Already twice the home side have looked to get in down City's left - Aleksandar Kolarov popping up to do a better job of dealing with Ben Foster's long ball this time. 

Craig Dawson picks Aleksandar Kolarov's pocket as the City left-back looks to shepherd the ball out of play, Salomon Rondon holds off a challenge, lays it off to Nacer Chadli, whose shot is wayward, over the bar and wide. 

That was a decent chance - from just inside the box.

West Brom give it away straight away from kick-off, and there's a long spell of City possession - slick, probing - before Allan Nyom bites back in midfield. 

The first thing West Brom do with it once possession settles into their hands again? Ben Foster's long ball looks for Salomon Rondon, but the striker's offside.

A sign of things to come?

Image source, AP

We are under way!

Danny Mills
Ex-England defender on Final Score

West Brom fans need to be a little realistic.

Tony Pulis will keep them in the Premier League.

Will it be great to watch every week? No.

He does need to make it more attractive to watch, but the results have to come first.

Harry J Allstars' The Liquidator, externalpumps around the Hawthorns. The players are stepping out onto the turf and from the tunnel you hear:

- Come on boys!

- ¡Vamos!

Image source, Reuters

So with Arsenal's 4-1 win over Sunderland earlier today, the Premier League has a new leader, Manchester City slipping down to second as the Gunners make themselves at home. 

How can Pep Guardiola's side return to the top? Only a win by three goals will do. 

A big ask?

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender

I will be at this game for BBC Radio 5 live and I am expecting the Baggies to make life difficult for Manchester City, or at least try to - but I think Pep Guardiola's six-game winless run will end at the Hawthorns.

Prediction: 0-2

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West Brom have played just 2,601 passes this season - the lowest in the league.

Direct balls to Salomon Rondon? Pep Guardiola mentioned the striker several times in Friday's news conference.

"They use his style marvellously and we have to adapt," said the City boss.

Guardiola also said he has been told by staff about Tony Pulis, adding: "They informed me that it is a special, special team. He did a huge job at Stoke City - it was almost impossible to win there. It will be tough."

Manchester City

Image source, .

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on City's six-match winless run: "For the players, they don't deserve this. We are in this period like it is but it will make us stronger in the future, I am sure about that.

"I need time to learn, to improve. I'm still in that process. We have to learn as quickly as possible."

West Bromwich Albion

West Brom head coach Tony Pulison his new contract:"This is a time of great change at Albion and when that happens you need continuity.

"I want to build things here and play my part in improving the club. You cannot do these things overnight but I do believe, step by step, we are making advances.

"I think the bulk of our fans understand the process we embarked upon under the shadow of relegation less than two years ago."

With almost a quarter of the Premier League season gone, much of what we have seen has refused to make much sense, says Tom Fordyce.

Guy Mowbray
Match of the Day commentator

Behind Pep Guardiola's polite smile, there seems a growing irritation with being asked if he's prepared to change his style of play to get Manchester City winning again.

Not a chance. There's a quest for a kind of footballing perfection at play here, and at times they've been close to it already this season - just ask Ronald Koeman., external

If the frustration of City fans is that it's all a bit 'over done' at times, then their Albion counterparts have contrary concerns.

Like Guardiola though, Tony Pulis - who this week extended his contract until 2018, external - is not for changing.

Both have been successful enough in their own way to stay true to their ideas.

Both could really do with a win. In their own way.

West Brom make two changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Liverpool last Saturday. Jonny Evans returns from a one-match ban to replace the suspended Claudio Yacob in defensive midfield, while Chris Brunt makes his first start since recovering from a knee ligament injury, replacing Matt Phillips.

West Brom XI: Foster, Dawson, Olsson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom, McClean, Brunt, Fletcher, Chadli, Rondon. 

Subs: Robson-Kanu, Morrison, Gardner, Phillips, Myhill, Galloway, Leko. 

Image source, .

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola goes to a back three as he makes eight changes from the weakened team that lost 1-0 at Manchester United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday. 

Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and David Silva among those to return, but Vincent Kompany - replaced in midweek because he was "tired" - is on the bench, as is Kevin De Bruyne.  

Man City XI: Bravo, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Sterling, Gundogan, Fernandinho, Fernando, Silva, Nolito, Aguero. 

Subs: Kompany, Caballero, Jesus Navas, De Bruyne, Clichy, Iheanacho, Garcia

Image source, .

Afternoon all. 

Are we expecting Pep Guardiola's worst run in management to continue into a seventh match without victory? 

Or can Manchester City beat the Baggies and reclaim pole position in the the Premier League? 

Team news, opinion and predictions coming right up... 

We're after your thoughts too - #bbcfootball, external is the place, or you can text on 81111 from UK mobiles.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images