Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium. The Citizens can win a fifth top-flight crown in record time this evening should they pick up all three points on home soil against their city neighbours, who are themselves left battling for a second-placed finish in the remaining weeks.

A third title in seven seasons for City may now be a formality, but their rivals would love nothing more than to delay those celebrations but at least another week. The Red Devils will also be aware that one of their proud records is on the line today, as the Citizens can win the top-flight crown on April 7 - the joint-earliest ever. Before looking at the fixture in some more depth, let us first check out the confirmed team news...

MANCHESTER CITY TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Ederson; Danilo, Kompany, Otamendi, Delph; Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernardo; D.Silva, Sterling, Sane

SUBS: Bravo, Laporte, Walker, Aguero, G Jesus, Yaya Toure, De Bruyne

Starting with a look at the home team, Pep Guardiola has gone with less changes than many predicted. Four in all from the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool a few days ago, including a return to the side for Raheem Sterling - a player who was unlucky to be dropped to the bench at Anfield. Sterling's return coincides with Gabriel Jesus's absence, and it may well be that the Englishman leads the line this evening.

Fabian Delph also returns at left-back, taking over from Aymeric Laporte who has started the last two games there but did not look all that comfortable. There is also a place on the opposite flank for Danilo, giving Kyle Walker a welcome breather ahead of the Liverpool match, while Bernardo Silva - who has got better and better this season - is the fourth player to be brought back in.

Sergio Aguero is deemed only fit enough for a place on the bench, so City will start without a recognised striker tonight. I initially had this down as a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sterling leading the line, but it will more likely be Guardiola's more familiar 4-3-3 - Leroy Sane and one of Bernardo or David Silva joining the Englishman in the forward line. Either way you look at it, and even accounting for the four changes, this is a fluid and talented XI.

MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: De Gea; Young, Bailly, Smalling, Valencia; Matic, Pogba, Herrera; Lingard, Lukaku, Sanchez

SUBS: Pereira, Lindelof, Rojo, Mata, Martial, Rashford, McTominay

There is less confusion with regard to how Jose Mourinho will set his team out, going with a familiar 4-3-3 formation that is spearheaded by Romelu Lukaku. The Portuguese did alter things slightly against Swansea City last time out by going with just Nemanja Matic in the deep defensive position, but he was always likely to revert back to type for this one. This is not a match to go all out attack.

Paul Pogba drops into a deeper position alongside Matic, and it is Ander Herrera - not Scott McTominay who completes that three-man midfield. Herrera is one of two players to have been brought in from the win over Swansea last weekend, along with centre-back Eric Bailly to partner Chris Smalling. Juan Mata and Victor Lindelof make way from the starting lineup, both dropping to the bench.

Marcos Rojo returned to training at the start of the week and is back among the subs, but there is no place in the squad for Phil Jones and Daley Blind. There is also another snub for Anthony Martial, who is reportedly keen to exit the club in the summer, with Alexis Sanchez now being preferred out on the left. Jesse Lingard is on the right, meanwhile, and he is very much an in-form player right now.

It was always going to be interesting to see just how strong Manchester City's starting lineup was going to be this evening. Even with four changes made to the side that lost 3-0 to Liverpool in midweek, you would still fancy the Citizens to get the job done on the basis of their league form over the past eight months. Jose Mourinho makes two changes, on the other hand, bringing in Ander Herrera and Eric Bailly.

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Man City head into this match 16 points clear of closest challengers United and can win the title in a record time with victory on home soil. The Citizens are hardly in the best of moods, though, having been humbled by Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night when conceding three goals in 19 first-half minutes, leaving their hopes of progression in the Champions League in tatters.

It had all been going so well for Guardiola's men up until that trip to Anfield, and now they need to produce a performance of a lifetime if they are to not just stop their opponents from scoring but score three goals of their own. A Premier League and EFL Cup double would be a terrific achievement, of course, although at the same time it would be a little underwhelming considering they were on for a quadruple not so long ago.

Still, it has to be emphasised just how impressive City have been in the Premier League this term, drawing three and losing one of their 31 matches. That leaves them requiring just three more points and, as luck would have it, they can achieve it against the side they dislike more than any other. Should they pick up that 28th win of the season, they will win the title wit more games to spare than any previous top-flight champion.

It will also mark the earliest point in the calendar year that a team has won the English top flight since this very day in 1956 when Sir Matt Busby's Man United side beat Blackpool - who just happened to be their closest challengers - by a 2-1 scoreline. History therefore beckons for the Citizens if they can pass this one final challenge, although it must be said that a draw or defeat would not exactly be disastrous.

City have won the title on four previous occasions and twice in the past six seasons, but this will be just as sweet considering just how far off the pace they were 12 months ago. Inconsistency plagued their season last time around, yet with some smart purchases in the summer transfer window Guardiola has transformed this club into one of the most feared on the continent... unless Liverpool are the opponents!

This season really has been one to remember for City supporters, even if it does not end with Vincent Kompany lifting the Champions League trophy next month, as they have stormed their won to the top-flight crown and have also added further silverware to the cabinet in the EFL Cup. The Citizens have suffered just three meaningful defeats all campaign, two of which have come against Liverpool.

The one defeat in the league will count for little in the grand scheme of things, but the 3-0 reverse to the Reds a few days back and the 1-0 loss away at Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup were both bitter pills to swallow. City now have six matches left to secure the Prem title, which will no doubt soften their possible European heartbreak a little, starting with the visit of United and then a trip to Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.

Taking all competitions into account, City have actually lost three of their last eight matches. It could be argued that they are not quite at the levels shown in the opening three quarters of the season, although at the same time the manner of their 3-1 win over Everton last time out in the Premier League shows that they really are one of the finest English footballing sides ever assembled.

DID YOU KNOW? Manchester City are unbeaten in 27 home Premier League matches, dropping points in just five of those and winning 14 in a row since a 1-1 draw with Everton in their first game here this season. Only twice has a team recorded a longer winning streak - City with 20 between March 2011 and March 12, and Man United with 19 between October 2010 and October 2011.

Strangely enough, though, City have failed to keep back-to-back home clean sheets in the Premier League since September when beating Crystal Palace and Liverpool 5-0 here. That is something that they will hope to change this evening, but breaching David de Gea's net at the opposite end of the field will no doubt prove just as hard a task. No keeper has kept out the opposition more often that the Spaniard.

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No Aguero in the starting lineup today, but we can expect to see him at some point as he needs minuted to regain fitness. The Argentina international is stuck on 199 goals for Man City, including six in his last six against United, though he has fired a blank in the last three in all competitions. Opposite number Lukaku, meanwhile, has scored five goals in 33 away league matches against the established top six - both coming here.

United make the short trip to the Etihad Stadium sitting one point clear of third-placed Liverpool with two games in hand to spare. The Reds played out a goalless draw with Everton in the day's early kickoff, which Jurgen Klopp looked happy enough with after rotating half of his outfield players for the clash at Goodison Park. It does mean, however, that the Red Devils are strong favourites to claim second place.

Should they seal second and go all the way in the FA Cup, with Tottenham Hotspur up next in the semi-finals, then this would go down as a decent second season at the helm for Mourinho. Having also claimed the EFL Cup and Europa League last time out, it will also set up United nicely for a more consistent Premier League title charge next time around - that remains the top target for club chiefs.

United are undoubtedly in a strong position to finish second following Liverpool's stalemate with Merseyside neighbours Everton. They are in good form, having won four league games in a row - their best streak since going six matches without dropping points between December 2016 and January 2017. They were not exactly easy games, either, as they beat both Chelsea and Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford in that run.

Mourinho's men still have Man City and Arsenal to face, so finishing second is not assured just yet, but they do have favourable fixtures on the whole. That culminates with a home match against Watford, which supporters will hope is not their final games of the season overall - the FA Cup final is being held a week later. All in all, the Red Devils have won six and drawn one of their last eight outings.

That solitary defeat was a costly one, however, as United went down 2-1 at home to Sevilla in a shock Champions League last-16 exit. There is still therefore a bit of pressure on Mourinho, who knows that he has to get his summer spending spot on this time around if he is to close the gap on City next time around. The Citizens may have spent astronomical sums, but it has paid off with success in two competitions thus far.

The bad news for United is that they have won only one of their last 10 away league games against big-six opposition, drawing three of those, with their solitary victory coming at Arsenal in December. As mentioned a little earlier, meanwhile, star striker Romelu Lukaku has scored just five goals in 33 such matches, although two of those came here during his time with Everton.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Manchester United have lost eight of their last 13 encounters with Manchester City - as many as in the previous 49. The Red Devils are unbeaten on their last two trips to the Etihad Stadium, however, keeping a clean sheet in both of those games. Jose Mourinho has beaten Pep Guardiola once in seven league meetings - a 2-1 win for Real Madrid over Barcelona in April 2012.

With kickoff now just a couple of minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Pep Guardiola: "We have three massive games, United, Liverpool and Tottenham. We have just a few days between each game. We have to see the condition of the players. We'll pick a team to win the game against United... we have one eye on Tuesday though. I'd rather be facing United with a better result than we had [in midweek]. The result against United will help emotionally to prepare for the game on Tuesday."

Jose Mourinho: "My motivation is to finish second. Mathematically the top four is not done. That is first objective. After that I don't hide. In practical terms second, third, fourth is the same because we don't win the title but we qualify for the Champions League group phase. But I prefer to finish second."

KICKOFF! We are up and running at the Etihad Stadium in the 176th Manchester derby. Manchester United, sporting red tops and black shorts, are aiming to delay rivals Manchester City's title celebrations by at least a further week.

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Sane exchanges passes on the edge of the box but could not get a shot away. Danilo could, though, putting his boot through it from all of 30 yards and managing to pick out the Man United fans behind the goal - terrible effort from the full-back.

PENALTY APPEAL! United looking organised in midfield but David Silva has just been slipped clean through down the left. The Spaniard crossed the ball into the middle and Young cut it out - illegally, according to City's players. I'll need a replay to clear that one up.

The ball did indeed hit Young's hand, but it would be harsh to class this one as deliberate handball. The full-back slipped and knew little about it, so referee Martin Atkinson made the right call from that very early decision.

On the day that United's rivals can win the title, Pogba has gone with a sky blue hair colour today. Not sure if that will go down too well, particularly on the back of Guardiola's comments on the eve of this huge showdown.

United continuing to press high up the pitch but City are finding some gaps to break into. The referee has just upset home fans for blowing his whistle with Sterling one-on-one with his man out wide for an alleged foul on Ashley Young.

Still just that one Danilo attempt so far, which sailed high and wide in the opening few minutes. City have also had a penalty shout turned down for handball, although that appeared to be the correct call from Martin Atkinson.

The Red Devils have definitely worked on their shape heading into this game, but City are still managing to get in behind. Only once has that looked like paying off, with David Silva's cross being cut out by Young with the unintentional use of his hand.

Incidentally, Bernardo Silva looks like being the player tasked with leading the line through the middle, with Sterling and Sane either side. Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero are among the Citizens' subs for this evening's clash.

The hosts looking the more threatening of the two teams in the opening quarter of the match, but finding a way through will obviously prove very tough against a well-drilled United side. United have not conceded on their last two trips here.

Lingard makes a run around the back but Lukaku cannot quite find him from his deep starting position. United yet to register a shot of any sort in the opening 21 minutes; City's only real efforts ended with the ball in the stands.

SAVE! The first save of the evening is made by David de Gea in the Man United goal. The ball was prodded through by Raheem Sterling for Bernardo Silva, who could not get the beating of De Gea down low - smart stop.

Vincent Kompany just loves score headers in big games! This latest one may just win Man City their third Premier League title, as he got in front of Chris Smalling and powered the ball past David de Gea from the edge of the six-yard box.

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Man City closing in on another title thanks to Vincent Kompany's powerful header 26 minutes in. Smalling attempted to pull the centre-back down after losing his man, but it did not matter and now the hosts simply need to see things through.

Young is unhappy with Lukaku after his cross goes straight out of play without anybody near it. United have offered very little in an attacking sens this evening so far, but they now need to come out of their shells as they are a goal down.

Star carving their name into the title! Man City have themselves a second with a little over half an hour played, courtesy of a brilliant finish from Ilkay Gundogan. The midfielder turned in the box and prodded the ball out of David de Gea's reach.

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CHANCE! That turn from Gundogan was something special, taking his man out of the game and then getting the better of De Gea - not many players have been able to say that this season. Sterling clean through for a third, which he skies.

Sterling was a little too desperate to take that chance on his stronger foot. It allowed Valencia to get across and put him under enough pressure for the shot to become more difficult, and in the end he could not even test De Gea.

CHANCE! City two goals ahead but it really should be three. The party has already started around the Etihad Stadium, with a little over five minutes of the first half still left to play. Sterling has just sent another shot over the bar from close range.

Sterling with the type of finish of a winger playing through the middle. That is now two glorious chances the England international has squandered - could that come back to haunt the home side? Probably not, but only time will tell. Herrera booked for taking out Fernandinho.

SAVE! The Citizens knocking around the ball with ease at the moment. Raheem Sterling finally gets to shoot on his left foot, but it is only marginally better than his right - De Gea with a simple stop to make down the middle.

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SAVE! Man City have created four big chances since going two goals in front. This latest one was for Ilkay Gundogan, who could only glance a deep cross into the hands of De Gea - he needed to go either side of the Spaniard.

Manchester City take a commanding two-goal lead into the interval, and in truth it could have been a whole lot worse for Manchester United. With the chances the Citizens created in the opening 45 minutes, I am sure even a few Liverpool fans are looking on a little concerned right now.

United attempted to press City high up the pitch and remain compact in the final third, but the hosts were still able to create a number of chances in the first half. The first sight of goal arrived five minutes in when David Silva was played in behind with one pass, only for Ashley Young to cut out the cross. City felt that the full-back used his hand to do so, and replays certainly suggested that was the case, but it would matter little as the Citizens soon made their dominance count.

David de Gea pulled off a smart stop down low to keep out Bernardo Silva, just moments before Vincent Kompany got ahead of Chris Smalling to power a header past the Spaniard from the edge of the six-yard box. Five minutes later the second arrived through Ilkay Gundogan, who turned in the box to work a yard of space and then simply poked the ball into the bottom corner.

City, beaten in three of their last eight heading into this match, had no intention of sitting back and they really should have been out of sight before the interval. Raheem Sterling missed from a one-on-one when on his weaker foot, sending the ball over the crossbar, before doing likewise four minutes later from a slightly more awkward position.

The England international, used through the middle in the absence of a recognised striker, would complete his hat-trick of misses before the half-time whistle went as he picked out De Gea with his left-footed shot. A good opening also came and went for Gundogan, largely thanks to the positioning of De Gea to keep out the glanced header from a deep delivery.

MANCHESTER CITY SUBS: Bravo, Laporte, Walker, Aguero, G Jesus, Yaya Toure, De Bruyne

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Pereira, Lindelof, Rojo, Mata, Martial, Rashford, McTominay

RESTART! We are back under way at the Etihad Stadium, where neither manager has made any changes at the break. Half expected Jose Mourinho to turn to his bench at the interval, but he is clearly happy to wait for a little longer.

David de Gea actually managed more touches than any other United player in the first half. All the more surprising that Mourinho has stuck with things, though that will surely change if there is no response over the next five or 10 minutes.

SAVE! Better from United as they win themselves a couple of corners. They come to little, though from the next move Pogba did well to work some space for the shot, which Ederson had to deal with down to his bottom right.

OFF THE POST! Good play from Sterling to pick out Ilkay Gundogan - the scorer of the second goal - and the German so nearly found the back of the net. His shot left De Gea rooted but it clipped the frame of the goal on its way through.

United right back in the game through a fantastic team goal. Alexis Sanchez was heavily involved down the right, picking out Herrera who in turn chested the ball through for Pogba to lift over Ederson. The Red Devils are right back in this one!

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From absolutely nowhere, Man United are all square in this Manchester derby. It is Paul Pogba yet again, as he continues his run into the box to meet Alexis Sanchez's cross and head it past Ederson in the City goal. What a game we have on our hands now!

Alexis Sanchez heavily involved in both of those goals, though the credit has to go to Pogba for taking both of them. The travelling United fans now making themselves known, as David Silva's pullback is collected by De Gea - he should have gone for goal.

Lingard flashes a shot wide of Ederson's far post. Home fans now urging their side on, with United the side in the ascendancy and chasing a third goal. The Citizens ruing those numerous chances they missed in the first half.

YELLOW CARD! Raheem Sterling joins opposition players Ander Herrera and Romelu Lukaku in the referee's book. Neither manager yet to make any changes at what is a pivotal moment in this Premier League clash.

Sane and Gundogan stand over the free kick and it is the latter who eventually takes it, bending the ball a fair bit over the crossbar. Guardiola looks as though he is about to make a change or two, with Aguero among those warming-up.

An evenly-balanced match over the past 10 minutes or so since United's double. As things stand City will have to wait to win the Premier League title, but there is still plenty of time to play and that can all change in the remainder.

This is incredible! Man United, dreadful in the first half and two goals down, are a goal ahead with 20 minutes left to play. Chris Smalling, beaten by Vincent Kompany for the opener, volleys home Alexis Sanchez's free kick from eight yards.

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MANCHESTER CITY SUBS! Here comes the cavalry. David Silva goes straight down the tunnel with a slight injury problem, replaced by Kevin De Bruyne, while Gabriel Jesus is on for Bernardo Silva. What a thrilling finale we are in store for.

City not panicking just yet, but it is looking as though they will have to wait for their third Premier League title. Not many people would have predicted that at half time when they were two goals ahead and cruising towards three points.

MANCHESTER CITY SUB! A third and final sub for the home side - Sergio Aguero comes on for Ilkay Gundogan to join Gabriel Jesus in the forward line. Interestingly, Mourinho has held off making any changes thus far.

PENALTY APPEAL! Big shout for a Man City penalty at the end of a swift counter. De Bruyne slotted through Aguero, who was taken out by Young inside the box. Young caught his opponent right on the shin, but only after first getting a touch to the ball.

YELLOW CARD! Fernandinho is furious with the decision and has been cautioned, meaning that he will now miss City's league games against Tottenham and Swansea. Pogba also cautioned as things threaten to boil over.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Marcus Rashford replaces Alexis Sanchez for the closing stages. Debate still rumbles on regarding that earlier penalty shout - I guess it depends on which side of the divide you sit!

Great defending from Young at the back post to block the cross. Jesus then gets a shot away which was blocked by Smalling. A truly enthralling contest at the Etihad Stadium, with City in need of two goals to clinch the title... sound familiar?

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MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! Scott McTominay is now on for Jesse Lingard as United look to see this one through. This will be a huge victory for the Red Devils if they can hold on, although City will still be 13 points clear at the top.

SAVE! That man yet again - De Gea produces another huge save to push Aguero's header over the crossbar. The Argentina international is stuck on 199 goals for the club - that would have been a great moment to reach the landmark.

OFF THE POST! This initially looked to be a big save from De Gea but Sterling's shot actually hit the post and then the keeper. Five minutes have been added on here so there is still time for at least one more goal.

Man City the side asking all the questions as we enter the second of five added-on minutes at the Etihad Stadium. The Citizens will wonder quite how they trail in this contest, but credit must go to United for stepping things up.

YELLOW CARDS! Vincent Kompany and Gabriel Jesus both appear to have been shown yellow cards, making it six bookings for the home side, compared to three for the visitors. Victor Lindelof has just come on for Ander Herrera.

Martin Atkinson brings the match to an end - and what a match it was! The Citizens were two goals to the good at half time thanks to goals from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan - a scoreline that would have secured them a fifth top-flight crown. United hit back completely against the run of play, though, scoring twice through Paul Pogba early in the second half and then through Chris Smalling to stun their opponents.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the Etihad Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction from the 176th Manchester derby will be available elsewhere on the site shortly. Thanks for joining!