All gone a little quiet at Anfield. Apart from a few boozy strains of 'Liv-errrr-poooool, Liv-errr-pooool' from a couple of fellas on the Kop.

Oh, hang on. The away end becomes a little excited as Matt Ritchie ghosts in at the far post, but his header is easily caught by Adam Bogdan. Safe and sound from the Reds understudy keeper so far tonight.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

There was a minute's applause at Etihad Stadium in the 35th minute to mark the death of season ticket holder and father of two, Chris Shaw, 35, who died from cancer on Saturday. City fans will do the same in Saturday's home league game against Norwich.

Wilfried Bony has another chance, gathering a cross from the left and firing in a low shot but it's well saved by Wayne Hennessey. 

Joe Allen has a beard! Sensational scenes. Maybe that excess hair is slowing the previously youthful-looking Liverpool midfielder down though - he is a yard short of the pace as he concedes a free-kick on the left edge of the home penalty area.

Junior Stanislas sizes up his options, goes for goal and forces Reds keeper Adam Bogdan into another smart stop low to his right.

Roberto Firmino was bigged up by Jurgen Klopp before this match - and shows another glimpse why. Megs! The Brazilian dinks the ball between the legs of a Cherries defender, then sends a curling shot towards the top corner. But away keeper Adam Federici sees the danger coming and saves.

Image source, Reuters

Yeah, yeah, I said that Manchester United are playing Bournemouth. My mistake!

Manchester United have been almost as poor, creating nothing so far. 

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at St Mary's

First decent move of the game comes Aston Villa's way as Leandro Bacuna plays a neat one-two with Ashley Westwood on the edge of the Southampton area.

Bacuna fires a right-foot shot, but Maarten Stekelenburg palms it behind for a corner.

Image source, Reuters

Indeed Kolo Toure is heading down the tunnel for an early bath. The injured defender is given a consolatory hug by Jurgen Klopp, and a warm round of applause by the Anfield crowd, as he limps off. Liverpool are briefly down to 10 men before Martin Skrtel scampers on.

The first chance of the night falls for Middlesbrough as left-back George Friend picks up the pieces from a set-piece but his shot is very tame and straight at Sergio Romero in the United goal.

Put your foot through it!

Borussia Dortmund, second in the Bundesliga, thumped second division Paderborn 7-1 to reach the third round of the German Cup.

Paderborn, managed by former Germany international Stefen Effenberg, took the lead when Srdjan Lakic capitalised on a mistake by keeper Roman Burki.

But Dortmund recovered and two goals from Gonzalo Castro helped them on their way to a comfortable win.

Image source, Reuters

Kolo Toure's night - I suspect - may be over. The Reds defender crumbles to the Anfield turf, clutching the back of his left leg, after passing the ball back to keeper Adam Bogdan. Martin Skrtel is sent down the touchline to limber up...

Image source, Reuters

Jesse Lingard loses the ball and is then high and late as he lunges in to win the ball back. It's a nasty one and he's lucky perhaps not to see a card...

Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at Old Trafford

Boro boss Aitor Karanka will be the happier of the two managers so far. The back four are solid and midfield three are working very hard.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at St Mary's

A distinct lack of a killer final ball from both sides. 

No better illustrated than when Jordan Amavi found some space down the Villa left, only to loose his balance and fall flat on his face much to the amusement of the home crowd. 

If ever a game needed a goal. 

John Hartson
BBC Radio 5 live at Anfield

"Bournemouth have not given up the chase here. They are playing some nice football and playing with belief that they can pass the ball. Bogdan has made two really good saves."

Now then - is this another chance for Bournemouth? Junior Stanislas, standing over a 25-yard free-kick, makes some hand gesture - presumably code for 'run to the near post'. Or something. But the only man who reads the Cherries forward's mind is Kolo Toure. The Liverpool captain heads clear the danger.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

Wilfried Bony's first few touches tonight were greeted with a few groans when they went astray but this was a finish that should silence the doubters, for a while at least. Aleksandar Kolarov's corner was arching away from goal but the £28m Ivorian stepped in to meet it with a perfectly-timed stooping header.