Manchester City have climbed to the top of the Premier League after a resounding 7-2 victory over Stoke City.
The Sky Blues hit three in the first half through Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and David Silva, with a Potters consolation coming from Mame Biram Diouf against the run of play.
Stoke threatened to make a game of it in the second period when Kyle Walker headed past his own keeper, but another Jesus strike, coupled with goals from Fernandinho, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva capped off the rout.
Find out how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's text commentary below.
2.00pmGood afternoon and welcome to our live text coverage of Manchester City's Premier League meeting with Stoke City, a game that could decide which team tops the table come the end of the day. There's an hour to go until kick off, but we'll have plenty of build-up for you between now and then. First up, team news...
2.02pmCITY XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph, De Bruyne, Silva, Fernandinho, Sterling, Sane, Jesus
2.03pmSTOKE XI: Butland; Edwards, Zouma, Wimmer, Pieters; Cameron, Fletcher; Diouf, Shaqiri, Choupo-Moting; Jese
2.04pmThe City bench looks like this...
SUBS | Bravo, Danilo, Gundogan, Aguero, Mangala, B. Silva, Toure #cityvstoke
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 14, 2017
2.04pmAnd Stoke's...
📝 #SCFC SUBS v @ManCity: Grant; Berahino, Afellay, Martins Indi, Adam, Crouch, Ramadan.
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) October 14, 2017
2.06pmSo, Manchester City have kept the faith in the side which defeated Chelsea 1-0 last time out courtesy of a Kevin De Bruyne strike, but there's big news among their substitutes as Sergio Aguero is passed fit to feature for the first time since his car crash two weeks ago.
2.08pmIt's an attacking lineup from Pep Guardiola, who has Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane leading the line with support from Raheem Sterling, and Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva also providing a goal threat from the midfield. Fernandinho will hold things together in the engine room.
2.12pmStoke have made two changes for the trip to the Etihad. Joe Allen misses out after suffering a concussion on international duty with Wales, so the Potters have added a defender to their line-up, handing a debut to 18-year-old Tom Edwards. Up front, Jese replaces Saido Berahino, who drops to the bench.
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2.16pmIt will be a baptism of fire for Edwards at City, who will be going all-out attack today. Victory could move them clear at the top of the table and Guardiola and his players will no doubt have that in their sights.
2.20pmRESULT! Liverpool versus Manchester United has just finished 0-0, and that's a game which has a major bearing on this match. It means City are guaranteed to end the day two points ahead of their City rivals if they manage to see off Stoke. You can read our report on the Anfield stalemate here.
2.24pmIt's a brave man who would bet on Stoke coming away with anything today, if their track record at the Etihad is anything to go by. They've won - and indeed scored - just once at this ground in nine visits. A 1-0 win in 2014, which came via a Mame Diouf wonder goal, was the last time they pulled off a shock here.
2.28pmGenerally speaking, City tend to be either incredibly prolific or goal shy against Stoke. For instance, in three out of their last six meetings, they've netted four times, but they failed to find the net in the other three.
2.32pmThis fixture finished 0-0 last season, and if Stoke keep a clean sheet today, it will be the first time they have ever shut City out in two consecutive away games. The Manchester giants, however, are unbeaten in 19 matches at home in all competitions. That's the Guardiola effect.
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2.36pmA win for City today would equal their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign, a record that dates back to their 2011-12 title-winning season, which began with seven wins and a draw. They're also on a five-match winning run in this competition and have kept four consecutive clean sheets.
2.40pmPre-match quotes from the two managers coming up...
2.40pmGUARDIOLA: "They [Stoke] are defensively well organised with quality up front in [Xherdan] Shaqiri, Jese and [Eric Maxim] Choupo-Moting. When they need the long balls, [Peter] Crouch is unstoppable in the air. Last season we were not able to beat them here at home. It'll be a tough game."
2.41pmHUGHES: "As good as they were last year they still felt they needed to go into the market and spend £200m to address a few areas of the team. That's the resources they have and they use them very, very well. They look a lot stronger this year, certainly than they were last year. It's a big test for us but it's not one we're not afraid of." (via BBC Sport)
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2.43pmSo what are Stoke's chances of causing an upset today? Not great if their recent form is scrutinised - The Potters' only win in their past 11 Premier League away matches came at Southampton in May, and they failed to score in seven of those. Their 2-1 win over the same opposition before the international break ended a winless run of five games in all competitions.
2.46pmPREDICTION: I would be gobsmacked if City fail to win today. They're in devastating form and should be able to do so convincingly. Factoring in Stoke's dismal away record, I'd say we're looking at 3-0 to the home side this afternoon.
2.49pmIt's a big afternoon for Kevin De Bruyne, who will make his 100th Manchester City appearance today, but it could be a bigger one for Sergio Aguero if he comes on off the bench. One more goal for the Argentine will equal Eric Brook's club record of 177 in all competitions.
2.53pmJust over five minutes to go until kick off now and the Etihad Stadium is filling up nicely. Will City steal the Premier League top spot back from neighbours Manchester United today? Stay tuned to find out...
2.57pmIt's not often Guardiola sticks to his guns...
2 - Man City have named an unchanged line-up in the @premierleague for just the second time under Pep Guardiola. Constant. pic.twitter.com/RhMWGiir3A
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 14, 2017
1 minKICK OFF! City get the match underway and go straight on the attack, with Kyle Walker giving chase to a long ball along the flank. He shows off his blistering pace but fails to connect with the pass and ends up colliding with an advertising board. Ouch!
4 minCity, playing high up the pitch, attempt to conjure something out wide again as Walker plays a ball over the top towards Kevin De Bruyne, who doesn't have the legs to reach it before it bounces out for a goalkick. Moments later, Sterling gains possession in the final third and plays a dangerous ball across the face of goal, forcing Jack Butland to race off his line and intercept at full stretch.
7 minStoke have their work cut out defensively today. City are coming at them through all of the channels and look like they'll be seeing plenty of the ball this afternoon. The Potters have set out a tight stall, though. Kurt Zouma has been particularly sharp and made some decent interceptions.
8 minMISS! City blow a great opportunity to take the lead as Kevin De Bruyne's pinpoint cross from wide on the right finds Leroy Sane inside the box. The German's first touch is good, and he's odds on the make the net bulge from the edge of the six-yard box, but he blazes the ball over with a clear sight of goal! What a sitter!
12 minSterling's positioning has been good, but his decision-making has been off. The forward is picking up plenty of balls around the area, but when it comes to creating anything, the final ball to his teammates has been lacking. Just a moment ago, he found space in the box, only to put his cross out for a goalkick.
15 minStoke are seeing virtually nothing of the ball and City keep firing these warning shots. First, Nicolas Otamendi heads wide from a corner, then Sterling got the better of Erik Pieters and played a dangerous low cross into the box which Zouma does well to intercept and clear.
16 minGOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Stoke City (Gabriel Jesus)
16 minIt was only a matter of time before City broke the deadlock here, and they've broken it in style. Darren Fletcher gives the ball away, allowing the Citizens to go on a blistering counter. De Bruyne finds Walker and he surges down the flank and puts a cross into the box for Jesus to tap home from close range. Unstoppable!
19 minGOAL! Manchester City 2-0 Stoke City (Raheem Sterling)
19 minIt's two in three minutes for the home side, who have been nothing short of unplayable this afternoon! De Bruyne is involved again, picking out Sane with a beautiful reverse pass. Sane could have gone it alone, and probably would have scored if he'd shot first time, but he unselfishly picks out Sterling, who is in a better position, for a tap-in. How many are City capable of hitting today?
23 minWe haven't even reached the half-hour mark yet and it's already looking like damage limitation for Stoke. David Silva has just become the latest City player to try his luck, going on a mazy run before shooting just wide.
26 minHere's why even Aguero might struggle to get back into the City side...
6 - Raheem Sterling has scored six goals in his last six Premier League games, more than in his previous 31 combined (5). Form.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 14, 2017
27 minGOAL! Manchester City 3-0 Stoke City (David Silva)
27 minStill less than half an hour on the clock and that looks like job done. Once again, it's all about the build-up play from City as Sane picks out Sterling in a good position and the former Liverpool star plays a square pass to Silva in front of goal, allowing the Spaniard to place the ball beyond Butland for 3-0. It's an easy finish for the midfielder, but the build-up was glistening.
30 minThere have been some fantastic performances in the final third from City today. Sterling has registered a goal and an assist, De Bruyne has been involved in virtually every one of their attacks, and so has Sane. This is blitzkrieg stuff from Guardiola's men and Stoke don't have the defensive quality to hold it back.
34 minStoke have their first shot on goal and it comes from the back. Kurt Zouma, who has been the Potters' best player, runs the ball forward and decides to go it alone, shooting as soon as he enters the final third, but completely misses the target. That's as close as the visitors have come, and it almost sums up their afternoon.
37 minCity have taken their foot off the accelerator. They're still seeing plenty of possession, but have dropped down a gear, clearly confident that it's job done. You can't really blame them based on how the first half has gone, from their share of possession, to their attacking prowess, there's only going to be one winner here.
41 minCity have been devastating for most of the first period, but Stoke aren't helping themselves. A bad backpass has just put Butland under intense pressure, forcing the goalkeeper to race off his line to get there ahead of the onrushing David Silva.
44 minGOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Stoke City (Mame Biram Diouf)
44 minStoke pull one back, and to say it's against the run of play is an understatement. Let's taking nothing away from this goal, though. It's a good move between Mame Biram Diouf and Jese, the pair swiftly exchanging passes before the latter beats Ederson with the help of a deflection.
45 minThere will be two minutes of stoppage time to play.
45+2 minHALF TIME: Manchester City 3-1 Stoke City
3.50pmWell, that was one-sided. City head into the break with a comfortable 3-1 lead over Stoke, and the game only looked like going one way from the off. The Sky Blues claimed a whopping 84% of the possession in the first half!
3.52pmSome other key stats to bring you: City had 11 shots on goal to Stoke's two, six of which were on target. Only one of the visitors' efforts was on target. The one that went in. Obviously.
3.55pmHere's what's going on around the grounds at half time in the Premier League...
Burnley 0-1 West Ham
Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea
Man City 3-1 Stoke
Spurs 0-0 Bournemouth
46 minKICK OFF! The action is back underway at the Etihad and Stoke have made two changes at the break, bringing on Afellay and Martins Indi for Wimmer and Jese.
47 minGOAL! Manchester City 3-2 Stoke City (Kyle Walker, OG)
47 minWho would have thought Stoke would be in with a chance of getting back into this one so early in the second half? They catch City off guard with a dangerous cross towards the back post from youngster Tom Edwards. He finds the head of Diouf, but it was a touch from Walker that helped it over the line. That goes down as an own goal!
51 minIt's been an impressive debut from Edwards, who provided the assist for Stoke's second, but it may have gone sour. He's down injured and in some discomfort. Mark Hughes might well have to use up his final substitution here.
53 minSUBSTITUTION: Confirmation of that change as Ramadan Sobhi comes on for Edwards, who is stretchered off. Cameron will move into the right-back position for Stoke and they will assume a 4-5-1 formation.
56 minGOAL! Manchester City 4-2 Stoke City (Gabriel Jesus)
56 minCity restore their two-goal advantage, and it's more De Bruyne wizardry that sets it up. Another pacey break comes to a head when the Belgian international plays an inch-perfect through-pass from an acute angle to unleash Gabriel Jesus. It's a simple, one-touch finish from the Brazilian and Butland had no chance of keeping it out from close range.
60 minGOAL! Manchester City 5-2 Stoke City (Fernandinho)
60 minA stunning strike from Fernandinho brings back City's three-goal cushion, and it's the pick of this afternoon's goals. Delph lines up the Brazilian and he unleashes a screamer from 25 years, his effort going in off the bar and leaving Butland grasping at air! An unbelievable finish!
62 minGOAL! Manchester City 6-2 Stoke City (Leroy Sane)
62 minUnbelievable stuff from City, who have been firing on all cylinders since Stoke pulled one back in the second half. Their sixth comes from Sane, who beats Butland at his near post after being picked out by De Bruyne, whose performance has been nothing short of world-class today.
65 minSUBSTITUTIONS: City have thrown on Bernardo Silva for Gabriel Jesus, and are also preparing to bring on Gundogan for De Bruyne. The home crowd are on their feet to show their appreciation to the Belgian for his stellar performance today.
69 minIf you want to know just how valuable De Bruyne is to Guardiola's team, this about sums it up...
32 - Since his Man City debut in September 2015, Kevin De Bruyne has provided 32 assists in the PL, more than any other player. Wizard. pic.twitter.com/XX749Wt48D
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 14, 2017
70 minStoke have a chance to reduce the deficit, and it's a clear-cut one. The ball falls kindly for an unmarked Cameron in the box, and he has the time and space to smash it. The American puts his boot through the ball, but finds only the side-netting.
74 minSUBSTITUTION: City make their final change and it's Yaya Toure coming on for Fernandinho. That means Aguero won't be getting a runout or an opportunity to equal the club's goalscoring record today, but there will be other opportunities.
75 minThe Sky Blues' bombardment of Butland's goal is far from over, and Silva is the latest to try his luck, blazing an effort over the bar. Steven Seagal could have filmed Under Siege 3 in the Stoke goalmouth today.
79 minGOAL! Manchester City 7-2 Stoke City (Bernardo Silva)
79 minSubstitute Bernardo Silva has gotten in on the act now, supplying City's eighth. Sterling - another standout performer this afternoon - provided the assist with a neat through-ball to the Portuguese. He sent his teammate one-on-one with Butland, and there was only going to be one winner there. It's raining goals at the Etihad and City are looking like worthy league leaders right now.
84 minRecord-breaking City!
29 - Man City are the 1st top-flight team to net 29 goals in their first 8 league games of the season since Everton in 1894-95 (30). Update. https://t.co/T0KLleo0Xh
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 14, 2017
87 minCHANCE! Everything City hits at goals looks like it's going to make the net ripple at the moment, and this strike from David Silva was no exception. A square pass from Sterling from out wide picked out the Spaniard on the edge of the area, and he fired towards the top corner, his effort dipping wide by mere inches.
90 minThere will be three minutes of stoppage time to play.
90+2 minBOOKING! The first booking of the game comes at the death when Afellay cynically hacks Sane to the ground. That's one way of stopping him, but is it really worth it at 7-2?
90+3 minFULL TIME: Manchester City 7-2 Stoke City
4.54pmIt's a nine, yes NINE, goal thriller at Manchester City, but that is little consolation for Stoke who conceded seven of those goals. That result is more than enough to fire the Sky Blues back to the top of the Premier League, and they're looking nothing short of unplayable right now.
4.56pmHere are the other results from today's Premier League fixtures...
Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd
Burnley 1-1 West Ham
Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea
Man City 7-2 Stoke
Swansea 2-0 Huddersfield
Spurs 1-0 Bournemouth
Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd
Burnley 1-1 West Ham
Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea
Man City 7-2 Stoke
Swansea 2-0 Huddersfield
Spurs 1-0 Bournemouth
4.57pmAnd that concludes our live commentary of City versus Stoke, but stick with Sports Mole for our ongoing coverage of this weekend's football. Many thanks for joining us.
