Evening all, and welcome to Manchester City v Chelsea!

Gareth Southgate and Phil Neville are sitting next to each other. Imagine having to listen to their patter!

City spring into life! Fernandinho moves out of defence and finds Aguero, who's pulled right; he moves into the box for De Bruyne who, with very little at which to aim, swishes a finish only just wide. Consider Chelsea warned.

"Get in there!"

Mendy sends one down the line for Sterling, but Zouma comes across to stick the ball into touch.

A slow start. City knock it about but without tempo.

Off we go, which is good because it means the punk version of Blue Moon has stopped.

It's nearly a year since De Bruyne last started five games in a row. People liked saying this about Eden Hazard but it was nonsense: De Bruyne is the best player in the Premier League, and by far.

Here they come!

When these sides met early last season, Chelsea beat city at Stamfrod Bridge, so they can do it. But that was one of those games in which they needed everything to go their way - including opponents who thought they just needed to turn up - and it did. I say that because Aguero was injured, so Guardiola just didn't field a proper centre-forward and assumed it wouldn't matter. Meanwhile, his players played like they expected a goal to turn up sooner or later, and then they got caught on the break just before half-time. I can't see that happening again.

I didn't believe it till I saw it.

Can anyone recall what happened last time these sides met at this ground?

Guardiola is in a roll-neck, and hasn't changed his full-backs because of the last time. "These two guys play today, nothing special"; what did he mean by that? He says that Mendy needs games - he does, and if he can stay fit is such a talent - but can he? Guardiola goes on to say that the way Lampard's Chelsea play is similar to the way Sarri's Chelsea played - with a straight face - and that's about it.

I should say, Ederson is back for City, which is significant - mainly on account of his not being Bravo. Meanwhile in attack, Sterling is less good on the left but Mahrez can only really play on the right and with Sane and Bernardo unavailable, Guardiola could only play Foden there, which he doesn't like to do.

Lampard tells Sky that he didn't enjoy leaving out Mount, but the decision was taken on the basis of who the opponents are, and that he'll be rotating in midfield through the season. He's told his players what he wants them to do; now they have to do it. He doesn't necessarily expect his team to dominate the ball, but he does expect them to create chances.

As for Arsenal, who drew at home to Southampton, I've not a clue how Unai Emery staggers on. There's nothing to suggest they're on the cusp of improvement, nor that he is the man to build a serious team.

It's got to be said, it's absolutely ridiculous what Liverpool are doing. They lead Leicester by eight points, and are getting results without playing well and more than that, are getting results because their opponents expect them to. It's very hard to contend with that.

It's like being there.

Lampard, meanwhile, has to choose between Kante and Jorginho for the first time, so he doesn't; instead, he drops Mount and plays Kovacic, who hasn't looked as useless as he did under Sarri and because, presumably, he wants ballast. On the flanks, it's Willian and Pulisic, the men in form.

Obviously City's defence is still a joke. Guardiola has no time for stones but not choice but to pick him so does, while Cancelo and Mendy are his choice as full-backs. With Bernardo Silva suspended for the frankly miserable tweet he sent about Mendy, David Silva plays. Phil Foden does not, naturally.