It feels like every attack is an incisive pass away from creating a goal.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has to stretch and intercept superbly to prevent Phil Foden getting in on goal.

Liverpool almost get in down the left.

Sadio Mane sets up Andy Robertson for a stretching cross that Kyle Walker blocks.

Matt: City are too good. Out pressing Liverpool here.

Gooner: Both teams going for it. No wonder its a two horse race. A class above the rest.

Mansa: Can’t take my eyes off this game.

We guess the Telegraph's James Ducker is talking about the footy...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Etihad Stadium

This has been some first 30 minutes. All we expected and more - helped by lots of nervous moments at both ends of the pitch.

Crackling atmosphere inside Etihad Stadium.

City should really be in front again.

Joao Cancelo gets in down the left and his delivery in falls for Kevin de Bruyne. He has a clear sight of goal but pulls his effort past the post.

This after Trent Alexander-Arnold had ignored a Mohamed Salah break to attempt a wildly ambitious effort from halfway.

Andy Robertson goes into the book for a foul on Kevin de Bruyne. The first man in there.

Peter Schmeichel
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Liverpool's defence has looked a little unsettled because I think they'd prepared themselves for Riyad Mahrez; the way they play, with Andy Robertson up the pitch taking part every attack.

Mahrez would go with him, but Gabrel Jesus stays up and that gives Virgil van Dijk a problem.

City continue to push forward.

A cross into the middle falls for Kyle Walker but between him and Gabriel Jesus they fail to get a shot away. A Liverpool player belts the ball at one of them and it deflects back to Alisson.

Desalegn: For two consecutive matches vs Liverpool KDB scored a deflected goal off Joel Matip. How is your luck guys.

It's a quiet day out there for forward players, despite the quality of service on offer.

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have seven touches apiece, Diogo Jota has four.

Manchester City's front three have 21 touches between them.

For perspective, Bernardo Silva has touched it 28 times.

Wait for your moment front men.

City go close again!

De Bruyne's free-kick finds Rodri behind the Liverpool defence and his header back across goal just beats the onrushing John Stones.

Can't take your eyes off it.

Jay B: Matip is City’s man of the match so far.

Serge: That City press is scary.

Papito: What on earth is wrong with sterling? how many chances does he need to score?

Replays show that the ball made contact with the white line.

Ederson looks cool afterwards but I'm not buying it.

OH MY!

Ederson almost commits the blooper of the season by allowing a tame backpass to dribble and dribble and dribble to within an inch of crossing the line. Eventually he chips it away to a defender.

Absolute nerve destroyer.

Image source, Getty Images

One end to almost the other. Phil Foden's pull-back is cut out and cleared to Mohamed Salah, who tries to beat Kyle Walker for pace. Yeah, good luck with that, Mo.

Kevin: Already epic… and it’s only been 17 mins.

Josh: 17 mins in and this is just showing the difference between the modern greats of the premier League and everyone else. I'm a united fan but seeing 2 top teams go for it, even as a neutral, is fantastic.

Gee: let's face it, he should change his name to Diogoal Jota.

Kevin de Bruyne swings in the corner... straight into the grasp of Alisson.

Peter Schmeichel
Former Manchester City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

City are playing very, very high up the pitch, even when Liverpool have the ball in their own half, they are on the half-way line. If they can find the ball in behind, there are opportunities with the pace of the Liverpool players.