Manchester City vs Everton: Pep Guardiola's side restore Premier League lead

Re-live the action from Etihad Stadium

Pep Guardiola reacts to Manchester City's win over Hoffenheim

Gabriel Jesus struck twice as champions Manchester City reclaimed top spot in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Everton at the Etihad Stadium.

Raheem Sterling also got on the scoresheet, coming off the bench after a difficult week in the headlines, to make the game safe after the lively Dominic Calvert-Lewin had given Everton hope.

City's performance marked a strong return to form after last week's first league loss of the season at Chelsea and put pressure back on rivals Liverpool ahead of their clash with Manchester United on Sunday.

City were further lifted by the return of Kevin De Bruyne as a substitute after six weeks out while Sergio Aguero was also back in the squad, although he did not come off the bench.

Key Points

• Man City: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Delph, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Sane.
• Subs: Stones, Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne, Zinchenko, Foden, Muric.
• Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Mina, Keane, Zouma, Digne, Calvert-Lewin, Andre Gomes, Sigurdsson, Bernard, Richarlison.
• Subs: Baines, Walcott, Tosun, Schneiderlin, Stekelenburg, Davies, Lookman.

[15 December 2018 10:46 · Mark Critchley]

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Premier League lunchtime clash between Manchester City and Everton, brought to you from the Etihad Stadium.

The teams are set to be unveiled at 11:30am when we'll begin our full build-up to the day's action, before the match kicks off at 12:30pm.

[15 December 2018 11:34 · Nathan Jacobs]

  ↵Team news - Manchester City line up:

[15 December 2018 11:35 · Nathan Jacobs]

An interesting selection from Guardiola sees Sterling, Aguero and De Bruyne al start from the bench while Mahrez and Jesus and Sterling start up front. 

Otamendi gets the pick ahead of Stones meanwhile Fabian Delph replaces Zinchenko at left back. 

[15 December 2018 11:36 · Nathan Jacobs]

Meanwhile for Everton, Marco Silva sends this team out to try and disturb the champions: 

[15 December 2018 11:41 · Nathan Jacobs]

Another interesting selection this afternoon as the Portuguese is obviously looking to slow City's rhythm with a five at the back. 

Gueye misses out and Walcott drops to the bench with Zouma joining Keane and Mina as a centre half triplet, with Coleman and Digne on either wing. 

Calvert Lewin leads the line with Richarlison taking Walcott's place on the wing. 

It's set up to be a fascinating encounter. 

Get your predictions in below. 

[15 December 2018 11:51 · Nathan Jacobs]

STAT ATTACK: 

- Manchester City have only won two of their past seven league and cup games against Everton, keeping a solitary clean sheet.

- The three most recent Premier League meetings at the Etihad Stadium have been drawn.

Do City have reason to be anxious ahead of today's kick off then? It could be two Premier League games without a win for the first time since April 2017. 

BBC Sport

[15 December 2018 12:26 · Nathan Jacobs]

The two teams are in the tunnel and we're five minutes away from kick off here at the Etihad. 

Be sure to stay here for all of the game's updates. 

[15 December 2018 12:30 · Nathan Jacobs]

Leroy Sane has 7 goals and 3 assists in his last 10 appearances. 

He's my shout for a goal today. 

Anyway, Bernardo gets us underway. 

[15 December 2018 12:34 · Nathan Jacobs]

Manchester City 0-0 Everton - 3 mins EVERTON CHANCE! 

Sigurdsson threads a lovely ball through the City defenders, finding Calvert Lewin's run. 

The ball is slightly behind him but he makes space and takes a shot with his left foot that Ederson has to get his fingertips on to clear. 

Positive start to the game. 

[15 December 2018 12:34 · Nathan Jacobs]

The flag went up for offside anyway (albeit wrongly)...