Listen to build-up and commentary on BBC Radio 5 live using the audio button
Man City stay third, level on points with second-placed Spurs
Stoke, in ninth, had lost five of their last six league away games
Former Manchester City midfielder Gary Owen, speaking to BBC Radio Manchester: "Pablo Zabaleta is a cult hero but he would not want to be kept on just for sympathy. He's still a good full-back but is he good enough for us? Zaba has had his days in my opinion. I think he could go back to Spain or Italy. There is still life in him."
Image source, Rex Features
Stoke City
Image source, Rex FeaturesRemember Wilfried Bony?
Last season he scored eight goals for Manchester City before vanishing from the radar after Pep Guardiola's appointment.
The striker has spent the last six months on loan at Stoke but has been frustrated after being limited to nine Premier League starts.
Bony, 28, is ineligible to play against his parent club but probably wouldn't have made the team had he been cleared to play.
"Wilf has to be patient, all players have to be if they are out of the side," said Potters boss Mark Hughes. "He will get opportunities I'm sure before the end of the season."
Image source, Rex Features#bbcfootball
Image source, Rex FeaturesSo, English players are too expensive according to Pep Guardiola.
The same Pep who is boss at big-spending Manchester City, where money is no object when it comes to chasing trophies.
Pep's comments have got me thinking.
Can you make a case for buying English? Is it really cheaper to buy abroad? Which English players do you want your team to buy this summer - and why?
Tweet #bbcfootball, external
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola says he would like more English players at Manchester City - but claims they are too expensive.
The five Englishmen in City's first-team squad are John Stones, Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, 19-year-old defender Tosin Adarabioyo and reserve goalkeeper Angus Gunn. England goalkeeper Joe Hart is on a season-long loan at Serie A club Torino.
"I would like to have English players, believe me, but they are so expensive," adds Guardiola. "When I was in Barcelona I liked to play with locals because they feel something special, but sometimes it is not possible."
Read more here.
Image source, Rex FeaturesEngland internationals John Stones and Raheem Sterling
Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium
A few travelling Stoke fans have already started to filter into Etihad Stadium, but I wonder if any of them are very optimistic of getting a positive result.
They have not seen the Potters win a Premier League game in 2016-17 against any of the top eight, and have watched eight defeats in the 12 games they have played against them so far this campaign.
Two draws with Manchester United, and a point apiece against Everton and West Brom is all the Potters have to show for their efforts in those games against the 'big boys'.
Image source, bbc sport
Image source, .Three changes for Manchester City from the side that started the 2-0 win at Sunderland on Sunday.
Defender John Stones, David Silva and Raheem Sterling make way for Nicolas Otamendi, Jesus Navas and Kevin De Bruyne.
Man City: Caballero, Sagna, Otamendi, Kolarov, Clichy, Toure, Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, de Bruyne, Sane, Aguero. Subs: Bravo, Zabaleta, Nolito, Delph, Silva, Stones, Iheanacho.
Image source, .The return of striker Saido Berahino is one of four changes to the Stoke side that beat Middlesbrough 2-0 on Saturday.
Marko Arnautovic, who scored both goals in that game, makes way along with Glen Johnson, Glenn Whelan and Peter Crouch.
Phil Bardsley, Jonathan Walters and Mame Biram Diouf also return.
Stoke: Grant, Bardsley, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters, Cameron, Allen, Berahino, Sobhi, Walters, Diouf. Subs: Muniesa, Whelan, Afellay, Adam, Imbula, Given, Crouch.
Stoke City
Nine. Nine. Nine.
No, not the phone number Mark Hughes is ready to ring should his side suffer another away collapse.
Ninth is the position Stoke have finished in the Premier League table for the past three seasons.
And where do the Potters start tonight? You've guessed it...ninth in the table.
David Silva is dropped to the bench while Raheem Sterling does not feature at all for Manchester City.
Full team news coming up.
BBC Radio 5 live
There is full commentary from the Etihad on BBC Radio 5 live. Build-up with Mark Chapman starts in just a few moments at 19:00 GMT.
Just click above to listen.
After the match there is the 5 live Football Social from 22:00 GMT - your calls and social media reaction.
Image source, Rex Features
Image source, Getty ImagesA Premier League fixture on Champions League night?
At the same time as Manchester City are looking to go second in the table, Pep Guardiola's former club Barcelona are playing in Europe's most prestigious knockout competition at home to Paris St-Germain.
Uefa frown upon domestic European top-flight matches being played at the same time as Champions League and Europa League games.
This fixture was supposed to take place on Saturday but has been brought forward as Guardiola's team have FA Cup commitments this weekend.
A Premier League spokesman said: "The Premier League does not seek to arrange matches on the same dates as Uefa but the challenges of the fixture list occasionally make it unavoidable."
Will Vincent Kompany return to Manchester City's starting line-up? Will Stoke boss Mark Hughes recall Xherdan Shaqiri after the midfielder recovered from a calf problem?
Team news coming up in around 10 minutes.
Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Etihad Stadium
Image source, BBC SportThe sun was shining in Manchester earlier but, now dusk is upon us, I can report that it is definitely not T-shirt weather at the Etihad Stadium - although I did see one brave/foolish young Manchester City fan who had come out without a coat. His mum won't be happy.
There may be a chill in the air but, at the start of an important week, Manchester City will hope their run of form will continue to generate some heat.
It is nine games since Pep Guardiola's side last lost, and they badly need to win tonight - then get past Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Saturday and Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday - as they continue their battle for trophies on three fronts.
Image source, .What's that? The title race is done and dusted?
Manchester City will cut Chelsea's lead to eight points if they beat mid-table Stoke City tonight...with a trip to Stamford Bridge to come for Pep Guardiola's men.
It's Chelsea's title to lose. But there's time for a few twists and turns before the name of the new Premier League champions is unveiled.
Image source, Getty Images"We have to believe, I still believe," says Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho.
Eleven points separate his side from the Premier League leaders but you won't find anyone throwing in the towel in the blue corner of Manchester.
Have they left it too late to catch Chelsea?
One thing is for sure - Manchester City cannot afford any slip-ups under the Etihad lights.
