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

At one stage this season, Manchester City would have hoped that this fixture would have been important in regards to the Premier League title race but four defeats in seven matches earlier in 2016 has left them focusing on trying to achieve a minimum of third place in order to secure direct entry to next season's Champions League. They feature in the semi-finals of this year's competition on Tuesday when they host Real Madrid but manager Manuel Pellegrini has stressed that their showdown with the Spanish giants does not take preference over this game.

As for Stoke, they have suffered two heavy defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur but with a top-eight finish still up for grabs, boss Mark Hughes will be demanding an improved performance on his return to the Etihad Stadium. That may be easier said than done with the Potters slipping out of contention for a Europa League place but they do possess the firepower to cause a sometimes shaky City defence problems this afternoon.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the team news emerging from the North-West.

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Mangala, Otamendi, Toure, Fernando, Navas, Silva, Iheanacho, Agüero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Caballero, Demichelis, Clichy, De Bruyne, Delph, Bony, Sterling

STOKE CITY XI: Given; Muniesa, Wollscheid, Shawcross, Bardsley; Whelan, Cameron; Arnautovic, Imbula, Diouf; Joselu

STOKE CITY SUBSTITUTES: Haugaard, Adam, Teixeira, Crouch, Bojan, Choulay, Shenton

Pellegrini had suggested that he would not be resting any of his players for this match but we are guessing he changed his mind. Vincent Kompany and Kevin de Bruyne are notable absentees from the starting lineup but there is a return for David Silva, who has missed the last two games. Kelechi Iheanacho has also been handed a start.

The big news coming out of the Stoke camp is the absence of Ibrahim Afellay, with Hughes saying that he suffered a serious knee injury in training on Friday. That's a huge blow to both the player and the Potters.

In total, Hughes has made three alterations to the side that started the 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night. As well as Afellay, Shaqiri and Bojan have dropped out of the starting lineup to be replaced by Phil Bardsley, Mame Biram Diouf and Joselu.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture represents the 110th time that the two teams have met in a competitive match, with City winning 47 times in comparison to 37 victories for Stoke. Manchester City have dominated this fixture over the past five years but Stoke have lost just one of the last three contests.

REVERSE FIXTURE! One of the games that Stoke avoided defeat came in December when they outfought City at the Britannia Stadium. Two early goals from Marko Arnautovic got the job done in Staffordshire but in truth, it could have been a lot more and the Serbian should have at least got his hat-trick in that game. Take a look at our match report from that game here.

We have already touched upon Manchester City's hopes of a top-three finish and a win here is seen as a must in order to move back ahead of Arsenal. The Gunners could regain the position against Sunderland tomorrow afternoon but with the two teams still to play each at the Etihad Stadium, any dropped points could have serious ramifications over the next few weeks.

FORM! You would not have thought it given their form in recent weeks but Man City only sit in sixth place in the form table. Losing in the Manchester derby put them on the back foot but they have responded with three wins and a draw from their last four fixtures. Last weekend's 3-0 victory over Chelsea was particularly impressive but they showed a few signs of weakness in their 1-1 draw away at Newcastle United on Tuesday night. As for Stoke, their only win in six matches has come at a distracted Watford and Hughes will be deflated if his team fail to raise their level against a top team for the third game in succession. They have made progress this season but that is at risk of being wasted if they end the campaign on a negative note.

It's been almost six-and-a-half years since Hughes departed as manager of Man City - it really doesn't feel that long, does it?! The Welshman possessed a solid record at the Etihad, winning 36 of his 77 games in charge at a time when the club were in transition. He was replaced in controversial circumstances when his sacking became public knowledge during a Premier League fixture and although his replacement Roberto Mancini went on to win the title, the club's fans should provide him with a warm welcome today.

Looks a nice afternoon for a game of football, huh?

PREDICTION! We have to go for a dominant City victory. They may be slightly distracted by the prospect of facing Real Madrid on Tuesday but you would imagine that Pellegrini will instruct his players to go out and get the job done in the first hour. Stoke need to keep things tight at the start but with Aguero and co in full flow, that is easier said than done. City to win 3-0.

After this game, our attention switches to this afternoon's fixtures in the Premier League, FA Cup and La Liga so be sure to stick around for what should be an eventful day in England and Spain!

Manchester City have lost five of their 17 Premier League games at the Etihad this season - that would have seemed unthinkable a couple of years ago. It offers a little bit of hope to Stoke but they will be aware that City have scored the most goals at home this campaign.

The two teams have emerged from the tunnel in Manchester. We will be underway very shortly!

City get the game started. As expected, they are lining up in a 4-4-2 formation.

It's been a fairly open start to the game but we have an early break in play after a collision between Kolarov and Diouf.

It has to be said, there's not much of an atmosphere inside the Etihad. Maybe the supporters are saving their voices for Tuesday night. Both teams have enjoyed possession down the flanks but no shots to speak of as of yet.

SHOT! So close from Iheanacho. Aguero got on the ball on the right flank and drove inside before playing the ball to his strike partner, who switched it onto his left foot before curling a shot just wide from 20 yards.

City have started to click into second gear and a move involving Kolarov, Silva and Aguero almost ends with Iheanacho being played in inside the penalty area. The move eventually ended when Navas fouled Given but more positive signs from the home team.

Silva looks eager to make an impression today. Pellegrini will have a selection dilemma regarding his creative three on Tuesday night and the Spaniard will be hoping to move himself to the front of the queue. With Sterling also returning to the squad, you'd expect the two to be given a certain amount of minutes each before full time.

SHOT! Stoke have barely had a kick in the opening 15 minutes but Glenn Whelan has just forced a save out of Joe Hart. We aren't sure he meant his free kick to be that close to goal but the goalkeeper had to tip the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

CHANCE! It has been over a year since Shawcross found the net but he should have gone a lot closer here. A corner from the right was deflected into his path but his half-volley from 10 yards was dragged well wide. His manager didn't look impressed.

CHANCE! Another set piece - this time for City - should have resulted in a goal. The ball found Otamendi in the middle but he misjudged the flight of the ball and it ricocheted off him into the grateful hands of Given.

Are Stoke City deliberating trying to deceive Hart with crosses? Moments after Whelan's rather fortuitous effort, Muniesa almost finds the far corner with a delivery from the left. The England stopper is going to have to remain alert.

Not much to report from the last few minutes but City are starting to press forward in numbers. They are still to test Given though, which is surprising given the fact he turned 40 earlier this week.

SHOT! City have had the better of the last few minutes but when Stoke get hold of the ball, they are looking to be direct. The ball arrived at the feet of Imbula on the edge of the box but his volley looped a yard or so over the bar. Hughes will be impressed with his team so far.

CHANCE! It wasn't a clear-cut opportunity but Joselu should definitely be hitting the target. Arnautovic got down the left-hand side of the penalty area before crossing for the Spaniard, but his free header from 12 yards went well wide after he mistimed his jump.

Stoke really fancy this now. They have silenced the City crowd (although they were barely making a noise anyway) and they are pushing their hosts back. Imbula looks particularly impressive in the middle of the park.

Mark Hughes must be fuming! Stoke switch off at a corner and City capitalise. An outswinging corner from Navas is met by Fernando, who got ahead of Cameron at the near post, and his glancing header finds the far corner. That's his second goal of the season.

Stoke look decent in possession but they aren't moving the ball around quick enough. Imbula and Arnautovic are both guilty as a move breaks down and they are fortunate that Silva cannot make the most of the opening in the final third.

Stoke realistically needed to get to half time to remain competitive in this game but they couldn't manage it. Shawcross hauls back Iheanacho in the penalty area and it is a stone-waller. Despite Given going the right way, Aguero's effort had too much pace on it and City look home and dry.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and despite being tested by Stoke in the opening half-hour, City are cruising to another three points in the Premier League. Can the Potters find a response in the second half?

SUBSTITUTION! It's not a surprise that Stoke have made a change but it is a surprise who has been replaced. Given has suffered a groin problem so Jakob Haugaard has been introduced into the action.

We are back underway at the Etihad.

Phil Bardsley has just attempted a 30-yard free kick. Guess where it ended up? No, not in the stands - closer to the corner flag instead.

CHANCE! City have started this second half without any urgency whatsoever and Stoke should have pulled a goal back. Arnautovic broke down the left flank before crossing for Joselu but the Spaniard could only fire over from 12 yards. What an opportunity.

SHOT! Iheanacho is the next to try his luck at the start of this second half but his left-foot rasper is tipped over - albeit unconvincingly - by Haugaard.

CHANCE! Another chance for Stoke - they haven't given this up. A corner was whipped to the near post for Diouf to glance a header towards the near corner but it hit the side-netting. The Stoke fans thought it was in.

SUBSTITUTION! Pellegrini has moved to tighten up his midfield with Silva being replaced by Delph. Not sure if that was pre-planned or not but it makes sense for City to change things up.

SAVE! Stoke haven't forced Hart into many saves but the England number one just pulled off a screamer of an intervention to deny Arnautovic, who had cut inside the defender before rifling the ball towards the far corner.

City have calmed things down a bit but Pellegrini cannot be happy with what he is seeing. Real Madrid are sure to be keeping a watchful eye on this and taking plenty of encouragement from it at the same time.

He will be a little happier now! It's definitely game over after Zabaleta is afford time and space down the right-hand side of the pitch and after biding his time, he finds Iheanacho who converts a simple finish from 10 yards. As soon as that goal was scored, off came Aguero to be replaced by Wilfried Bony.

Imbula has been Stoke's best player this afternoon and after taking the ball past two players, he has the opportunity to cross the ball into the box. However, he gets far too carried away and attempts a speculative effort from more than 30 yards and as you would expect, it ended up in the stands.

City could ease through these remaining 20 minutes if they wished but to their credit, they are pushing hard for a fourth. Otamendi looked like he was about to test Haugaard with a near-post header but his effort was blocked by a defender.

SUBSTITUTION! Pellegrini makes his third and final change by introducing Martin Demichelis for Fernando. No action for Raheem Sterling this afternoon.

This is why the City faithful are so excited by Iheanacho. The youngster was found by Bony but one touch took him away from the Stoke defence and after gliding past the goalkeeper, he made no mistake in tapping home into an empty net.

SUBSTITUTION! It looks like Arnautovic is struggling with a groin problem so Charlie Adam has been thrown on in his place.

SHOT! Stoke win a free kick from around 30 yards and Imbula pulls ranks to take it ahead of Adam. It's a good strike but his attempt drifted a yard over Hart's crossbar. I think he had it covered anyway.

Stoke are continuing to attack and despite the four-goal deficit, they have had the most shots on goal in this match. They don't look like getting on the scoresheet themselves, however.

This could be a major problem for City. Toure has gone down clutching his thigh and it looks serious enough for the Ivorian to require a couple of minutes of treatment. He has returned to the pitch but City really shouldn't be taking the risk with Real Madrid the visitors on Tuesday.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Manchester City have regained third place in the Premier League table with a comfortable win. That will be all from Sports Mole for this match but we hope that you can stick around for the remaining matches that are taking place this afternoon. Goodbye for now.