Good afternoon and welcome to live minute-by-minute updates as Manchester City welcome Everton to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League. Guardiola's men can close the gap on league leaders Chelsea to three points with a win, meanwhile Benitez's Toffees are looking for their first victory in six league games.

Here we go then, it's almost time to get underway at the Etihad! Both sets of players are making their way out onto pitch for the pre-match rituals. Stuart Attwell is the man in charge for this one with Chris Kavanagh on VAR duties.

Ten minutes until kick-off at the Etihad! City will be buoyed by their victory over rivals United in their last fixture. They cannot afford to give any more breathing space to Chelsea and Liverpool above them. Everton are still without Dominic Calvert-Lewin but do have the creative sparks of Richarlison, Gray and Townsend who they will be asking to cause City some problems.

This is your fifteen-minute warning, kick-off is fast approaching! Pep takes on Rafa in a battle of the Spaniards on the sideline. City need to keep the pace with Chelsea and Liverpool, while Everton will be looking to get something from the game. Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer get the opportunity to impress.

City and Everton last met at the Etihad in the Premier League on the final day of the 2020/21 season. Already crowned champions, City ran out 5-0 winners thanks to a brace from Aguero plus goals from De Bruyne, Jesus and Foden. The Toffees ended the campaign in 10th position.

It's a slightly different version of events for Everton who are without a win in five league games. They sit 11th in the table with 15 points having won four, drawn three and lost four of their eleven league matches. They have netted 16 goals but also conceded 16 in the process leaving them with a goal difference of 0. Can they pull something out the bag at the Etihad this afternoon?

City come into this match in third place with 23 points having won seven, drawn two and lost two of their eleven league matches to date. They have scored 22 goals and conceded just six in the process. They have won three, drawn one and lost one of their five home league games this season, their only defeat coming in their previous home match against Crystal Palace.

No changes to report for Everton, but a significant milestone for goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who will make his 300th senior career appearance this afternoon. An impressive achievement for England's current No.1.

City can afford to rotate thanks to their squad depth, but had no choice but to omit De Bruyne who has tested positive for COVID-19. An opportunity beckons for 19-year-old Cole Palmer who gets the nod from Guardiola this afternoon. Two young talents on each side to look out for during the course of the 90 minutes.

As for the Toffees, Benitez has opted for the same starting eleven which held Tottenham to a goalless draw at Goodison Park in their previous league game. 20-year-old Anthony Gordon seems to have caught the manager's eye and Everton fans will be keen to see this up and coming young talent in action today.

Guardiola makes three changes to the side who defeated Manchester United before the international break. Laporte, Palmer and Sterling come in for Dias, De Bruyne and Jesus for the visit of Everton.

Now for your Everton starting line-up!

The team news is in! Let's take a look at your City starting eleven!