The visitors get the game under way.

Some of the City fans have really committed to the festive fancy dress. There's a blue-clad Santa and a handful of City-themed elves in the away end. 

Not to be outdone, plenty of Hull fans have orange-coloured Santa hats on.

This kind of thing will continue to go on until Father Christmas finally comes out and confirms who he supports.

Anyway, the teams are in the tunnel.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United winning puts the pressure on Man City here in Hull.

The Tigers have an opportunity, though. Swansea, Sunderland and Palace above them managed just a point between them today. A Hull win won't take them out of the bottom three but it will leave them feeling an awful lot more chipper.

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator

Manchester City have a stern test on the horizon at Liverpool on New Year's Eve but first they must keep winning here. They'll need different qualities to make it three in a row before Sergio Aguero returns from suspension.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull name the same side which lost 1-0 at West Ham last time out. They dominated that game for large periods but could not score - in fact they hit the post on three occasions. Can they have more luck tonight?

Hull: Marshall, Maguire, Dawson, Davies, Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Clucas, Robertson, Snodgrass, Mbokani. Subs: Meyler, Maloney, Jakupovic, Weir, Diomande, Henriksen, Mason.

Image source, .

Pep Guardiola again shuffles the Manchester City deck, with four changes from the team which beat Arsenal. In come John Stones, Bacary Sagna, Fernandinho and Nolito, out go Pablo Zabaleta, Aleksander Kolarov, Fernando and Leroy Sane. 

Man City: Bravo, Sagna, Otamendi, Stones, Clichy, Toure, Fernandinho, Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Nolito. Subs: Zabaleta, Fernando, Kolarov, Caballero, Jesus Navas, Iheanacho, Garcia.

Image source, .

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator

At the top of Hull's Christmas list is new faces. Their efforts given the early-season turmoil have been admirable, but Mike Phelan is only too aware he needs more quality and fresh impetus to keep them in the top flight.

He'll know he needs every player at the top of their game if they are to prevent more Manchester City smiles.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images

Kicking off bottom of the table against a team who can recall a £50m defender.

Merry Christmas Mike Phelan.