Lovely move down the City right creates the first chance. Jesus Navas and Pablo Zabaleta swap passes before the full-back cuts it back to Samir Nasri - who screws a shot wide. Nasri has been in sparkling form recently.

Palace force a very early corner which Joe Hart comes out well to punch clear. Dominant from the City keeper, who signed a new contract this week. It does indeed appear as if James Milner has started through the middle. Very flexible though.

Image source, Getty Images

Pablo de Roman: Frank Lampard has more Premier League goals than any other active player. What striker crisis?

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Under way. The Premier League is go.

Players out of the tunnel at the Etihad, here we go...

Decent opening for Derby as Chris Martin, against his former club heads over from an Omar Mascarell corner. Steve McClaren, who watches matches from the stands, is not happy with the start Derby have made, moving to the touchline and appears suitably animated.

Former England captain Jimmy Armfield
BBC Radio 5 live at the Etihad Stadium

"I don't think Manchester City will play with James Milner as a central striker. There are six players in the side who can cause problems and they will all be manoeuvring around. They will have dealt with the tactics in training over the last few days.

"Crystal Palace have drawn four away from home and won once already this season. They are difficult to break down, and City will need to get something early on."

Image source, Getty Images

Emlie Heskey back in football would be the biggest Christmas present we could all ask for.

Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon
Football Focus

"I always look up the table. It was important for us to get out of the bottom three and now we are starting to get a bit of momentum. We are very happy but the Championship is so unpredictable. The league's sponsored by a betting company but in reality it's the last league you would want to bet on.

"The opportunity to sign Eidur Gudjohnsen came along, he had been playing in Belgium last season and I have always admired him as a player. He is still in good condition and is really happy. It's not a PR stunt - we feel he will make us better and as the games go on and and he gets fitter, he will have a big impact on our season. It's the same with Emile Heskey. We've brought him in to have a look at him and see if he can make us better. There's no guarantee either way. It's up to him whether he is hungry enough and I think he still is. I've known him for a really long time."

No goals, and no real chances of note yet in a typically frenetic opening 20 minutes at the iPro Stadium.

BBC Radio 5 live

Today's a busy day of Premier League action over on BBC Radio 5 live. First up you've got full match commentary of today's 12:45 GMT kick-off between Manchester City and Crystal Palace.

Then from 15:00 there's full coverage of Aston Villa v Manchester United plus updates from around the grounds, followed of course by Sports Report at 17:00 and 606 with Robbie Savage and Darren Fletcher, live from 18:06.

If James Milner does start up front today, City fans will be pleased to know that his last Premier League goal came on 21st December 2013 against Fulham. He has netted just once in his last 51 Premier League games.

Prolific.

Speaking of emergency strikers - had everyone else forgotten that Crystal Palace re-signed Andrew Johnson in the summer? The veteran has not featured at all in the Premier League...

Steven Telfer: If Man City need a striker, Newcastle will happily swap Rivière for Joe Hart.

Arun Chhotu: Neil Lennon on BBC - you actually make me optimistic about the clubs future! COYWM

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Mark Lawrenson
football Analyst discussing Man City v Crystal Palace on Football Focus

"It will be strange because James Milner is up top for Manchester City, but the rest of the team won't be strange. The difficulty for Milner is that for City to get those midfield players involved Milner has to hold the ball up and it is something he has not done much of. I'm told he was a striker when he was younger but so was I!

"When Neil Warnock took over Crystal Palace continued that upward movement but now they have dipped. The bottom 10 or 12 teams in the Premier League is all about who is going to score you the goals, and it always will be."

Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon
Football Focus

"It's very strange Manchester City don't have a striker when you consider the strength in depth they should have. Today they're playing a false nine in the Spanish style, and maybe they will look to work Palace down.

"It will be interesting to see how Neil Warnock approaches the game. Will he tell his players to go and press high, forcing City to play the ball long? But I do feel City have enough football in the team to win the game."

The boys in the Football Focus studio have gone with James Milner up front in their team graphic today. It is an interesting conundrum and we shall find out soon. No clues from the teams' warm-ups.

Game on in the Championship. Both of these sides harbour ambitions of a return to the Premier League - can they deliver?

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are keen to keep hold of Frank Lampard for longer - and do they have another answer to their problems at one of their 'sister' clubs? Lampard has been joined at New York City FC by Spain legend David Villa.

A man who could certainly do a short-term job in the Premier League. Villa to arrive on New Year's Day? I have no idea if that move would be possible- but I bet City are looking into it...