Sixteen shots from City - five on target - but only one goal to show for it with a hefty chunk of the game still left.

Villa still have hope of salvaging something from this.

Villa are not out of this.

They're still having a go and Douglas Luiz forces a save from Ederson with a header which lacks power.

As the debate rages whether Jack Grealish should still be on the pitch, our friends at Opta inform us that the Villa player is the most fouled player in the Premier League this season (41).

Dr David: Does anyone else wonder where @ManCity, external would be if it wasn’t for @sterling7, external ? Going to have a bad back carrying this team.

Bob Moss: What's more likely City will score 5 or Grealish gets sent off?

Bezaleel Adewumi: Sloppy from Villa. Clinical from Sterling.

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on BBC Radio Manchester

You look at City and think: ‘how have they improved compared to the first half?’

Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva are playing a bit higher, the way they scored so many goals last season was with that little run from midfield inside the box and they just did it once in the first half.

Having looked edgy and a little flustered in the first half, Manchester City are back to their menacing best since scoring.

A terrible ball by Bjorn Engels presents City with a glorious chance to double the lead.

Engels passes straight to Raheem Sterling just outside Villa's penalty area who sets up Gabriel Jesus who must score - but no! Tyrone Mings makes a stunning clearance off the line to keep it to 1-0.

There's a suggestion that Ederson's long punt forward for the goal might have come off the head of Tyrone Mings before falling into Raheem Sterling's path.

Whether it did or not, City are now three points behind leaders Liverpool in the 'as it stands table'.

Jack Grealish is fouled but the Villa man - who has already been booked - is in serious danger of losing his cool. The last thing Villa need is to have a player sent off.

Whether you like Manchester City or not, Raheem Sterling is truly remarkable. He now has 13 goals in 14 appearances in all competitions. Brilliant statistics.

City have moved above Leicester into second - on goal difference - in the 'as it stands' table.

But Pep Guardiola's side know they must win this or run the risk of conceding further ground on leaders Liverpool.

A big 45 minutes coming up.

We're back under way.

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on BBC Radio Manchester

That was a brilliant return ball from Ilkay Gundogan who sees the run of Raheem Sterling inside the box.

David Silva with his left foot just need to caress the ball into the bottom corner but, just like Gabriel Jesus earlier, what a big miss.

Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown has been talking about that big miss by David Silva just before half-time...

Daniel: Unless he's injured why on earth is Aguero not starting? Brilliant though Guardiola is, his selections baffle me at times.

Mark Willis: Aguero to score in the 92nd minute and win the game 1-0 anyone?

Don't bet against it, Mark.

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder on BBC Radio Manchester

City just did not create enough chances in the first half. A few players need to take more risks.

They got to be careful. We saw what happened when the game got stretched against Wolves.

Now Liverpool have put the pressure on so City can’t drop points but they need to be careful to avoid that Villa’s counter-attack.

Field: Grealish should be off. Brushed off and laughed about on certain channels, wouldn't be the same if the team was playing in red.... poor officiating.

Anthony Middleton: Sterling clearly leaned into Grealish and dived. Doesn’t need to do it with his ability, but sadly it’s become the norm in football.

Michael Sterling: As good of a player sterling is, this going down over nothing (literally at times) or the minimalist of contact is ruining me liking him.

CT: Patethic from Sterling. Pathetic from the ref.

Should Jack Grealish still be on the pitch?

The Villa man's tribute to the England rugby team - when he gripped David Silva's leg and wouldn't let go - went unpunished when he had already been booked.