Steve McClaren
Ex-England manager on BBC Radio 5 live

Newcastle are sagging at the moment. They're on the ropes and getting beaten up. City's combinations through the middle are really stretching them. The beauty of City's football is that can go through teams, around teams and over the top of teams. Newcastle are holding on.

Sergio Aguero skipping past the challenges on the edge of the box. One of five frantic bodies manages to block.

Here comes City corner number 10... Safe.

A crucial period this for Newcastle.

Wave after wave after wave and then when the goal finally does come, it's back to the start. City never stop.

Kevin de Bruyne delivers his side's eighth corner of the game. It's cleared - but never far - and De Bruyne pops up on the edge of the box to shoot low and hard - brilliantly tipped wide by Karl Darlow.

Jay: Pep and Manchester City are massively overrated. I mean, Arsene Wenger's Arsenal had banged in four goals in the first 25 minutes.

Steve McClaren
Ex-England manager on BBC Radio 5 live

Sheer persistence from Man City. De Bruyne was given far too much time on his right foot and he swung a perfect ball into the box. You'd expect Newcastle to be able to defend it but Lascelles and Hayden switched off and Aguero was there. Relentless City play has paid off.

Gary Flintoff
BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

The Newcastle fans who have made the trip to Manchester are in fine voice behind the goal the visitors are defending. To be fair to the home fans, they have responded well, but only after being spurred into action by those in black and white.

Steve McClaren
Ex-England manager on BBC Radio 5 live

With Clark, Lascelles, Hayden, Dummet and Manquillo, Newcastle have got a big back five which means they can defend the middle of the goal really comfortably. Balls into the box are easy for them to deal with. So far, the game plan is working well for them.

Magpie hearts are a-flutter as Paul Dummett slices a clearance up into the air and across his own penalty area. Newcastle manage to avoid the worst, before Raheem Sterling darts a strike straight into Karl Darlow's gloves.

Erm, not his best effort that one. De Bruyne goes for a curler, and sends it into orbit.

Free-kick City, just outside the box. Javier Manquillo hauled David Silva back, says the ref.

Kevin de Bruyne looms over the ball.

Gary Flintoff
BBC Radio 5 live at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Reuters

Of course we have two European Cup winners in the technical areas tonight. Pep Guardiola looks far more relaxed than Rafa Benitez so far.

The Newcastle boss does not know whether to sit or stand, meanwhile the City manager is taking it all in his stride.

The one-touch passing machine oozes through again and Newcastle look to be breached - until the offside flag hauls Leroy Sane to a stop - before he gets a chance to find Sergio Aguero in the middle. David Silva just doesn't misplace a pass does he?

Image source, Reuters

Steve McClaren
Ex-England manager on BBC Radio 5 live

City are playing with great tempo. They're constantly probing, making penetrating runs and causing Newcastle problems. They've not got that break that their play deserves yet. If they keep playing like this, eventually Newcastle will lose concentration and City will get in.

A great block from Jamaal Lascelles - Leroy Sane was gliding in the box again, just a flick of the boot from finding a City shirt with a cut-back.

Newcastle surviving. And it looks like Benitez has been shouting at them to get out - not so deep - to press City higher up the pitch. It almost backfires as the home side cut out half their team with an exchange in front of Ederson, before Kevin de Bruyne is stopped in his gallop on towards Karl Darlow.

It's a perfect touch from Leroy Sane to bring Kevin de Bruyne's pacy pass into his beautiful world. The cross looks good - Sergio Aguero is lurking - but a Newcastle boot diverts the ball away from the penalty box.

Rafael Benitez booms out more encouragement to his players. They are holding firm.

Steve McClaren
Ex-England manager on BBC Radio 5 live

A fantastic move from City. They broke up the Newcastle attack within seven seconds, they put the ball in the net. Unfortunately, Sterling was just offside. It was careless from the England man.

Image source, AFP

Ah, a mix-up. Sergio Aguero leaves the ball to Kevin de Bruyne, who leaves it to Aguero. See the problem there?

Newcastle attempt to counter but lose it straight away - leaving themselves open in the process. Fernandinho finds De Bruyne, onto to Leroy Sane, to David Silva.. that quick passing again.

Silva's cross finds Raheem Sterling at the far post - and he slams the ball into the net but is offside. Still, it's probably only a matter of time...

Image source, Reuters

Christian Atsu is panting hard as he recovers from his latest attempt to keep Oleksandr Zinchenko under wraps.

He blocks the cross, before Leroy Sane spins into space and shoots low but wide.

And from the away side's goal kick they manage about four passes before Atsu is caught offside. Not so much as a sniff so far.

Image source, Reuters

Steve McClaren
Ex-England manager on BBC Radio 5 live

Newcastle started well but they are dropping back. City are swarming over them and Joselu is not able to hold the ball up. For the first five minutes, Newcastle were trying to press City but they've reverted now and are playing safe.