December 25, 2024

Manchester City v West Brom: Premier League – live!

West Brom #WestBrom

3.38pm EST 15:38

38 min: De Bruyne supplies Foden with a sumptuous through ball. Foden nonchalantly swivels and looks to turn away from Ajayi, but the West Brom defender makes life difficult and City have to settle for a corner. City work the subsequent ball towards the back post, where Cancelo arrives unmarked. He volleys wide.

3.35pm EST 15:35

35 min: Cancelo is beckoned to shoot and he wellies at goal from 30 yards. His shot is not lacking in power but Johnstone sees it all the way. This is, sadly, a game of attack v defence.

Updated at 3.36pm EST

3.32pm EST 15:32

32 min: Conor Gallagher takes aim from the edge of the box and the Chelsea loanee has Ederson sprawling down to his left. That was a decent hit. West Brom must not allow their heads to drop otherwise this game could spiral.

Updated at 3.33pm EST

3.31pm EST 15:31

GOAL! Man City 1-0 West Brom (Gündogan, 30)

Sterling gets to the byline, just about keeps his balance and lays the ball on a plate for Gündogan, who finishes emphatically. That is a killer for West Brom, who have been dogged in defence but that one slip has cost them. Sterling got in down the right flank, made Gibbs look stupid and cut it back for Gündogan to do the rest.

Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan slots in the opening goal. Photograph: Matt McNulty/Manchester City FC/Getty Images

Updated at 3.35pm EST

3.30pm EST 15:30

28 min: Gundogan knocks the ball along to Rodri, the ball trickling through the legs of referee Peter Bankes en route. They are building patiently, probing for a clear opening …

Updated at 3.33pm EST

3.27pm EST 15:27

27 min: Sterling comes alive in the box after collecting a pass from Benjamin Mendy. He beats Furlong but not Matt Phillips, who shepherds the ball to safety, earning West Brom a goal-kick. They have stood firm when required.

3.25pm EST 15:25

25 min: … Rodri leaps above Livermore – but nods over! West Brom made sure there was plenty of traffic around the City midfielder. Bilic will be happy with this and, remember, they have spurned the best opening so far, when Grant failed to trouble Ederson.

Updated at 3.26pm EST

3.24pm EST 15:24

23 min: West Brom essentially have a back six out of possession. In fairness, it is working for them so far. They have been workmanlike if not inspirational. City win yet another corner …

Updated at 3.24pm EST

3.21pm EST 15:21

20 min: On halfway Dias nudges it along to Ake, who promptly gives it back. Then Gundogan takes over. He works it back to Dias. It is all very neat and tidy. But City’s patient probing is yet to carve a bona fide opening. They’re hogging the ball, at least.

Updated at 3.22pm EST

3.18pm EST 15:18

18 min: Ilkay Gündogan sprays a Hollywood pass towards the flank in search of Sterling – but it is a little stay, much to Guardiola’s frustration. More often than not, West Brom have 11 men behind the ball. City are trying to wear them down.

3.16pm EST 15:16

16 min: … cleared by Dara O’Shea, who did well to see the ball out a moment ago. Johnstone plunged West Brom into trouble with a poor kick, allowing Sterling to race forward. West Brom get away with it but back City come, Foden propelling them forward down the left flank and he wins another corner, which is cleared.

3.14pm EST 15:14

14 min: Sumptuous interplay as De Bruyne, Gundogan and Jesus pop it around … but then the offside flag goes up. Party over.

3.12pm EST 15:12

13 min: … it’s floated high into the box and that is easy for Sam Johnstone to claim, straight down his throat. That’s the first time the West Brom goalkeeper has been really called upon.

Updated at 3.13pm EST

3.11pm EST 15:11

12 min: De Bruyne buys a free-kick off Ajayi, 30 yards from goal …

Updated at 3.12pm EST

3.11pm EST 15:11

9 min: Grant will be kicking himself. He did the hard part, stepping inside Ake after the ball deflected off Cancelo. But the finish was poor and, in the end, it was a fairly comfortable save for Ederson. How Slaven Bilic could do with his £15m signing making a dent.

3.09pm EST 15:09

8 min: Ederson saves well from Karlan Grant – but the West Brom forward should have buried it! He was allowed to roam into the box, cutting inside Nathan Ake before pulling the trigger with his right foot. But it was tame – powder-puff, if you will – and the lack of conviction allows the City goalkeeper to push it clear.

3.08pm EST 15:08

7 min: … it comes to nothing. And what a chance up the other end!

Updated at 3.09pm EST

3.05pm EST 15:05

5 min: Ilkay Gündogan being preferred to Fernandinho suggests City are going to go more front-foot than that lukewarm derby a few days ago. City win a corner …

3.04pm EST 15:04

3 min: O’Shea plays a ropey pass towards Kieran Gibbs and, although painfully undercooked, Raheem Sterling cannot nick it away and gallop clear. That’s another little let-off for West Brom. City are feeling themselves into the occasion.

3.02pm EST 15:02

2 min: Cancelo bombs down the right flank, breezing beyond Grady Diangana, who is not the best defender in the world. He then plays a one-two with Kevin De Bruyne but the Belgium midfielder overcooks the return pass ever so slightly.

3.02pm EST 15:02

2 min: Manchester City are stroking the ball about nicely, as you’d expect. West Brom look compact and organised. They need to stay that way.

2.57pm EST 14:57

The teams lineup at the Etihad. Kick-off is almost upon us …

Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus kneels in support of Black Lives Matter. Photograph: Martin Rickett/Reuters

Updated at 3.04pm EST

2.53pm EST 14:53

A big (and very late) goal at Molineux …

Wolves v Chelsea: Premier League – live!

2.51pm EST 14:51

Team news news: to recap, Manchester City make four changes from the derby stalemate on Sunday. Benjamin Mendy, Nathan Aké, Phil Foden and Ilkay Gündogan replace Kyle Walker, John Stones, Fernandinho and Mahrez. West Brom also tweak personnel, with Slaven Bilic opting for three changes. The captain, Jake Livermore, returns in place of Filip Krovinovic, while Kieran Gibbs and Grady Diangana replace Branislav Ivanovic and Callum Robinson, both of whom have to make do with a spot on the bench.

Updated at 2.52pm EST

2.42pm EST 14:42

Wolves v Chelsea is drawing to a close at Molineux. Meanwhile, the teams are limbering up at the Etihad. Guardiola is all smiles pre-match. He is hoping his side re-find their killer instinct. They are 17 goals down compared to this stage last season and Riyad Mahrez is their top scorer with four goals. Jesus again gets the nod up front but at least Agüero is an option off the bench.

Wolves v Chelsea: Premier League – live!

Updated at 2.45pm EST

2.28pm EST 14:28

The teams!

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Cancelo, Aké, Ruben Dias, Mendy; Rodri, Gündogan, De Bruyne, Sterling, Foden; Jesus

Subs: Steffen, Walker, Agüero, Laporte, Bernardo, Torres, Mahrez

West Brom (3-5-2): Johnstone; Ajayi, Gibbs, O’Shea; Furlong, Gallagher, Sawyers, Livermore, Phillips; Diangana, Grant

Subs: Button, Peltier, Ivanovic, Krovinovic, Grosicki, Robinson, Austin

Referee: Peter BankesVAR: Martin Atkinson

10.11am EST 10:11

Preamble

Believe it or not, this is ninth v 19th. The Manchester derby was far from riveting but Pep Guardiola’s side remain in a good place. Victory would take them within three points of the summit. The good news for West Brom? Sergio Agüero might only be fit enough for the bench. The bad news? City can call on Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Ferran Torres, Phil Foden, and have not conceded in more than nine hours of Pep-ball. Slaven Bilic’s position is under increasing scrutiny following five defeats in six matches, but the Croatian was never going to be judged on trips to the league’s elite. West Brom have shown glimpses of quality and gave Tottenham a fright last month but, in truth, they have been porous defensively, shipping a league-high 25 goals. The only thing preventing West Brom from propping up the table is Sheffield United’s dire start and defeat would see them equal their club record for fewest points after 13 games. “We have to frustrate them, we have to make it hard for them,” Bilic said.

Kick-off: 8pm (GMT)

Pep Guardiola’s turn to pragmatism leaves Manchester City’s aura fading | Jonathan Wilson

Updated at 12.25pm EST

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