Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League clash as champions Manchester City travel to West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. There's plenty at stake at both ends of the table today and we'll be here to guide you through all of the action. Team news should be through shortly.

MAN CITY: Hart; Sagna, Mangala, Demichelis, Clichy; Fernando, Toure; Navas, Silva, Nasri; Milner

MAN CITY: Caballero, Boyata, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Kolarov, Lampard, Jovetic

After seeing his team beat Crystal Palace 3-0 last weekend, Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini has made three changes to his starting lineup this afternoon. Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy are both given the nod in defence, while Fernando replaced Fernandinho in midfield. Pable Zabaleta, Frank Lampard and Stevan Jovetic are among the names who join the Brazilian on the bench.

WEST BROM: Foster; Wisdom, Lescott, McAuley, Pocognoli; Mulumbu, Gardner, Morrison, Varela, Sessegnon; Berahino

WEST BROM SUBS: Myhill, Gamboa, Dawson, Baird, Yacob, Brunt, Ideye

Following a heart-breaking 3-2 defeat at Queens Park Rangers last time out, West Brom boss Alan Irvine has gone for two changes this afternoon. Saido Berahino is back in attack for the hosts, who have also recalled Youssouf Mulumbu to midfield. Chris Brunt and Brown Ideye are among the subs.

So, what's on the line for these teams this afternoon? West Brom have struggled for points in recent weeks, leaving them perilously close to the relegation zone. The Baggies currently sit just two points above 18th-placed Burnley, though a surprise victory today would give them a huge boost for the rest of the festive period.

Meanwhile, Man City will keep on the tail of leaders Chelsea if they record what would be a seventh consecutive victory today. Chelsea are currently in action at Stamford Bridge, where they are about 15 minutes away from beating West Ham United. Jose Mourinho's side lead the Hammers 2-0 thanks to goals from John Terry and Diego Costa.

There is no doubting that City are in the in-form team at the moment, though. The champions looked to be well adrift of Chelsea in the table a few weeks ago, but 18 points from a possible 18 have put them right back in contention.

Man City's injury problems up front are evident again today with a lack of a recognised striker. James Milner looks as if he's going to be acting as a makeshift forward, with the likes of Jesus Navas and David Silva supporting behind. The England international played in the same role last weekend during the team's comfortable victory over Crystal Palace.

Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini: "We are playing now with the intensity and in style of play we always do. Again we have players in high level of performance and good moments. We are trusting in what we do so, in the same way maybe we played in a poor way two months ago, we are doing very well.

"You can play with more trust if you don't concede a goal. If not, and you are one goal behind, you start playing faster than you need to. It is very important to keep our clean sheet."

West Brom boss Alan Irvine: I'm still desperately disappointed about the QPR result and I need this game to move on completely. Overall it was a really good performance last weekend. We deserved to win the game and to come away with nothing at all was extremely galling. We have to learn from what went wrong but also build on the positives, because there were plenty of them.

"It's a really good game for us. It's fantastic to have them coming because obviously they're a really top team. A lot was being made of the fact they didn't have any strikers for the game against Crystal Palace and they won 3-0, so it just goes to show the quality of the players they've got."

Got a spare few minuted before kickoff? Why not check out our video preview for today's game:

UPDATE! The full-time whistle has just gone at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea have beaten West Ham 2-0 thanks to goals from John Terry and Diego Costa. Jose Mourinho's side are now six points clear of Man City, but the champions can reduce that deficit back to three points with a win over West Brom.

HEAD TO HEAD: It's Man City who have the better record when it comes to past meetings between these teams, winning 58 games compared to 51 for West Brom. There have also been a total of 28 draws since they first played each other over 100 years ago.

Man City have also been dominant in this fixture in recent years. The Blues are unbeaten in their last eight versus West Brom, with five of those encounters ending in wins for City. Their trip to The Hawthorns last season resulted in a narrow 3-2 victory before they saw off the Baggies 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

It's safe to say that Man City are the favourites for this afternoon's clash, but West Brom will be looking to Saido Berahino as the man who could help them cause an upset over the champions. The 21-year-old has bagged himself eight goals so far this season, though he has failed to net in his last nine appearances. However, you get the feeling that the young Englishman is the sort of player that doesn't lack confidence. The Baggies will be relying on his pace and movement to cause Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala problems over the next 90 minutes.

Just under 10 minutes to go until kickoff and The Hawthorns is filling up nicely. There are plenty of West Brom fans already here, while Man City have a decent amount of away support in attendance.

One player who will feel as if he has a point to prove is West Brom defender Joleon Lescott. The centre-back spent five years at Man City before joining the Baggies on a free transfer at the start of the season. In total, Lescott won four major honours while playing for City, including two Premier League titles. Despite this, the 32-year-old tended to struggle for first-team action at the Etihad Stadium and was eventually deemed surplus to requirements for Manuel Pellegrini. How he would love to thwart his former employers this afternoon.

The players are starting to emerge in the tunnel at The Hawthorns as we edge ever closer to kickoff. Yaya Toure captains Man City, while Joleon Lescott heads up the West Brom line.

KICKOFF! The teams are out, the pre-match handshakes have been done, and it will be West Brom to get us underway. Here we go!

It's been a lively start to the game, with West Brom playing with plenty of tempo and intensity during the opening stages. It already looks as if the midfield area will be keenly contested over the next 90 minutes.

The hosts continue to enjoy most of the ball, while Man City are doing most of the chasing. The away side do almost conjure up a chance through as Milner tries to play in Nasri, but Foster is quick off his line to gather. West Brom go up the other end and win a corner, only for Hart to gather well from the resulting set piece.

The champions lead through a clever effort from Fernando, but Foster will not want to see replays of that any time soon. The West Brom goalkeeper drops a cross from the right, allowing Fernando to flick the ball over his head and into the net inside a crowded penalty box. What a start for the visitors, who came close to scoring moments before when Milner was denied from close range.

How will West Brom react to going behind so early? Well, they haven't let it affect them too much as they knock the ball about comfortably, but Man City look like they can smell blood now. The visitors are pressing their opponents high up the pitch.

Man City's afternoon gets better as Yaya Toure scores emphatically from the penalty spot after Lescott hacks down Silva. There were no real complaints with the penalty decision as the West Brom defender made a clumsy challenge on the Spaniard. It looks like a long way back for the Baggies now.

West Brom are giving Man City far too much space in advanced areas at the moment. Silva, Nasri and Navas are all having a great time in the final third, breaking with pace and exploiting the many gaps that are being left at the back by the Baggies. The hosts will need to sort themselves out quickly, or this could get very embarrassing indeed.

CHANCE! West Brom come within inches of reducing the deficit as Morrison plays a wonderful ball through to Berahino, but the striker's effort across goal goes the wrong side of the post. What a boost that could have been for the Baggies.

That opportunity for Berahino seems to have gone some way to rejuvenating West Brom following their poor start. The visitors come forward again through Berahino, but the forward is crowded out before Man City get the ball clear. The youngster had no one up with him there.

It's been raining in the Midlands for most of the day, but there's now a bit of sleet falling from the grey skies. However, it doesn't look to be having too much of an affect on the playing surface at The Hawthorns. Meanwhile, Man City pass and probe around the edge of the West Brom box before the move breaks down when Navas is flagged for offside on the right wing.

There's some concern for Man City here as Nasri goes down awkwardly following an aerial challenge. The Frenchman leaves the field of play for treatment, but it looks like he'll be okay to carry on. The midfielder has been impressive so far this afternoon, causing West Brom plenty of problems in the final third.

CHANCE! A rare opening for West Brom sees Mulumbu have a crack at goal inside a crowded box, only for Hart to stand firm and make the save. It wasn't a particularly clear-cut chance, but the Baggies need all the momentum that they can build right now.

CHANCE! Man City go up the other end almost instantly, with Nasri, Silva and Navas working well. It's Silva who eventually has a shot at goal, collecting Navas's clever pass before blazing over on the angle.

West Brom are trying to build up a bit of possession now, but they're not doing a good job of it. Their passing hasn't been particularly dazzling this afternoon, with Man City nipping in and nicking the ball all too often before surging up the other end of the pitch.

Is that game over already? Man City lead 3-0 thanks to a clinical goal from David Silva. Fernando wins the ball in midfield before feeding Navas out on the right. The winger finds his fellow Spaniard inside the box, and Silva takes a composed touch before curling the ball into the far corner.

MISS! West Brom really should have at least one goal today as they waste another chance. Berahino is played in just like he was a few minutes ago, but his shot across goal once again goes wide. Seconds before that, Gardner had a powerful drive from about 15 yards palmed away by Hart.

This is all so easy for Man City at the moment. They're enjoying the majority of possession while West Brom chase around to little avail. Needless to say, there is plenty of discontent among the home fans inside the stadium. There were one or two boos after that third goal went in and you would imagine there will be lots of negative noise when the half-time whistle blows.

It's a scrappy end to the half as both sides struggle to keep the ball in increasingly difficult conditions. West Brom win a free kick out on the left that is swung into the Man City box, but the champions deal with the danger and get it clear.

There will be THREE MINUTES of added time at the end of the first half...

Man City are just winding the clock down as we get closer to half time. A final attack almost sees Nasri burst through on goal, but he is thwarted by Lescott.

The West Brom players are booed off the pitch as the half-time whistle goes. It's been a woeful opening 45 minutes for the Baggies, who find themselves 3-0 down against the champions. Meanwhile, Man City have been completely ruthless in front of goal. It's now just a question of how many they're going to win by.

The visitors have been by far the best team on the pitch so far. The likes of Navas, Silva and Nasri have been excellent, while Milner has done a decent job as a makeshift striker. West Brom have had a couple of decent chances, though some poor finishing has cost them dearly.

Man City's star man so far has been Silva. The Spaniard is pulling all of the strings from midfield and is looking close to his best. West Brom simply don't have an answer to stop him.

The biggest decision of that first half came in the build-up to Man City's second goal when Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot after Lescott's foul on Silva. The West Brom defender may have got the slightest touches on the ball, but it looked to be the right decision. It was clumsy from the former England defender.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The teams are back out and it will be Man City to kick us off for the second half. No changes from either manager at the break. Here we go!

There's a bit of a worry at the start of the second half for the visitors, who see Silva stay down after a challenge from Mulumbu. Meanwhile, the snow is starting to come down a lot heavier at The Hawthorns. Maybe the referee will be keeping one eye on that situation.

Credit to the hosts, they've come out fighting at the start of the second half. The Baggies are looking to get forward at every opportunity, though this could easily play into Man City's hands with their swift counter-attacking style.

CHANCE! Just like that, Man City cut West Brom open with minimal fuss. Sagna plays a incisive ball through to Navas, who has no one around him, but the winger's shot across goal goes wide of the far post. West Brom then go up the other end, with Varela getting on the end of a cross from the right. However, his volley on the stretch goes impotently wide.

SAVE! That's poor from Mangala. The defender loses the ball just in front of his own 18-yard box, allowing Morrison a sight of goal. The midfielder's low shot looks like it might be creeping into the corner, only for Hart to get down low and make the save.

CHANCE! This a really open game now. Man City surge forward once again, with Toure picking out Nasri inside the box. However, the Frenchman's shot is deflected wide. The resulting corner comes to nothing for the visitors. The champions started the second half sluggishly, though they've come to life in the last few minutes.

It's amazing how this game hasn't seen more goals. Another Man City attack sees Silva work himself some space on the left. His cross into the box is a tantalising one, but there isn't a blue shirt to be seen. West Brom get the ball away.

MAN CITY SUB: The visitors make their first change of the afternoon as Aleksandar Kolarov replaces Silva. The Spaniard has been superb today.

Kolarov gets instantly involved in the action as he tries to seek out Nasri, but Foster comes off his line quickly to collect the ball. It would be a big surprise if we don't see any more goals during the final 25 minutes of this game.

WEST BROM SUBS: Baggies boss Alan Irvine makes all three of his available changes now as Gardner, Pocognoli and Varela are replaced by Cristian Gamboa, Brown Ideye and Chris Brunt.

MAN CITY SUB: A second swap for Man City sees Fernandinho enter the action in place of Yaya Toure, who has been very solid in midfield for the visitors.

The snow is continuing to fall heavily at The Hawthorns, though it looks like we'll see the conclusion of this match after one or two concerns earlier in the day. That said, there is a fair bit of snow settling on the pitch, slowing the ball up ever so slightly. Meanwhile, West Brom are enjoying a decent spell of possession. Brown twists and turns on the edge of the box before shooting straight at Hart.

The Baggies are still showing some fighting spirit as we head towards the final 15 minutes of this match. Man City are needing to stay sharp in defence because the hosts are coming at them whenever they get on the ball. A corner from the left is whipped in by Brunt, but Lescott can only nod over from close range. That was a poor header from the former City defender.

MAN CITY SUB: The away side's final sub of the afternoon sees Frank Lampard replace Nasri. The veteran midfielder is making his 590th appearance in the Premier League.

Man City can hardly get a touch of the ball at the moment as West Brom look to bag themselves a consolation goal. In fairness, they could have had a couple of goals today were it not for some woeful finishing.

Alan Irvine will be pleased with how his side has gone toe to toe with the champions in the second half. West Brom have performed well since the break, though a disastrous opening half has made it almost impossible for them to fight back.

YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the game goes to Fernando, who is cautioned for a trip on Gamboa.

It's hard to see who that came off last, but West Brom have themselves a goal! Hart makes a right mess of a corner from the right before the ball ends up in the back of the net. It's awarded to Cristian Gamboa, though it looks like it might be a Hart own goal.

Replays show that Brown Ideye got the final touch for the West Brom goal, giving him his first goal in the Premier League. One minute of normal time left to play at The Hawthorns.

There will be THREE MINUTES of added time...

And that is that. They may not have any strikers available, but Man City have scored three goals for the second consecutive game to close the gap on leaders Chelsea with a 3-1 win. That's now seven straight victories for the champions. Meanwhile, West Brom stay close to the drop zone with a fourth loss in six.

That's all from our live text coverage this afternoon, but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from both camps right here on Sports Mole. Thanks for your company, we hope that you enjoy the rest of your Boxing Day. Until next time, goodbye!