Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. Two of the sides locked in a potential six-way battle for the title face off in this evening's fixture, with just three points separating them at the start of play. Defeat for Liverpool a little earlier an a slip-up for Manchester United at Stoke City has left the door wide open for one of these teams to pounce.

Chelsea are still considered the strong favourites to win the title for a second time in three seasons, having built up a seven-point lead at the top, but just five points stand between Spurs in second and Man United in sixth. That will likely remain the case once kickoff arrives, as the Red Devils trail Stoke by a goal to nil with around a quarter of the match left to play at the bet365 Stadium.

TEAM NEWS!

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Bravo, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Kolarov. Clichy, Toure, Silva, De Bruyne, Sane, Sterling, Aguero

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose, Wanyama, Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, Kane

Starting with a look at the visiting team, manager Mauricio Pochettino has made just the one alteration from last time out - Kevin Wimmer being given the nod, ahead of Ben Davies, to fill the big void left by Jan Vertonghen's six-week layoff. Spurs produced a superb display to brush aside West Bromwich Albion 4-0 last weekend, so it comes as no surprise to see Pochettino keep things the same elsewhere for this trip to Manchester.

Harry Kane starts up top for his 100th Premier League appearance as a Spurs player, and 104 in all following a brief spell on loan with Norwich City in his formative years. The Englishman has scored 13 goals in 16 league outings this term and is one of a handful of players locked in a battle to finish as the division's top scorer. There is also a start for Christian Eriksen, who has scored on both of his previous league visits to this ground.

Pochettino admitted in the week that he is starting to get a little concerned about the length of Erik Lamela's layoff, having now been without him for a few months. Still no sign of the attacker today, with his absence likely to stretch until at least the end of January. It is a powerful Spurs midfield thanks to the inclusion of Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele, but the inclusion of Wimmer for the injured Vertonghen is the big talking point.

In terms of the hosts, boss Pep Guardiola has made two alterations from the 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Everton six days ago; Leroy Sane and Aleksandar Kolarov both coming back into the team. It appears to be a slight tweak in the system for the Citizens, as I make it a 4-1-4-1 formation - Yaya Toure as the holding midfielder and Sergio Aguero as the focal point up top. A brave call made by Guardiola, who risks seeing his side overrun in the middle.

Speaking of Aguero, the Argentine has failed to score in any of his last three matches against Tottenham following a previous run of 10 in seven. The striking burden may now be taken off his shoulders slightly due to the official arrival of Gabriel Jesus earlier this week; the £27 signing from Palmeiras being given the all-clear to feature today after ironing out some minor details in his paperwork. No start for Jesus, though, as he is among the City subs.

Many expected Fernando to come into the side this evening to shore up the Citizens' midfield, but he misses out on inclusion, while Fernandinho is also absent as he continues to sit out the latest of his suspensions. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Guardiola has decided to keep faith with hapless goalkeeper Claudio Bravo despite his latest poor display in the 4-0 drubbing at Everton. All eyes on him over the next couple of hours.

BENCH WATCH!

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Kompany, Fernando, Nolito, Delph, Stones, Jesus

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBS: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Carter-Vickers, Winks, Sissoko, Son

John Stones dropped to the bench following the heavy defeat at Goodison Park, then, while Bacary Sagna - at the centre of an FA probe into his recent comments on social media - is nowhere to be seen in the squad. Spurs have versatile defender Ben Davies in their ranks; a player who has been linked with some heavyweight clubs in recent weeks but cannot seem to force his way into his side's starting lineup.

Tottenham Hotspur will be without reliable defender Jan Vertonghen for the next six weeks or so following the ankle injury sustained against West Bromwich Albion last weekend. It is a major blow for Spurs, who have the division's best defensive record, but it does provide a chance for Kevin Wimmer - preferred to Ben Davies today - to step up in the heart of defence.

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RESULT! A big evening ahead in the Premier League, then, as two of the heavyweight sides face off at the Etihad Stadium. I mentioned a little earlier that Manchester United looked likely to fall to defeat at Stoke City - well Wayne Rooney scored a record-breaking goal in the dying embers to rescue his side a 1-1 draw. Not the result the Red Devils wanted, particularly after seeing Liverpool lose a little earlier, and they remain in sixth place as a result.

Tottenham are the team better positioned to challenge Chelsea at the top, particularly due to Liverpool's stuttering start to the year and Man City's inability to string together a succession of wins. Spurs can reduce the gap on the pacesetters to four points with victory today, while at the same time opening up a six-point gap over City. It is incredibly tight between second and sixth, but you would put your money on the Lilywhites securing another top-four finish at the very least.

It is fair to say that Pochettino's men are the best side in the country right now, having equalled their Premier League record of six-successive wins; a run that includes victory over an in-form Chelsea a few weeks back to really give themselves hope of ending their long-running wait for title success. All Spurs can do is continue racking up the points and hope that the Blues hit a sticky patch of form at some point, which most sides - no matter how good - inevitably do.

The sides at the top end of the division will continue to meet ever matchday until the end of next month, with this weekend the turn of Spurs and City. By the start of March, with around eight weeks of the season left to play, the picture should become a little clearer and we will know just who the real deal is. Tottenham have taken eight points from a possible 18 against their fellow big-six sides this terms, while today's opponents have faltered badly since wins over Man United and Arsenal.

Spurs have lost just two of their 21 league games this season, both of which came in successive away matches against Chelsea and Man United after an unbeaten start up until that point. They have rattled off six opponents since then and scored 19 goals in the process to become the division's in-form side right now. Even Guardiola has been mightily impressed, claiming in his pre-match press conference that he "loves" watching Spurs in action.

If the win against Chelsea gave Spurs fans hope of another title challenge, the 4-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion last time out only cemented those thoughts. It was a display that ticked all the boxes for Pochettino; a solid defensive showing, attacking players in sync and a bucketload of team spirit. The injury picked up by Vertonghen was a major blow, of course, but Pochettino is not in the market for a temporary replacement as he has cover in Wimmer and Davies.

This is a defining period in Tottenham's history, it is fair to say, with plans outlined on Friday for their new state-of-the-art stadium. It is already in construction and will be open for the start of the 2018-19 campaign; the target has now got to be ensuring Champions League football is staged there on a regular basis. This is also a defining month for Spurs, as they face games against Man City at the Etihad and Liverpool at Anfield in their next four games.

Spurs also face Wycombe Wanderers and Gent in the FA Cup and Europa League over the next month or so as things begin to heat up. If they are to sustain their charge for success on three fronts then remaining solid at the back will be key; no team in the division conceding fewer goals on their travels than Tottenham's tally of nine. That makes them the best defensive side around, while their attack is statistically the fourth best - a near-perfect blend in the side.

Mauricio Pochettino's charges will start today's game sitting second in the table, seven points adrift of leaders Chelsea and level on points with Liverpool in third. Arsenal are one point worse off, while Manchester City are fifth on 41 points and Manchester United sixth with 41. The Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke City a little earlier, and there was also a shock defeat for Liverpool at home to Swansea City.

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DID YOU KNOW? A victory for Spurs today will make it seven in a row in the top flight for the first time since May 1967, while also making them the first team to achieve a league double over a Pep Guardiola-managed side. The incentive is certainly there, with three more points at the Etihad Stadium this evening enough to put pressure on Chelsea ahead of their meeting against Hull City this time tomorrow.

The Citizens remain fifth in the table following those earlier matches in the Premier League and are in a serious battle to finish in the top four - forget the title. City started with a perfect 10 from 10, remember, before the frailties were made clear to see for the first time in the 3-3 draw with Celtic in Europe. That was quickly followed up by defeat to Spurs at White Hart Lane in early October and, in truth, they have never truly recovered since.

City actually went six games without a win during that slump a couple of months back - the longest run in Guardiola's coaching career - including a heavy defeat to former side Barcelona and an EFL Cup exit at the hands of rivals Man United. The Citizens also went nearly three months without picking up back-to-back wins in all competitions, with two defeats in their last four leaving them requiring a minor miracle to overhaul a rampant Chelsea side.

The 4-0 loss at Everton last weekend was particularly worrying for Guardiola, who will surely overhaul his squad in the summer. A facelift is required if he is to seriously challenge for domestic and European honours during his inevitable three-year cycle at the Etihad Stadium, though the Catalan does still remain confident of finishing in the top four and progressing in this season's Champions League.

City have a fairly nice run of games to come after today, before then taking on AS Monaco and Man United in a huge double header at the tail end of February. Despite losing four of their last eight games, the Citizens have suffered just the one home defeat in nine league outings since Pep Guardiola took charge. A tally of five defeats overall is already more than he suffered during the entirety of his previous spells at Bayern and Barca in a single season.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Tottenham Hotspur have won each of the last three meetings against Manchester City in the Premier League, the most recent of which being the 2-0 triumph at White Hart Lane in early October to end their opponents' winning domestic start to the campaign. Aleksandar Kolarov, back in the team today, scored an own goal in that one, before Dele Alli added a second prior to the interval. City have won five of the last six here, though.

With kickoff at the Etihad Stadium now a little over five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Pep Guardiola: "[Spurs have been] brilliant this season. It's Mauricio's third season there, so they play how he wants. Strong physically, good build-up, quality between the lines. They have great full-backs with [Danny] Rose and [Kyle] Walker. It's a real good team - they play attractive football."

Mauricio Pochettino: "I know Pep very well, he's a great manager, one of the best. The expectation was massive when Guardiola signed. People thought he would win the Premier League after 10 games. That's impossible. But I have no doubt that with time he will be a success."

Guardiola a big fan of Pochettino's, then, and he even admits to enjoying the style of play adopted at White Hart Lane. The Spurs boss echoes those sentiments by paying tribute to his opponent number, who he believes will prove to be a big success in Manchester in the long term. It could well be a case of seeing through this season before bringing in some new faces during the summer - then his tenure will truly begin.

Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, with kickoff at the Etihad Stadium just a couple of minutes away. A reminder of the team news for you: Tottenham Hotspur make the one alteration by bringing in Kevin Wimmer for the injured Jan Vertonghen, while Manchester City leave out John Stones and Bacary Sagna, instead turning to Aleksandar Kolarov and Leroy Sane.

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KICKOFF We are up and running at the Etihad Stadium, where the visitors have made a positive start in the opening stages. The Lilywhites have a good recent record in this fixture, but going further back they have lost five of the last six games here.

Rose sends in a teasing cross that was crying out for a touch, but none of his teammates could get on the end of it. That has proved to be the most threatening moment so far, with Tottenham making a bright start to the match.

City carve Tottenham open at the back with a slick piece of passing play, but Sterling takes the ball wide and fails to even get a shot away in the end. Rose was desperate not to let him on his stronger foot and he succeeded in doing so.

A decent start to the match from a neutral's perspective, which was always likely a match that pits together two teams targeting three points. Andre Marriner the referee today, incidentally - the same official who was in the middle for the reverse fixture in October.

BLOCK! Alderweireld gets across well to clear the ball away for throw, preventing Aguero from potentially getting in behind. The Belgian then produced a superb challenge on Zabaleta, who was slipped through on goal.

SHOT! City the team on top now, as Aguero blasts the ball narrowly over the bar from 18 yards out. Good advantage played by Andre Marriner after Wimmer took out his opponent to earn himself an early yellow card.

YELLOW CARD! A second caution in quick succession for Spurs, as Dier joins Wimmer in the book for pulling back on his man. From the free kick Otamendi peeled away at the back post but failed to find a teammate with his first-time pass.

Tottenham started brightly enough but it is the hosts who have been on top for the past 10 minutes. The best chance of the match so far fell the way of Zabaleta of all people, though he was thwarted by Alderweireld right in front of goal.

SAVE! The first shot on target of the match at the Etihad Stadium, as Silva sends a swerving effort towards the bottom corner. It was a top save from Lloris, who had to get down to his left to push it aside for a corner kick.

CLOSE! Zabaleta inches away from a top-class opener, with his shot from the edge of the box - after being teed up from a corner - ending narrowly wide of the post. City coming closer and closer to finding a breakthrough.

Alli slipped through on goal, only for the offside flag to go up on the far side. The midfielder had to leave that for Kane, who had timed his run far better and would have been onside. Still, that is better from Tottenham.

Both managers shouting out instructions on the touchline, aiming to get their message across. Seen plenty of action in the opening quarter of the match, with Silva's shot - pushed aside by Lloris down to his left - the closest we have come to a breakthrough.

A few challenges flying in over the past few minutes to break up play. Dier was caught in possession a few moments ago but De Bruyne could only drag his attempt wide of the target from a difficult angle.

Spurs yet to really get out of first gear as we approach the half-hour mark; the odd glimpse of quality in attack but certainly nothing sustained. City looking the better team overall, albeit having only tested Lloris on one occasion.

A nice piece of play from Wanyama to control the ball, yet his shot was rather poor and ended well over Bravo's goal. The under-fire City keeper has had very little to do all evening, which is a tad surprising because he is there to be targeted.

CHANCE! Spurs are hit on the counter but they are let off by City, who take the wrong option and see the move break down. From the next ball into the box, Sane directed the ball wide of the target when he really should have been testing Lloris.

Danny Rose is currently receiving some treatment after a collision inside the box. Does not appear to be too serious, though, and he should be fine to continue after a short breather. Davies warming-up just in case.

SAVE! Lloris with his heart in his mouth for a moment, as his pass to Walker on the right-hand side was rather underhit. The Frenchman did well to keep out Sergio Aguero's header from eight yards out in the next attacking move.

SAVE! Plenty of gaps opening up at the back now for City to capitalise on, which is so unlike Spurs. Aguero is enjoying himself at the moment, with his shot from an angle being kept out by Lloris at his near post.

SHOT! The hosts well and truly dominating things now, as Lloris elects to punch clear a Sterling shot. The Lilywhites are incredibly open, with Pochettino no doubt hoping for that half-time whistle at this moment in time.

Dele Alli attempts to slide the ball through for Kane - near enough the first time they have linked up today - but Clichy got across well to cover. Four minutes until half time and it is City who will be the more aggrieved not to be ahead.

A small shout for a City penalty waved away by referee Andre Marriner. Lloris taking his time to distribute the ball, which says it all - Spurs will be delighted to hear that half-time whistle in a couple of minutes' time.

Two minutes of added time shown by the fourth official, so still time for a side to find a breakthrough goal. Aleksandar Kolarov has just been shown a yellow card - the last piece of meaningful action of the half as the referee is about to blow.

The visitors struggled to truly get going in the first half, constantly finding themselves open at the back for Man City's attackers to take advantage of. Pablo Zabaleta was the first home player to come close to a breakthrough, only for his shot to be brilliantly blocked by Toby Alderweireld in front of goal, while Sergio Aguero sent a shot over the bar from just inside the box.

Aguero was twice thwarted by Hugo Lloris in quick succession as the Citizens pushed for an opener; the first a header from eight yards out, followed by a shot towards the near post from an acute angle. There was also another opening for Zabaleta, who sent his effort inches wide of the target from range, and both Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling fashioned chances for themselves which they failed to make the most of.

Plenty of pondering for Pochettino to do at the midway point, then, with his side very much second best on the whole. Spurs failed to create anything in that first half, so could we see a slight tweak at the break? Here is a reminder of the options available to both managers from the bench.

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Caballero, Kompany, Fernando, Nolito, Delph, Stones, Jesus

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUBS: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Carter-Vickers, Winks, Sissoko, Son

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RESTART! Manchester City get us back under way at the Etihad Stadium, looking to build on what was a decent first-half showing. Tottenham Hotspur have made a change at the break, bringing on Son for Wimmer - a change of system, too.

Spurs have attempted more shot on target than any other side in the Premier League this season, but they have yet to test Bravo so far today. Only twice have they failed to find the net in the top flight in 2016-17.

Manchester City take a deserved lead at the Etihad Stadium through a simple goal for Leroy Sane. Sweeper keeper Lloris rushed off his line in an attempt to head clear a ball over the top, but he could only head into the chest of Sane, who then had the task of rolling the ball into the net.

YELLOW CARD! Replays show that the ball hit Sane's hand before he rolled it into the net - a difficult one for the referee and his officials to spot. Alli is shown the game's fourth yellow card for shoving Otamendi off the ball, and the City defender also cautioned presumably for dissent.

It is turning into one of those days for Hugo Lloris. All eyes on Claudio Bravo pre-match, but the Frenchman has had a stinker in the opening 10 minutes of this half. After being at fault for the first, Lloris fumbled the ball and De Bruyne was the latest to pounce from close range - his first league goal since September.

Lloris has now conceded 13 goals in four Premier League appearances here; not always his fault, but both of today's goals certainly were. City certainly good value for their two-goal advantage against a below-par Spurs.

One attempt on target from Tottenham, and now a breakthrough goal for them - time to update those Bravo stats that have been doing the rounds. It was a brilliantly worked goal for the visitors, as Alli timed his run to perfection to nod home Walker's cross.

A carbon-copy of the gap we witnessed at Anfield earlier, with the game bursting into life early in the second half. Three goals in the space of 13 minutes since the restart, and this one is certainly not over just yet with half-hour to go.

Son almost times his run to perfection, latching on to a through-ball but being flagged. Zabaleta stepped up just in time so that was the correct call from the linesman. Son should have been cautioned for taking on the shot long after the whistle went.

PENALTY APPEAL! Superb piece of play from the hosts, starting in midfield as Silva picks out Toure, who in turn finds De Bruyne in the hole. The Belgian decided against the shot and instead picked out the run of Sterling in behind, but Rose produced a big challenge to thwart him. Good decision, ref!

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUB! A real worry for Tottenham, as Alderweireld has just pulled up with a hamstring injury. Harry Winks is on in his place, with Pochettino opting not to go with the more obvious replacement in Ben Davies. Wanyama will perhaps shuffle into defence.

Spurs looking far more dangerous in this second half compared to the first. Alli was so nearly played through on goal, with City now the side more vulnerable to being picked off at the back. This game surely has a fourth goal in it.

Too many options for Man City in the end, as three players are all waiting for the ball. Aguero slips in De Bruyne down the right, who saw his cross headed clear to the fury of Guardiola - the Catalan knows his side must do better in those positions.

De Bruyne charges down Rose's clearance and comes out on top in that battle, but once again he failed to pick out a teammate when getting the ball into the box. City have been the better side overall since Tottenham's goal.

PENALTY APPEAL! Huge moment in the match as Sterling, clean through on goal, is matched for pace by Walker who appeared to shove him in the back. Referee Marriner felt otherwise, and the Englishman did still manage to get a tame shot away.

Guardiola is fuming! Already unhappy about that huge penalty call - which replays show referee Andre Marriner got incorrect - Spurs were up the other end and levelling just 67 seconds later. Kane set up the goal with a brilliant little flick, allowing Son to sweep home the equaliser.

Sissoko was brought on for Dembele in the aftermath of that Spurs goal. It is the Lilywhites who are attacking for what would surely be a winner, but Dier failed to find a way through when meeting a corner with his head. What a finale we are in for!

MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Gabriel Jesus makes his long-awaited debut for City, taking over from Sterling. Almost an instant impact from him, as his silky footwork tees up a chance, before heading over when the ball came back in.

GOAL DISALLOWED! OH MY! Almost the dream debut moment for Jesus, who slid in at the back post to seemingly put City ahead. The youngster celebrated for a good 10 seconds before spotting the offside flag, which was correctly raised.

MANCHESTER CITY SUB! John Stones is on for Clichy for these final four minutes or so. This has been an enthralling second half at the Etihad Stadium, but unfortunately time is fast running out for a dramatic fifth goal.

Things have calmed down a little over the past few moments, but it is still City who are in the ascendancy. Get the impression that Spurs are more than happy with the point, having been far from their best for large parts.

MANCHESTER CITY SUB! Delph is reportedly close to leaving Man City - well he has been brought on for these final stages, taking the place of Silva. Four minutes of added time to be played at the Etihad Stadium.

A couple of crosses into the box for Lloris to collect, as City resign themselves to being held to a draw. A brilliant second half, and a half-decent opening 45 minutes, but it is looking as though the spoils will be shared.

Referee Andre Marriner, who will likely make the headlines after his refusal to award Manchester City a penalty at a pivotal moment in the game, blows his whistle for full time. A shame it had to end, really, because the second half was incredibly open and could have gone either way once Tottenham Hotspur had levelled. In the end 2-2 will suit the visitors far more than their opponents, who were the better side overall.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Etihad Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction aplenty will be up elsewhere on the site in the next hour or so. Thanks for joining!