David Simpson: Breaking down for Liverpool in the final phase. Daniel Sturridge coming on will change that.

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While the rain starts to fall on Merseyside, one man has already received a soaking in north London... It has not been the best start to the day for Match of the Day commentator Jonathan Pearce.

While speaking on MOTD2 Extra earlier he got a bit of a soaking from the Emirates sprinklers and, understandably, did not look best pleased.

It is never nice to laugh at another person's misfortune but, we have to admit, the video is pretty amusing. Even Arsenal fans still reeling from the midweek Champions League defeat by Monaco should be able to raise a smile...

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is limbering up on the touchline as rain starts to lash down on Anfield. Suspect it won't be long until we see the England man....

Here's a sentence you don't write often - what a complete waste from the left boot of David Silva. The Spain midfielder overcooks the free-kick and Liverpool are happy to see the ball drift out for a goal kick.

Patient play from Manchester City as they stroke the ball around the Liverpool half, trying to pick a hole in the red blanket ahead of them. That passage comes to an abrupt end when Reds defender Alberto Moreno fouls Pablo Zabaleta on the right edge of the home penalty area...

If someone asked me to call this match then I'm afraid that I'd have to bottle it. Hard to predict.

Liverpool almost create an opportunity to retake the lead, Alberto Moreno scampering down the left flank after a lofted Jordan Henderson pass. Moreno is like a Golden Retriever chasing a ball in your local park. But Joe Hart sees the danger and lets himself off his leash to gather.

Image source, AP

Edmund Emiowei: Per Mertesacker paying the price for his midweek shambles, as expected. Hope Gabriel can keep him out Per-manently!

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Defender Per Mertesacker appears to pay the price for a poor performance in the Champions League defeat by Monaco as he is replaced by Gabriel Paulista in the Arsenal defence.

Mertesacker drops to the bench, as does Danny Welbeck, but Olivier Giroud, who missed several chances against Monaco, retains his place in the side. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in for Welbeck.

John Stones, Ross Barkley and Muhamed Besic are recalled to the Everton team as Roberto Martinez makes three changes from the team that started against BSC Young Boys in the Europa League on Thursday.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud.

Everton XI: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Garbutt, Barry, McCarthy, Besic, Mirallas, Barkley, Lukaku.

"Come on Cit-eh, come on Cit-eh!" roar the away fans behind the goal which their heroes are attacking.

Anfield is the only ground where the Blues have not won during the Shiekh Mansour era. And they won't win this one if Fernandinho continues to knock attempted throughballs out for a goal kick....

Image source, Reuters

We have just seen the best and worst of Manchester City left-back Aleksandar Kolarov in a matter of seconds. The Serbian produces a beautiful flick to skin Lazar Markovic in the left channel of the Liverpool box, only to shank his cross high across the box. What a waste.

BBC Radio Manchester summariser Fred Eyre at Anfield

"Liverpool had a golden chance to take the lead (see 52 mins) but they came unstuck because they're without a proper striker. An Ian Rush, anybody who is born to score goals, would put that away with absolutely no problem."

First change of the afternoon - and it is City boss Manuel Pellegrini who blinks first. Goalscorer Edin Dzeko is the man hooked, with midfielder James Milner scampering on to the field in his place. That suggests a change of formation for the visitors, with their 4-4-2 turning into Aguero playing up top on his own. Milner occupies a position on the left.

Referee Mark Clattenburg has been reluctant to dish out the bookings so far, but City midfielder Samir Nasri finally leaves him with no choice. The Frenchman clips the heels of Philippe Coutinho and becomes the first player to see yellow.

Karl, Southampton: Dejan Lovren is a shadow of the player he was at Southampton. Don't think he can handle the pressure of 'big club' football.

nyashamandishonha: Liverpool will come big out of this with Daniel Sturridge in but they need to maintain the intensity and pace.

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Muted cheers from the Liverpool fans as Adam Lallana - for the second time this afternoon - is denied by the linesman's flag. The Reds midfielder converts Martin Skrtel's headed knockdown from a free-kick, but can see the flag flapping in the corner of his eye. That was a tight call. Very tight.

Just away from this game momentarily and we have breaking team news to bring you from the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker is replaced by Gabriel Paulista, who makes his first Premier League start, in defence.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Sanchez, Giroud.

Image source, AFP

Groans from the Anfield Kop as they see Raheem Sterling squander a decent chance in front of them. The England man nips in ahead of Pablo Zabaleta to meet a right-wing cross, but the City man recovers - just about - to pressure his opponent into scuffing wide.

Liverpool enjoying an intense spell of possession in the City half. Blues skipper Vincent Kompany, who has looked shakier than usual in recent weeks, is well positioned again to break down another Liverpool attack. Much better from the Belgian.

Back come Liverpool. Skipper Jordan Henderson drives the home side forward and looks to thread through to Philippe Coutinho. But City skipper Vincent Kompany is alert to brilliantly snuff out the danger with a well-timed slide challenge.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City show a sign of their intentions within seconds of the restart. The visitors start at a rapid pace, with right-back Pablo Zabalata clipping up a cute cross on to the head of Sergio Aguero. The little Argentine finds space between the Liverpool centre-backs, but can't keep his header down.