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

In all fairness, City have had an absolute pig of a schedule in recent weeks and that continues into the weekend with a second trip to the North-East in the space of seven days. Pep Guardiola would have probably preferred to have spent the week preparing for that FA Cup fixture at Middlesbrough, but they have been provided with the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Chelsea due to the rearranging of this match.

Even if City do win this match, Chelsea's advantage will only be down to eight points but it's all about momentum at this stage of the season. The Blues have put together another lengthy unbeaten run, but so have City and they have matched their rivals throughout the opening nine weeks of 2017. Of course, they are going to need to out-perform the Blues from here until the middle of May but Guardiola is at least being encouraged by the level of performance which is currently being produced.

As for Stoke, it has been another standard Premier League campaign from their perspective. They are already effectively assured of their place in the division for next division and are currently favourites to achieve yet another top-10 spot, but Mark Hughes and his side will have aspirations of causing a surprise against the bigger sides and giving themselves the best possible chance of finishing in eighth place. They are the underdogs to gain a result at the Etihad Stadium but they are able to play with a certain sense of freedom in the North-West this evening.

Anyway, without further ado, let's crack on with the team news. With just over 72 hours passing since their win at Sunderland, has Guardiola opted to make alterations to his side...?

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Caballero, Sagna, Kolarov, Otamendi, Clichy, Fernandinho, Navas, De Bruyne, Yaya Toure, Sane, Aguero

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Zabaleta, Nolito, Delph, Silva, Stones, Iheanacho

STOKE CITY XI: Grant, Bardsley, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters, Cameron, Allen, Diouf, Ramadan, Walters, Berahino

STOKE CITY SUBSTITUTES: Given, Muniesa, Whelan, Afellay, Adam, Imbula, Crouch

Let's start with City, who have made three changes from the starting lineup at the Stadium of Light. The most omission is Raheem Sterling, who is rested, with Jesus Navas being handed a rare start on the right flank. Kevin De Bruyne comes back into the team at the expense of David Silva, while Nicolas Otamendi replaces John Stones. The remainder of the team is expected, with Sergio Aguero looking to improve on his recent record of five goals in three matches.

As for Stoke, we finally get to see Saido Berahino from the start. He has been preferred to Peter Crouch, who drops down to the substitutes' bench, but Marko Arnautovic and Glen Johnson both miss out through injury. Phil Bardsley comes in at right-back, while Jonathan Walters and Mame Biram Diouf have both been provided with roles in the XI.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents the 111th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive match, with City claiming 49 victories in comparisons to the 37 wins for Stoke. Due to their meetings in the FA Cup, there have already been 18 matches between the two teams since the start of 2010, although Stoke have won just three of those games.

The most recent match between the two sides came last August as City ran out 4-1 victors in the Potteries. Mike Dean awarded a soft penalty to each side but two goals from Nolito ensured that City won their first Premier League away fixture of the season. Click here to read our on-the-whistle report from that game.

It's sometimes forgotten that Mark Hughes spent a chunk of his managerial career at Manchester City. Hughes was famously replaced by Roberto Mancini, who went on to lead the club to the Premier League title, but Hughes spent 77 games in the dugout before his arrival, winning 36 of them and losing just the 25. It has been over seven years since he left the Etihad Stadium - doesn't time fly!

During the January transfer window, Stoke hit the headlines after finally agreeing a deal with West Bromwich Albion to sign Berahino but Hughes has opted to ease him into life in the Potteries with four substitute appearances. However, he gets his chance from the start tonight as he bids to end a considerable scoring drought. Much of his game-time over the last 12 months has been from the bench but you have to go all the back to February 27 for the last time Berahino scored in the Premier League. It remains his only goal in his last 23 outings...

Another player making a rare appearance this evening is Navas. He has spent the season playing second fiddle to the likes of Sterling and De Bruyne, and tonight's inclusion represents just his sixth start in the Premier League during the current campaign. He has played just 507 minutes in total, meaning that he will be aware that he has to take his opportunity. He did set up one of City's goals against Huddersfield Town last Wednesday, however, so maybe he possesses a bit of confidence.

PREDICTION! Stoke's last away trip saw them lose heavily to Tottenham Hotspur and it is difficult to see them doing any better at the Etihad. City have clicked in recent weeks and with a rested De Bruyne and an in-form Aguero in their ranks, we can only see a comfortable City win. We are going for 3-0.

The two teams have made their way out at the Etihad Stadium. Stoke appear to have brought quite a few supporters with them. Hardly surprising given that the club aren't located too far away but they could make a difference in the North-West should their side come up against it.

Stoke get us underway.

The visitors have started positively with two in attack but City have already earned the first corner of the match. However, it was played short and City retreated back towards the halfway line.

Stoke aren't doing themselves any favours in their own half. Already, they have gifted possession back to City on a couple of occasions and you just can't do that at the Etihad Stadium.

CHANCE! What a chance for Stoke. Pieters delivers an excellent cross towards the back post for Diouf and he should score after Clichy slips. However, the attacker does the same and his scuffed shot is easily saved by Caballero.

City responded with a couple of threatening crosses into the middle but Stoke defend them well. The Potters are continuing to show ambition in the final third, too. I can't see this game ending goalless...

There's a lot of stray passes from both sides. There's plenty of empty seats too. Other than failing to find a goal, I'd say things are going very well for Stoke at this stage. City are yet to register a shot.

Ramadan is a bit of an unknown quantity in the Stoke side but he does brilliantly to turn a City defender and advance towards the byline. His end product is poor but more encouraging signs from the Potters.

CHANCE! I tell you what, Stoke will wonder how they aren't winning this game. A free kick from the right finds Martins Indi inside the penalty area and he should be able to control the ball and get a shot away. Instead, he does nothing with it and it rolls through to Caballero.

City are still struggling to create anything in the final third. Sane thought that he was about to get in on goal but Diouf, of all people, tracked back and produced an excellent last-ditch challenge. His manager will be delighted.

BOOKING! Shawcross goes into the referee's notebook but he makes absolutely no contact with Aguero. The Argentine has either tripped himself or Bardsley has run across him.

SHOT! From the resulting free kick, Kolarov forces a solid stop out of Grant, who has had very little to do so far.

To correct what I just said about that booking, it was Bardsley who was cautioned - not Shawcross.

City are already complaining about time-wasting, all because Bardsley didn't jog fast enough to take a throw-in. That's pretty desperate! The home side are still probing away but for now, they are creating nothing in open play.

Remember this incase it turns out to be important later in the game. Toure has just deliberately handled the ball to stop a Stoke pass finding its target and the referee doesn't book him. Hughes looks annoyed and rightly so.

Toure and De Bruyne are starting to lead some rapid counter-attacks from City but either the final ball, or the run of Sane or Aguero, is preventing the home side from taking full advantage.

SHOT! We'll count this as a shot because there have been so few but it shouldn't count given it goes miles off target. The ball fell invitingly to Diouf at the back post but his effort went at least 15 yards over the bar.

There's less than five minutes to go until the break and we are still yet to see a save from Grant from open play. If Stoke can survive until the break, it will represent job done. They are putting in a shift at the Etihad.

There will be one minute of added-on time. I think the City fans want half time now...

The half-time whistle goes in the North-West and Stoke have managed to reach half time without allowing City a shot on target from open play. They've also created a couple of opportunities of their own and Hughes will be delighted with this so far.

The two teams are making their way back out. It doesn't look like Guardiola has opted to make any alterations. That will change if the game continues along the same pattern.

City get us back underway.

This second half has started in the same manner in which the first ended. Stoke are persisting with the two in attack although it has to be said, Berahino and Walters haven't done much with the ball when they've had it.

Moments after I say that, Berahino latches onto a flick from Walters and he's almost through on goal. Clichy and Otamendi combined to prevent the January signing from getting a shot on goal and he has to be content with a corner.

BOOKING! Sane throws himself to the ground to try to get a foul out of Bardsley, who has already been booked. He is deservedly booked for diving.

City are starting to get into this game now and after Sane breaks forward, he plays an intelligent pass to Aguero who is waiting on the edge of the penalty area. However, his goalbound strike is superbly blocked by Pieters. I think that was heading into the corner.

SUBSTITUTION! Guardiola decides to introduce David Silva for Navas. He looked far from amused.

CHANCE! There were defenders in the way but this is a chance for Sane, who shoots over from around 14 yards out. Stoke have reached the hour mark without conceding. Big 30 minutes or so coming up.

Stoke remain resolute but they are beginning to get stretched down the flanks. I don't think Bardsley is 100% fit either. City could have done with Sterling on the bench.

Silva have ignited some pace into City's play. He's doing what De Bruyne should have been doing for the first hour. I think Stoke are starting to think about a point. They are getting deeper and deeper.

SUBSTITUTION! Diouf has been one of Stoke's best players but he has taken a knock and needs to be replaced by Ibrahim Afellay.

SHOT! When play gets back underway, City put together a flowing move but it ends with Toure curling over from just over 20 yards out. A waste.

CHANCE! City should be ahead. Silva plays a one-two with Fernandinho and it allows him to move into the penalty area but despite only having to find the bottom corner from 12 yards out, he drags his shot marginally wide.

SUBSTITUTION! That's the end of Toure's night with the midfielder being replaced by Kelechi Iheanacho.

CHANCE! City are dominating now. After an Aguero effort is deflected wide of the post, the resulting corner finds Otamendi who heads onto the top of the net.

SUBSTITUTION! Berahino has struggled with his fitness this season but he has worked extremely hard tonight. He is given the final 11 minutes plus added-on time off as Glenn Whelan comes on in his place.

CHANCE! A rare opportunity for Stoke comes from Afellay crossing for Walters, but his header goes over the bar from around 12 yards out. Difficult chance.

Stoke are still throwing everything at this. Hughes would probably prefer them to remain disciplined instead! Some of their players look exhausted. Hughes will surely use his final substitution.

BOOKING! Walters hacks down De Bruyne and it's an easy yellow card for the referee.

SUBSTITUTION! Here comes that final chance with Giannelli Imbula replacing Allen.

CHANCE! Aguero hasn't done much tonight but he is always a danger. He twists and turns into the area but his shot is into the side-netting.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

CHANCE! How haven't City scored?! An outstanding cross from De Bruyne finds Iheanacho but he diverts it wide after Aguero got in his way. He was just six yards out.

The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and Stoke have managed to claim an impressive point at the home of Guardiola's side. They rode their luck at times but the point is fully deserved! That will be all from Sports Mole from this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.