Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for this mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash between Manchester City and Liverpool. We have already had a great day of football in the Premier League, and we still have the main event to come. There is no time to waste, so let's get straight down to business!

We'll start with a look at our hosts this afternoon, and what ominous form they are in at the moment. City are unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions, winning eight of them. In the Premier League alone, they are unbeaten in their last six games, picking up 16 points from the last 18 available to put them right in the title race.

They are in particularly good form at the Etihad Stadium this season. They aren't quite invincible in front of their own fans this season - Bayern Munich made sure of that - but they do seem unstoppable in the league. They have won all eight of their matches and scored 35 goals in the process - more than 18 of the other 19 teams in the league have managed both home and away. They have only scored less than three goals at home on one occasions in the league this season, and have hit the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal for six.

That tally of 35 home goals after just eight home games is the highest since Tottenham Hotspur's famous attacking side of the 1962-63 season. In all competitions, they have found the net 50 times in front of their own fans already this season, conceding just 12.

However, some hope for Liverpool lies in the fact that City are without their top scorer Sergio Aguero, and they have also failed to score in their last two Boxing Day matches, losing 1-0 to Sunderland last season and drawing 0-0 with West Brom the season before that. It is worth noting, though, that City have scored in every single one of their last 58 home games in the Premier League.

City have the best record against teams from the top half in the Premier League this season, winning five of their matches and only losing to Chelsea. However, they come into this game fourth in the table after both Arsenal and Chelsea won their matches earlier today. The Gunners' win means that City can't end the day top of the table, although they would move back into second with a win.

As for Liverpool, they may have been knocked off top spot earlier this afternoon, but they enjoyed Christmas Day sitting at the summit of the table for the first time in five years. They have been in scintillating form recently, cruising to four consecutive high-scoring victories. They are the league's second highest scorers, behind only City, and have found the net more times than any other Premier League side in 2013.

They come into this match on the back of just one defeat in their last seven games, although that was a disappointing loss to Hull. Their away form is certainly something they need to improve if they are to launch a genuine title bid as they have only won three times on their travels all season, although their last one was that incredible 5-0 win over Spurs.

Liverpool have not won five league games in a row in the same season since 2009, and if they manage to do it today then it would be a massive statement of intent from Brendan Rodgers's side. One thing this match does promise is goals. The two sides have scored 93 between them in the league already this season, and City's 17 games alone have yielded a staggering 71 goals at an average of 4.2 per game. When you also consider that City haven't kept a clean sheet in their last six games, and Liverpool have only kept one in the same period, then surely we're all set for a fest of football on Boxing Day.

Of course, Liverpool's not-so-secret weapon is Luis Suarez, who is in blistering form at the moment. The Uruguayan has scored 36 goals in his last 34 games for Liverpool, including 29 in 26 Premier League games this year. This season he has netted 19 in 12 games while he has found the net 10 times in his last four. He has been involved in 16 of Liverpool's last 17 goals and now holds the record for amount of goals in a single month in Premier League history with 10 in December - and he still has two games to go! They are quite amazing statistics, and it is hard to argue against him being the most in-form player in world football right now.

TEAM NEWS: Time to bring you some team news I think! Liverpool make just one change as Cissokho replaces Flanagan, who was a doubt for the game through injury. City, meanwhile, name Negredo up front on his own and Lescott comes into defence. Full team news for both sides on the way.

MAN CITY STARTING XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Lescott, Kompany, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Nasri; Silva, Negredo, Navas

MAN CITY SUBS: Pantilimon, Clichy, Boyata, Garcia, Milner, Dzeko, Nastasic

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Cissokho, Skrtel, Sakho, Johnson; Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho; Suarez

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Jones, Toure, Agger, Alberto, Aspas, Moses, Smith

PREDICTION: We're five minutes from kickoff at the Etihad, so it is time for my match prediction! Liverpool are in great form coming into this game and anything is possible with Suarez in the team, but City just look unstoppable at home in the league. If anyone can beat them it is probably Liverpool at the moment, but therein lies the problem - I don't think anyone can beat them. I'm going for a 3-1 home win.

A win would send Liverpool back to the top of the table, but a loss would see them drop below City to fourth. It could have been worse for the Reds had Everton beaten Sunderland, but now the worst case scenario for them at the end of the day is fourth place. The same applies for City, but the highest they can climb is up into second with another home win.

On the lighter side of things, we are hoping to hear a huge Yaya/Kolo Toure chant from the whole stadium today! Unfortunately Kolo has been left on the bench so won't come up against his brother from the start this afternoon.

KICKOFF: What a game we have in prospect, it is a real Christmas treat! Man City get us underway as Liverpool look to become the first Premier League side to take points off Manuel Pellegrini's side this season. Can they do it?

Very bright start from City as Navas and Zabaleta link up down the right to put some dangerous crosses into the box. It is a huge plus for City to have Zabaleta back, and Cissokho will have his work cut out against him and Navas today.

The first shot of the day comes from Liverpool as Coutinho goes for goal from around 20 yards out, but he drags his effort comfortably wide of the near post. Positive intent from the visitors, though.

OFF THE POST! Almost a perfect start for City as Navas steers a header onto the outside of the post. Cissokho allowed the winger to get in front of him and, after Negredo missed the ball in the middle, Navas just guided his effort towards goal, but it kissed the outside of the post.

This has been a very quick opening to this match and, at the moment, it looks like it will live up to expectations. You'd have to think that an open game would suit City more than Liverpool this afternoon.

Navas and Zabaleta link up on the right flank once again, and Skrtel is needed in the middle to clear the danger. That looks like it could be a really profitable avenue of attack for City this afternoon.

Nasri curls a corner in and Kompany rises well under heavy pressure from Skrtel. He gets good contact on the effort but plants it a few yards wide of the post.

Good move from the hosts on the edge of the box as Navas feeds Toure, who goes for goal from 20 yards out, but drags his shot wide of the mark. City are certainly on top at the moment and Liverpool have not settled into the match so far. I don't think Suarez has touched the ball.

Cissokho turns the tables on Zabaleta and attacks down the left before standing a cross into the middle that Kolarov is forced to nod behind.

SHOT! There is Suarez's first threatening action of the game as he leaps above Lescott from the resulting corner and flicks a header a couple of yards past the post. That was a half chance for a player of his quality.

CHANCE! The ball is given away to Suarez of all people, and he rolls Kompany really well to set up a dangerous counter attack. He feeds the ball into Sterling, who shows great pace to get there, but Kolarov comes back with a superb challenge to block the youngster's shot.

Suarez lines up a free kick from about 27 yards out, but it isn't one of his best efforts as he curls it straight at Hart, who made a comfortable stop.

CHANCE! City are making lots of progress down the flanks in this match. This time they advance down the left wing and Kolarov fizzes a cross in towards Negredo, who has peeled off Sakho but mis-kicks his shot as the chance goes begging.

Oh that is a terrible decision from the linesman as he flags Sterling for offside despite the youngster being a good yard on. Sterling was through on goal and had rounded Hart when the flag was eventually raised, robbing the youngster of a simple finish and the opening goal. Poor from the official.

This one is really shaping up nicely at the moment. City look as dangerous as ever whenever they go forward and look like scoring on every attack, but Liverpool are holding their own and have had some good moments of their own. What a game we have in store.

Nice ball from Henderson to find Cissokho down the left, but the full-back cross is just behind Allen, who had made a good run towards the near post. City get the ball clear, but they will be aware that the visitors are beginning to grow into this match.

Liverpool have the lead! Suarez flicks the ball around the corner and it is another clever run from Sterling to latch on to it. He takes it past Hart before leaving it for Coutinho to slide into the empty net from a tight angle. What a huge goal that is for the visitors.

Liverpool have taken the lead 12 times this season before today, and they have gone on to win 11 of those matches, drawing the other one. If they can hold out for the victory here, it would be a huge statement of intent from Brendan Rodgers's side.

CHANCE! Kolarov feeds the ball through the legs of Johnson and into Toure, who shows really good acceleration for a man of his size to create space to shoot. He goes for goal from a tight angle but is denied by an important block from Skrtel.

City have regained control of this match since going behind, and they will still be fairly confident of getting a win here. They will always fancy themselves to score at least one at home.

Nasri has a free kick in a good position but instead of putting it into the area he floats it out to Kolarov on the edge of the box. The left-back hammers it with that left foot of his, but it is blocked and goes behind for a corner.

I said they'd always fancy their chances of scoring here, and they have done exactly that to level things up. It is their captain Kompany with the goal as he resists Skrtel's very close attention to plant a fine downward header past the diving Mignolet and Joe Allen on the line.

A Liverpool corner comes to nothing and, within seconds, it is up the other end courtesy of a lightning City counter attack. Navas cuts inside before going for goal, but he blasts his effort over the bar. That was blistering pace from the hosts.

Coutinho flicks the ball over the top for Henderson to run on to, but Hart is out quickly to claim just before the in-form midfielder can get there. That was an important stop from the England number one.

Toure slips a lively little ball in behind the defence for Negredo to run on to, but Skrtel has read it really well and makes a vital challenge to clear the immediate danger.

Suarez bursts into the box and Kolarov is the wrong side of him. The Uruguayan goes down but doesn't appeal for a penalty despite probably having a decent case. City go up the other end and Nasri fires a low shot towards goal that is easy for Mignolet. This match is being played at a frenetic pace!

CHANCE! What a move, what a chance and what a save! My word! Suarez, Sterling and Coutinho link up for one of the best passing moves you will see all season, and it is the latter who has the final effort on goal. He really should score, but Hart makes a very important save to deny the Brazilian. That was just top class football all round.

GREAT DEFENDING! That is superb from Skrtel! A City move cuts Liverpool apart and Negredo bears down on goal and look like he will slot it past Mignolet. However, Skrtel dives in with a brilliant last-ditch challenge to concede a corner.

For all Skrtel's good work with a couple of last-gasp challenges, he is lucky not to have been pulled up for his 'marking' in the box from corners. He is all over Kompany's shirt on every single one, and he is in danger of giving away a penalty.

Oh that is a poor mistake from Mignolet! City break from a Liverpool corner with great pace yet again, and Negredo is released with only the Liverpool keeper to beat. He takes his shot early and it looks to be straight at Mignolet, who gets a hand to it but still can't keep it out. It was a weak effort at a one-handed stop from the keeper, who should've stopped it comfortably.

Half time? Already? That first 45 minutes went almost as quickly as one of Manchester City's counter attacks, what a game of football we have seen so far. City go into the break the happier side thanks to a goal in stoppage time of the first half, but Liverpool will be pleased with their performance so far. They are by no means out of this match, and if the second half is anything like the first then anything could happen.

The visitors took the lead through Philippe Coutinho, who had a relatively simple finish after Sterling had rounded Joe Hart. City equalised through Kompany with a fine header from a corner before a Mignolet howler just before the break saw City go in in front.

Both sides have played with incredible attacking intent and the match has certainly lived up to the pre-match billing so far. The home fans here have been treated to lots of entertainment so far this season, but this is shaping up to be the best of the lot so far. You have to admire City's form at home - they just look unbeatable at times and capable of scoring at every opportunity.

As things stand, Liverpool will drop down to fourth in the table, while City would move up to second. Another goal for the visitors would see them rise to second and City drop back to fourth, while a Liverpool win would put the Reds top of the table. Things are so tight at the top this season.

It will be interesting to see how the two sides approach the second half. It is not in the nature of either manager to close things down and take their foot off the pedal, and I don't see either of them doing that. Liverpool need to chase the game, while an open game is probably better for City, who are so dangerous going forward, especially on the break.

KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway for the second half. Can they get themselves back into this match or will City maintain their 100% record at home in the league this season? More of the same please!

SHOT! Nice move from Liverpool at the start of this second half as they work the ball down the right before Suarez lays it off to Henderson. The midfielder goes for goal with the outside of his right foot, but curls his shot over the bar.

Johnson plays a very dangerous low ball across the area, but Kompany is well placed to put it behind for a corner. That was a vital interception as Suarez was lurking dangerously behind him.

SAVE! Suarez twists and turns on the left to create space for a cross. Instead, he tries to beat Hart from an impossible angle, curling it towards the near post. Hart won't be beaten there, but he does concede a corner.

CHANCE! Oh Liverpool are so close to an equaliser! Sterling dinks the ball over the top and Henderson is inches away from making contact as Hart comes out to make the save. It bounces to Kolarov, who is caught in possession inside his own box by Suarez, but his shot is blocked by Henderson, who is offside.

This has been a really good start to the half from Liverpool, who are threatening on every attack. City, on the other hand, have not been able to settle into this second half so far and are on the back foot at the moment.

Liverpool have had 70% possession in the last five minutes, which is some indication of how this match is going at the moment. Can Brendan Rodgers's side make the most of this spell in the ascendancy?

Kompany is so strong from corner. Skrtel is all over him but the City captain still gets his header to it. This time it is easy for Mignolet, but Skrtel is really struggling to deal with Kompany from set pieces at the moment.

Lovely skill from Negredo in the middle of the park as he escapes the attention of two defenders before feeding it out wide to Navas. 'The Beast' busts a gut to get back into the box for the return ball, but Navas's cross is badly over-hit.

SAVE! Negredo tries a cheeky chip over Mignolet from the edge of the box, but there just isn't enough on it to take it over the Liverpool keeper. That was a clever effort from the Spaniard, though.

Liverpool were on top for the first 10 minutes of this half, but City have certainly come into the game more since then. It is back to being a really even match with both sides looking to attack at every opportunity - it's fantastic entertainment.

Kompany tries a long diagonal ball over the top for Negredo, but it is just too heavy for the Spaniard. That was a really good idea from the skipper, the execution was just off.

Lucas makes an important block from Silva's curling effort towards goal. City are starting to gain control of this match again now as it continues to swing from one way to another.

Nervy defending from Sakho as he gives the ball away carelessly with a shocking touch. Luckily for him, Mignolet is alert and quick off his line to make the clearance. Moments later, Sakho gives the ball away again carelessly in a dangerous position. Not a good minute for the defender!

YELLOW CARD! Johnson picks up a yellow card and he can have no complaints whatsoever. He was the wrong side of Kolarov and just tripped his man from behind.

LIVERPOOL SUB: The first change of the day comes from the visitors as Victor Moses replaces the goalscorer Philippe Coutinho.

CHANCE! Negredo rises highest in the area to meet a corner and he gets solid contact on it, but his effort is straight at Mignolet and easy for the keeper.

CHANCES! Liverpool have two big chances in quick succession. The first falls to Johnson, who just couldn't sort his feet out after being gifted the ball from a Lescott clearance. He managed to salvage a corner from his poor control, from which Liverpool build an attack that sees Henderson flick the ball goalwards, drawing a good save from Hart. Had he dummied that, Allen would have had a simple finish.

MAN CITY SUB: The hosts' first change of the game is a familiar one as Nasri is replaced by James Milner.

CHANCE! Oh what a huge chance that is for Liverpool! Suarez finds space down the left and sends a cross into Sterling, who is unmarked inside the box. It should be an easy finish for the youngster, but he blazes it over the crossbar with the goal gaping. That should have been 2-2!

Johnson plays a long ball forward towards Suarez, but Hart is quickly off his line to collect it in the air. The City keeper has had a good game today, which is important considering his position is still probably under review.

Suarez ties Lescott in knots down the right channel, but his low cross is hacked away at the near post. Superb skill from Suarez there, and Lescott simply didn't know which way he was going.

MAN CITY SUB: Negredo, whose goal currently separates the sides, limps off the field to be replaced by Edin Dzeko.

Suarez is bundled over right on the edge of the box by Lescott, but Lee Mason waves away claims for a foul. That means he avoids another tricky question of whether or not it was inside the box. It was certainly a foul in my book, but it looked to be just outside the area so should've been a free kick.

YELLOW CARD! Zabaleta goes into the book for a cynical foul on Victor Moses, who had just skipped past him. No complaints about that booking.

LIVERPOOL SUB: This is a very attacking change from Brendan Rodgers as Iago Aspas comes on to replace Lucas. Can the Spaniard make a difference in these closing stages?

Suarez is brought down by Yaya Toure in a good position around 30 yards from goal. It is very central and a long way out, but Suarez is looking interested.

The Uruguayan goes for the top corner but puts too much on it as it flies a couple of yards over. Joe Hart looked to have that one covered anyway.

Toure powers his way into the box before pulling a dangerous low ball across the box that is just behind Dzeko. That was not far away from getting a touch, which is all that it needed.

YELLOW CARD! Moses goes into the book for a foul on Zabaleta, although that one seems quite harsh on the Liverpool sub.

MAN CITY: This is perhaps the first defensive thought anyone involved in this match has had today. Javi Garcia comes on to replace David Silva for the hosts as they look to close out this game.

Kolarov lines up a free kick from a long way out, but we know he is capable of hitting them from here. His effort is on target, but Mignolet scoops it up with relative ease.

Toure works a bit of space to shoot inside the box, but he gets his effort wrong and sends it some way wide as he tried to curl it into the bottom corner.

There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match. There is still time for some late drama here!

YELLOW CARD! Suarez goes into the book, and that is a very harsh one. He went into a challenge with Joe Hart and looked to catch the keeper with his studs, although replays shows that he pulled out just in time. To his credit, Hart makes nothing of it and lets Suarez know that he know there was no malice intended.

Liverpool are pushing for an equaliser in the closing stages here as City look to defend their incredible home record in the league this season. Both sides have played their part in a superb match, and it is just a shame that the winning goal looks like coming from a mistake from Mignolet.

Lee Mason brings an end to an incredible match at the Etihad between two attack-minded teams who played some really good, entertaining football. City come out with their 100% home record intact but this was the toughest match they've had here in the league this season. Liverpool certainly held their own, but they drop down to fourth while City move up into second.

The goals all came in the first half, with Liverpool taking the lead through Philippe Coutinho after some good play by both Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling. City equalised courtesy of a fine header from Vincent Kompany before going into the break with a one-goal lead when Mignolet's howler allowed Negredo's effort to bounce over the line.

It may have been a goalless second half, but it was by no means boring. Liverpool had two glorious chances to equalise through Johnson and Sterling, while City continued to look dangerous on every attack. The game certainly lived up to its pre-match billing, and both sides showed exactly when they are competing at the top end of the table.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was certainly one of the best games of the season so far. City come out on top with a narrow victory to maintain their 100% league record at the Etihad this season, but Liverpool's performance was also a statement of intent that they can hang with their fellow title contenders. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction and analysis, which will be on site shortly. From me, though, it is goodbye!