kompany is injured, Bernando is on the bench and Sterling is suspended.

As for Liverpool, Klopp has made three huge calls at the back. Simon Mignolet has been handed a recall after his surprise exclusion against Arsenal, so Loris Karius is back on the bench, while Ragnar Klavan has been preferred to Dejan Lovren, who also only features among the replacements. There is also a change at right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold replacing Joe Gomez. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on the bench, while Klopp had already revealed that Philippe Coutinho would play no part in this game despite returning to training.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture will represent the 207th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive match, with Liverpool claiming 101 wins in comparison to just the 53 for City. Liverpool have only lost one of the last half-a-dozen encounters between the teams, although that only came thanks to a penalty shootout in the 2016 EFL Cup final.

Klopp has been speaking about his team selection, with the reasons given for both Gomez and Lovren dropping down to the bench being that they "felt the intensity" of back-to-back fixtures with Croatia and England Under-21s respectively.

Ahead of this game, Guardiola has been speaking about the corresponding fixture from last season, with that match ending in a 1-1 draw. The Spaniard eluded to the fact that City had just been eliminated from the Champions League, so to fight back to claim a point against their rivals for a Champions League spot both excited and impressed him. Let's hope for a similar game today!

We have spoken about Manchester City and Liverpool remaining unbeaten this season, but both clubs have had to battle hard to maintain that record. City played over half of their game with Everton with 10 men and found themselves up against it for the majority of their clash with Bournemouth, but they still managed to register four points from the two matches. As for Liverpool, they were poor during the first half of their visit to Watford on the first day of the season, before eventually returning to Merseyside with a point.

Liverpool, be warned...

Will his amazing run against the Reds continue today? #cityvlfc pic.twitter.com/Gu7Bca3dVl — Manchester City (@ManCity) 9 September 2017

Liverpool's main business of the transfer window was the addition of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but it comes as little surprise that he only features on the bench today. Not only has the former Arsenal man spent two games with England, Klopp was not really in a position to change any of his attacking players after they thrashed the Gunners before the international break. Arsenal were criticised for their defending, but some of the credit must go to Liverpool, who could and should have won by a wider margin. You'd think that City's formation will only help Liverpool put together such counter-attacks for a second contest in succession, but we will have to wait and see.

Much will be made of Klavan's inclusion in defence but the Estonian is not short of match practice. The 31-year-old played the full game as Liverpool defeated Crystal Palace in August, while he also help his national team keep a clean sheet away in Greece nine days ago. In fact, no goals have been conceded while he has been on the pitch this season...

PREDICTION! We can see nothing but a goalfest this season. City are likely to make all of the running but Liverpool possess two of the fastest players in the Premier League in Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. It should be an enthralling contest, with City potentially running out 3-2 victors.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out at the Etihad Stadium. There's a big-game feel to this fixture and so there should be - this is third versus fourth from last season. Both will be hoping to go better this season, but only a win will help achieve that goal.

Liverpool get us underway.

It's been an imposing start from Liverpool who have wasted no time in trying to get behind the wing-backs. A deflected Moreno shot earns an early corner, but Ederson claims the delivery.

Back come City, with Jesus glancing a header wide from a De Bruyne free kick. However, the effort was from around 16 yards out so it didn't threaten Mignolet's goal.

BOOKING! A mistake from Otamendi lets in Salah and the Argentine decides to foul the winger on the edge of the penalty area. Simple call for the referee.

SHOT! Already, there's an end-to-end feel to this game. This time, it's De Bruyne who gets a shot away but it is a comfortable save for Mignolet.

The action has quietened down a touch but still, this is bubbling up nicely. Both teams look like they are going to score every time they attack.

It has been a shaky start from Alexander-Arnold. He has been warned for taking too long with throw-ins and shortly after that, a wayward back-pass went out for a corner.

SHOT! Fernandinho is one of City's most defensive players this afternoon but he is still far enough forward to drive a low shot towards the corner, with Mignolet being forced to tip the ball behind.

It would be naive to just focus on the attacking football on show in this game. Liverpool are exploiting the gaps which Guardiola has failed to fill, while Guardiola is looking for a solution to keep things tighter at the back. Liverpool are shading this at the moment.

BOOKING! Alexander-Arnold somewhat inevitably goes into the book for a foul on De Bruyne. It's in a similar position to where Otamendi upended Salah at the other end. De Bruyne also started brandishing an imaginary yellow card, which wasn't good to see.

Salah has effectively got a free run down the right whenever he wants it. Otamendi is a passenger. However, after breaking into the penalty area, his low cross went straight into the grateful hands of Ederson.

City make the breakthrough and it is Aguero who has gotten on the scoresheet. De Bruyne threads a precise through-ball to the Argentine, who rounds Mignolet and slots into an empty net. Simple.

BOOKING! Mane is given the freedom to glide towards the City defence and Fernandinho has little option but to foul him. Liverpool have a free kick from 20 yards out.

SHOT! Can pulls rank over Alexander-Arnold but sends a woeful effort wide of the post.

CHANCE! Mane plays in Salah who is through one-on-one with Ederson, albeit at an angle. However, the Egyptian makes his intentions too obvious, and the goalkeeper is able to dive to his right to make the save.

CHANCE! Klavan makes a mistake near the touchline and Jesus nearly takes full advantage. The Brazilian fights his way into the penalty area before being denied by a brilliant save by Mignolet at his near post.

CHANCE! For the second time within a minute, Mignolet keeps Liverpool in this game. The ball fell to Stones after Liverpool failed to deal with the corner, but the defender's low shot was kept out by the foot of the goalkeeper.

RED CARD! Mane is sent clear on goal but Ederson beats him to a high ball and takes a boot to his face. It's accidental and he is only after the ball, but the referee dishes out a red card to the Liverpool player. Ridiculous decision.

Ederson is still receiving treatment and it appears that he will need to be substituted. Regardless, it is not a red card. It is going to be a big ask for Liverpool from here.

SUBSTITUTION! Claudio Bravo is being introduced for Ederson. There will be eight minutes of added-on time.

City have the ball in the net after Jesus heads in De Bruyne's cross, but the Brazilian is a yard offside. Big moments in this game. Liverpool cannot afford to concede a second before the break.

Liverpool have conceded before the break. It's more brilliant play from De Bruyne, who sends in an inswinging cross for Jesus to head home from no more than eight yards out. Mignolet had no chance.

The half-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and City are in full control of this game. Not only do they lead thanks to goals from Aguero and Jesus, Liverpool are down to 10 men after the controversial dismissal of Mane. This may become a damage limitation job for the visitors.

Klopp has decided to introduce Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for his debut. Salah is the man to make way.

City get us back underway.

It's been a rather sedate start to the second half. Aguero had one chance to get a shot away but Firmino got back to make a very good challenge.

Liverpool are going to have to force the issue if they are to get back into this fixture but at the same time, they cannot afford to leave too much space in defence. De Bruyne has been on song today and both Jesus and Aguero look in the mood for more goals.

This could get ugly for Liverpool. Fernandinho threads the ball through to Aguero, who can probably score himself but decides to pass to Jesus, who has the simple task of converting from close range.

There's absolutely no let up from City. Mendy is becoming increasingly involved down the left and his low cross almost finds its targetat the back post, only for Mignolet to get down to claim the ball.

SUBSTITUTION! City make their first change as Leroy Sane replaces Jesus. The forward may have been on a hat-trick but he was in South America only a few days ago. Sensible from Guardiola.

SUBSTITUTION! Klopp also decides to make a switch, with James Milner coming on for Wijnaldum.

Both managers - even some of the players - are already thinking about the Champions League fixtures in midweek. This game is over as a contest. It is effectively attack versus defence.

CHANCE! De Bruyne deserves a goal and the Belgian should probably have one here. Sane finds his teammate with a low cross to the left of the penalty spot, but De Bruyne fires a first-time effort over the crossbar.

SUBSTITUTION! A final alteration for Liverpool sees Dominic Solanke given some more minutes in the first team. Firmino is the man to make way.

SUBSTITUTION! There's not a whole lot going on but we are going to see a rare appearance from Eliaquim Mangala, who replaces Otamendi.

SAVE! Mignolet has had little chance with any of the goals, while making several fine saves to keep the score down. Matip deflects a cross towards his own net, but the Liverpool goalkeeper dives to his right to keep the ball out.

City finally net their fourth of the afternoon and it is Sane who nets his first of the season. The winger plays in Mendy down the left before meeting the defender's cross and converting at the near post.

BOOKING! What a pointless yellow card. Can dives in on Aguero in the corner and the referee correctly hands him a booking.

CHANCE! Aguero has been quiet since Jesus's withdrawal but he reacts quickly when a ball goes loose in the penalty area, only to direct his effort high and wide of the near post.

CHANCE! Yet another fine save from Mignolet to deny Aguero, who should score from inside the six-yard box after meeting a low cross from the left. Based on this form, it may be some time before Mignolet is dropped again by Klopp.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

Sane nets a stunning fifth with a 25-yard curler into the top corner. Game over.

The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and City have ran out extremely convincing 5-0 winners over 10-man Liverpool. The course of the game was changed with the sending off of Mane, but the home side were full value for their victory. They now sit at the top of the table.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope to see you again soon.