Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium

There have been rumblings about Jack Grealish's long-term future at Manchester City given his repeated absences from Pep Guardiola's side.

Tonight is the first time he has started a Premier League game since the 2-1 defeat at former club Aston Villa on 21 December.

Since then he has only managed 34 minutes across three substitute appearances in league action.

It remains to be seen if this is just Pep Guardiola managing his resources ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby or if it is a chance for Grealish to show he has a meaningful role to play to the end of the season and beyond.

Just going to leave this here.

Thoughts?

Image source, PA Media

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter at Anfield

Image source, BBC Sport

Played 21 against Liverpool at Anfield, won zero.

Everton manager David Moyes' record here is wretched and he is currently standing on his own, surveying the opposition during the warm-ups.

Will today finally be the day when he puts an end to that unwanted stat?

The final stretch.

Ipswich need a win at Bournemouth (and much more!) to believe in Premier League survival.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to Sky Sports: "Good evening. Today we focus on this match. We have players on the bench who are ready to play even in the starting XI and it is very important for the team and for the moment of our season. We want quality performances.

"We prepared for this match as much as possible. Resting after Sudfay and everybody is ready to play. Hopefully, we can impose our plan.

"Brighton are performing very well. They lost in a penalty shootout. Against Fulham, they were really fantastic and against Man City away. They are in their best moment in the season I think. Hopefully, we can show our best."

BBC Sounds

Busy evening ahead? Remember you can take tonight’s 5 Live commentaries along with you via the BBC Sounds app.

Or if you‘d like listen at home via smart speaker, just say “Play 5 Live” or“Play 5 Sports Extra”.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium

I have just been outside the stadium as some Manchester City fans start their protest against what they feel are likely to be large ticket price increases and also a new commercial deal with ticket resale agency Viagogo.

Hundreds joined in a very noisy protest, with organisers asking supporters to remain on the concourses until nine minutes into the game to mark the number of ticket resale partnerships City have.

"We hope the club will respond positively," said a spokesman for the organisers. "They have to.

"If they don't, there are four games left and we are quite prepared to take this to further levels.

"This stadium will hold 62,000 next season. It should be full every game - and should be a full attendance, not every ticket being sold.

"The fans have always been there for this club. Now it needs to work with fans to make sure coming to watch the team remains affordable."

Image source, BBC Sport

Tickets has been the talk among many disgruntled Manchester City fans this week.

Three supporters groups - 1894, Trade Union Blues and MCFC Fans Foodbank - have urged fellow fans to boycott the first nine minutes of Wednesday's home game with Leicester to protest the club's new agreement with resale platform Viagogo over hospitality tickets.

The nine is significant as it marks the ninth partnership City have entered in relation to ticket resales and Pep Guardiola says he has "sympathy" with the fans.

"When the fans can express good moments or bad moments or feelings, it's because the team and the club is alive. The worst is when you cannot express that," said Guardiola.

"I don't know specifically [this issue], but football clubs belong to the people and if the people don't agree with something they can legitimately express concerns with the club. And the club is open, listening to them, arriving in agreement so everybody can be satisfied.

"The club has to be active in many departments in the decisions being made and has to take them for the benefit of the club, but the club doesn't take it [the support] for granted."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at the Etihad Stadium

On the face of it, Pep Guardiola would not appear to have too much to learn from Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose first full-time manager's role in the Premier League looks certain to end in relegation.

However, in his programme notes ahead of tonight's encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola makes it clear that is not the case: "Welcome to Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"I am looking forward to learning something new playing against his team this evening.

"Always when we have played against Leicester it has been difficult. They have a unique set of qualities.....(but) if we play at our best we can win this game."

David Moyes has taken Everton clear of any relegation concerns since replacing Sean Dyche in January.

They were one point above the bottom three when he arrived - and are now 17 points clear.

Everton are unbeaten in nine Premier League games. They last went 10 without defeat in 2013.

Image source, Reuters

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter at Anfield

Image source, BBC Sport

This banner outside Anfield caught my eye upon arrival at the ground earlier.

Is it referring to persistent links, external regarding Mohamed Salah's possible move to Saudi Arabia?

Or is it about Trent Alexander-Arnold being in talks about finalising a free transfer to Real Madrid?

Everton

Everton boss David Moyes, speaking to Sky Sports: "I think we have been on a decent run. Ready to go again.

"We would all love to get results at Anfield. We have always come here and made it difficult, hopefully we can do that again tonight.

"We want to get back to real consistency. We are trying to improve all the time.

"We all have to play well to get a result. Liverpool are top of the league for a reason and we have to come here and make it as hard as we can."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Alongside our live text this evening you can listen to three radio commentaries from the Premier League action.

On BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent John Murray is alongside Stephen Warnock as they bring you coverage of the Merseyside derby.

On BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra Eilidh Barbour and Pat Nevin are at the home of the League Cup champions as Newcastle host Brentford.

On the BBC Sport app and website Sohail Sahi is alongside Franny Benali on the south coast as Bournemouth face Ipswich.

Andy Reid
Former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

It is probably not the game Everton wanted. Derby games are tough games and they are always tight.

Liverpool generally get the upper hand but Everton will make it difficult for them.

It is a tough run of games but they have picked up since David Moyes has came in. He has got some good wins under his belt as Everton manager in the derbies.

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

When Everton come to town they make it so difficult for Liverpool. They don't come out of their shape too much and I think it will be a difficult night for Liverpool.

I do think Liverpool will have too much quality for them, but it will be tough.

John Aldridge
Former Liverpool striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Everton will maybe look at the Newcastle game [Carabao Cup final] in particularly, a lot of things will come out of that game for Everton.

The corners, free-kicks, make it scrappy in midfield, and don't let Liverpool get any fluency.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to Sky Sports about Curtis Jones starting full-back: "Yes, he is.

"We are missing thee right full-backs at the minute."

On Alisson Becker's concussion: "We as a club follow the protocol and he had to tick all the boxes.

"Yesterday, he didn't tick the last box.

"We have Kelleher who has shown this season that he is maybe too good to be Alli's [Alisson] back-up."

On the draw against Everton at Goodison Park: "It was a game where both teams hardly had any chances.

"We have to do better with the ball, and if the ball is in play, we have to do better - that's what we're trying.

"That's one of the reasons why I chose Curtis at full-back."

On the game: "Merseyside derby is always a difficult game. To score from open play is not easy against them, but we definitely have to try."

Andy Reid
Former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

A tough run of games for Everton. They have picked up since David Moyes has come in and the players have responded to a fresh voice.

Liverpool are unbeaten in 25 league games, the third longest top-flight run in their history.

Nottingham Forest are the only team to beat them in the league all season.

The Reds could become the first side in English top-flight history to score at least twice in as many as 27 of their opening 30 league matches in a season.

Liverpool currently share the record with... Everton, whose 26-game run took place in 1894-95.