Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson - with plenty of time on his hands nowadays - is an interested spectator in the crowd at the Etihad Stadium today.

He has not seen any goals though. Five minutes to half-time.

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 live commentator at Etihad Stadium

Everton are like a boxer on the ropes, but they are refusing to go down. For all Manchester City's possession, the Everton defence have protected their goalkeeper well.

It's been about half an hour since Everton last had some real possession.

The Toffees work the ball to tricky winger Yannick Bolasie on the left and he plays in a measured ball across the six-yard box towards Romelu Lukaku, but City defender John Stones nips across to whack the ball away.

There's a time to play with it, and there's a time to get rid. Stones learning well under Pep Guardiola.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane, David Silva, Kelechi Ihenacho and Ilkay Gundogan all see the ball in this latest passage of play for City, but cannot breach the line of the seven-man Everton defence.

Engaging football from the hosts, but no reward yet.

There's a loose 50-50 ball to challenge for and Leroy Sane looks up to see Ashley Williams galloping across.

The German is not interested in winning the ball as Williams slides in to clear.

Just as well, Sane could have been off on a stretcher if he stuck his nose in there.

Raheem Sterling gets some treatment off his physio and gingerly hops back onto his feet. The City man is OK for now.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Postpublished at 31 mins

31 mins

Man City 0-0 Everton

This is one heck of a challenge by Seamus Coleman and the Everton right-back is lucky not to get a card here.

The supporters are unhappy and rightly so, as he runs across and wins the ball from Raheem Sterling, but it was over the top of the ball and catches the England international on the ankle.

Sterling stays down, writhing in pain, but Michael Oliver takes no action.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton really need to make their possession count when they find their way to the other end.

Winger Gerard Deulofeu breaks through and has just the City centre-backs in front of him, but his attempted ball to the left for Yannick Bolasie is poor as John Stones sticks out a leg to intercept.

Bolasie is playing?!

Image source, Getty Images

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

Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka are doing well - lots of tackles, blocks and putting their bodies on the line. I feel sorry for Everton's full-backs, though. They're getting no protection here whatsoever. Manchester City have smothered Everton and every player knows their job. Everton's players are looking to the bench, they look lost at the moment.

Like I said, it is that final piece City cannot slot into the jigsaw.

Kevin de Bruyne surges forward and plays a neat ball into the feet of striker Kelechi Iheanacho in the area.

Can the Nigerian make this count?

Nope. He falls over.

Image source, Getty Images

City boss Pep Guardiola scratches his bald head on the touchline.

They've had all the ball but the Spaniard will be wondering how they have not broken the deadlock yet.

To be fair to Everton, they have been camped in their own half but not as though goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has had an all-action game.

City are working the ball so well but it is just lacking some finesse on that final ball. This time Fernandinho gets forward but his cutback is blocked by Everton skipper Phil Jagielka.

75% possession for the home side. One way traffic.

Ex-Man United man Tom Cleverley chops down former Liverpool man Raheem Sterling. No love lost in that challenge.

But City cannot make anything of the free-kick as David Silva's lofted ball into the area is dealt with by the visiting defenders.

Image source, Reuters

City forked out £37m for 20-year-old Leroy Sane and you can see why. He has played some glorious stuff this afternoon.

Sumptuous stuff from Leroy Sane.

His quick feet are scrambling Bryan Oviedo's head. The German plays a neat one-two with Kevin de Bruyne and plays a lovely low cross into the box, but Everton do well to clear the danger.

The ball is then recycled, but Raheem Sterling's drilled strike from the left is into the hands of Maarten Stekelenburg.

Kevin de Bruyne's free-kick lacks height and comes off the sturdy Everton wall.

Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg will love that, he built it and his men did the job.

Well played.

Raheem Sterling in the action again and is bundles over on the edge of the box but a clumsy Gareth Barry challenge.

An excellent position this for City...

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Intense Man City pressure, Everton are having to do plenty of defending.

This time the much-improved Raheem Sterling earns a corner off Seamus Coleman, but David Silva's ball into the six-yard box is cleared by Phil Jagielka.

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

There is a slight contact on Leroy Sane but it didn't look 'natural' if you see what I mean so maybe the referee called that correctly. I think Ronald Koeman has been working on facing a back four and Everton's players look a bit perplexed at the moment. It's been beautiful the way City have setup, it's like a flower opening up!

Ah, here is Kevin de Bruyne on the edge of the box.

He shifts from right to left and lets fly a rasping drive, but Everton left-back Bryan Oviedo does well to bravely slide in and block the ball.

Image source, Reuters