Everton are a real threat on the break. Muhamed Besic charges forward from his own box and into City territory before finding Romelu Lukaku, whose shot is deflected behind. City clear the corner, though, and set off on an attack of their own, which is ended when Sergio Aguero is dragged down by Besic. That's a booking.

Everton have a real swagger about them here. Not only are they not overawed by City, they are taking the game to them. And City, at the moment, don't know how to respond. Ross Barkley's ball into the box almost finds Romelu Lukaku, but Joe Hart is out quickly to claim.

Image source, Getty Images

Game on. Again.

Everton are certainly not sitting back and allowing City to come at them. Quite the opposite, as this first-half average positions graphic shows...

Image source, Opta

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium

"While the rain has not stopped at Etihad Stadium since kick-off, the home side have not really got going. Everton have enjoyed long spells of possession and created the better chances - City have made too many misplaced passes, bringing groans of frustration from their fans."

No goals, but plenty to recommend in a half that Everton have had the best of in pouring rain. The best chances have fallen to the away side, who have harried the hosts out of possession and been positive with it. The stands are still not full. I reckon some fans have just written it off.

Kevin de Bruyne is felled by a flick of the boot from Leon Osman. It offers City a chance to swing the ball into the box from the set-piece, which De Bruyne does... straight into the hands of Tim Howard.

Everything is going Everton's way at the moment. Even when Kevin de Bruyne gets in behind them and pulls a ball back for the lurking Sergio Aguero it takes a fortunate deflection that loops the ball into Tim Howard's hands. As they say, though, you earn your luck.

Sergio Aguero hasn't done much so far but Everton would be extremely foolish to neglect him for a second. He charges into the Toffees box, beating a couple of men, and is just shaping to shoot when he is dispossessed by a perfectly timed, strong challenge from Muhamed Besic.

Image source, PA

Everton are growing in confidence, knocking the ball around near the halfway line to try and probe for an opening. It is patient and full of potential. And when they lose the ball they are snapping into tackles to win it back. It adds up to one thing: the Toffees are on top.

Gerard Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku have linked up superbly at times this season and they do so again now. The winger's excellent forward pass releases the big striker, who charges in on goal but fails to find the target with his angled shot, thanks largely to the attention of Nicolas Otamendi.

Oh, what an effort from Leon Osman! So, so close to the opener! Romelu Lukaku holds the ball up superbly on the right of the City box before crossing to the left for Osman, who strikes his volley sweetly but just a yard past the far post. No wonder his head is in his hands. He almost bagged a worldy.

The Etihad is building towards full capacity now. Apparently, someone had parked on the tram line. This country!

Meanwhile, on the pitch, a City corner is swung in, takes a couple of deflections before looping into the hands of Everton keeper Tim Howard.

Sergio Aguero tries to muscle his way past three Everton defenders in the box but he is, unsurprisingly, beaten. However, City do win a corner, which they take short. De Bruyne swings the ball in but Everton head clear. Just a few signs that the home side are turning the screw. They need to as the away side have been pretty comfortable.

Gerard Deulofeu has come to life. He tears past Martín Demichelis with ease down the left byline before his low cross is cut out and put behind by Nicolas Otamendi. If there were any people still wondering who is quicker between Deulofeu and Demichelis, there is your answer. Everton are unable to fashion anything from the resulting corner.

This is more like it. City come again and set up Raheem Sterling for a shot but he blazes his effort off target.

Image source, PA

Suddenly, the game has sparked into life. Tim Howard is called into action to palm away a Yaya Toure header in the box before Everton race down the other end and Joe Hart pulls off his own good save to deny Gerard Deulofeu's angled shot from 10 yards out. 

Everton show some neat skill (principally back-heel passes from Leighton Baines and Muhamed Besic) to try and set up Ross Barkley in the box but he is always second favourite to Joe Hart, who slides in to claim the ball.

lfcway: Lots empty seats due to traffic. Why not delay kick off at etihad? Fans lose out yet again. 

It has been a very tame start to proceedings here. Not much to shout about. At least all those fans who are still yet to make it to the Etihad haven't missed anything yet. In fact, if it stays like this, they might as well turn round and go home. They'll be much warmer.