This is getting frustrating to watch.

City are intent on playing the ball around quickly, but Everton are sitting back and comfortable, it suits them.

The City players need to let fly from distance and hope they get a scrappy goal.

Pass, pass, pass, all in front of the Everton defence and it breaks down as they approach goal.

Does Pep Guardiola have a Plan B option?

He has half an hour to come up with something.

Raheem Sterling cross, Ashley Williams clears for a corner.

Kevin de Bruyne corner, Phil Jagielka clears for a corner.

De Bruyne corner, Jagielka clears.

How are Everton still on level terms in this game??

Enough messing about, time to step it up for City.

Kelechi Iheanacho comes off, the main man Sergio Aguero enters the arena to a rousing reception.

Everton also make a sub, as Gerard Deulofeu makes way for James McCarthy.

Image source, Reuters

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

It is fair to say Pep Guardiola is not entirely happy with some of his Manchester City players at present.

In a frenzy of pointing from his technical area, he told Kevin de Bruyne to get out to the right wing, David Silva to push further forward and Ilkay Gundogan to give the Spaniard some space.

Looks like Sergio Aguero is coming on.

Image source, Reuters

Raheem Sterling drills in a cross from the right and is it in??

No. Ashley Williams' sliced clearance goes just wide at the near post.

That has brought the crowd to life.

Martin Keown
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

Gerard Deulofeu brought a very good save out of Claudio Bravo there. This is much better from Everton's players so far in the second half. Pep Guardiola is fascinating to watch on the sidelines, it's almost like he is an extra player on the pitch the way he is constantly shouting instructions.

Image source, Reuters

There's a goal coming from somewhere, I can smell it.

It is Leroy Sane for City who rolls an inviting cross deep into the six-yard box, but Kelechi Iheanacho's flicked finish is stopped by the foot of Maarten Stekelenburg.

Smart cross, smart shot, smart save.

#Smart.

Image source, Reuters

Everton have started the second period with more adventure and almost nick a goal.

They make City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo make a save for the first time in the match as Gerard Deulofeu curls in a lovely effort from the left edge of the box which Bravo pushes over.

Ronald Koeman's side's first shot on target.

He missed a penalty in the first half but Kevin de Bruyne is not shying away from the ball.

The Belgian whips in a cross from the right which John Stones rises to head, but it lacks direction and power and dribbles away from goal.

Right, here we go then. Everton get us up and running in the second period.

BBC Sport's Simon Stone there, armed with an abacus at the Etihad Stadium.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the Etihad Stadium

I did a completely random check on how many completed passes each side had when they were in possession during a little period before half-time.

Play was a bit scrappy but still.

City: 4, 9, 4, 6, 9.

Everton: 1, 3, 2, 2, 3.

Just look at City's dominance. They've been all over Everton, but the away side have defended with their bodies on the line.

That's 11 shots for City in that first half, three on target, three off and most notably, five were blocked.

Image source, Opta

Martin Keown
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has clearly done his homework on Kevin de Bruyne's penalties. He's stood up a long time and has gone the correct way. It was probably a penalty; David Silva has just been caught by Phil Jagielka's leg. 

Image source, Reuters

There goes the half-time whistle.

Somehow, Manchester City have been unable to get the breakthrough against Everton.

Into added time in the first half.

SAVED by Maarten Stekelenburg.

The Everton goalkeeper guesses the right way, to his left, and Kevin de Bruyne's penalty is at a lovely height for him to dive across and push the ball away.

For all their pressure, City are still goalless on the scoresheet.

Image source, Reuters

Finally a clear-cut chance for Man City, as Michael Oliver awards a penalty.

Everton defender Phil Jagielka with some brainless defending, sticking a leg out behind him to trip David Silva.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images