First, and likely only, booking of the game is handed to to substitute Ibrahim Afellay.
90'
Creeping towards the final whistle now, much to the relief of the travelling Stoke support.
Three minutes of added time and the game should now trickle to a close.
87'
It could have been eight though, David Silva curls wide from outside the area. He should have been on the scoresheet more than once.
86'
Manchester City look to have called it a day, about 85 minutes after Stoke apparently did the same. 29 goals scored by City this season, though they've conceded as many today as they have done in their previous seven league matches.
84'
Kyle Walker is down receiving treatment after a lunge from Diouf, although it was a fair challenge. If this is a serious injury to another full-back, then City will be very unhappy. Thankfully, he looks able to continue.
82'
Nine minutes, plus added time, until Stoke's misery is ended. There could still be another few punches to the gut before the final whistle though.
79'
Bernardo Silva has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by R. Sterling.
Sterling is another one of City's top performers from today, chipping in with a goal and two assists. He's certainly found his best form under the guidance of Guardiola.
Seven for City! Bernado Silva, off the bench, caps off what has been a wonderful afternoon for the hosts. Sterling's touches the ball across to the Portuguese maestro and there was only going to be one winner when he's one-on-one with Butland.
74'
Manchester City haven't ended their assault on Jack Butland's net, with David Silva now firing way over the bar.
73'
Y. Touré enters the game and replaces Fernandinho.
Final change from Manchester City and they'll be no run out for Sergio Aguero this afternoon. Fernandinho, who scored a screamer, is replaced by Yaya Toure- so it doesn't get much easier for Stoke.
70'
Chance for Stoke and it's a big one. Cameron is the man who strikes at goal, smashing into the side netting, and the chances that Stoke have created will give them some encouragement ahead of a more favourable run of games over the next few weeks.
Minute
Description
69'
Manchester City took their foot off the gas in the first-half after securing a three-goal advantage and they may well do the same here. If they don't, it could hit double figures. Stoke's defence has been torn apart.
66'
İ. Gündoğan enters the game and replaces K. De Bruyne.
Second chance of the game for Manchester City and the best player of the day is rested, with the Citizens to play Napoli in midweek. Ilkay Gundogan comes on, continuing his recovery from injury.
65'
Erik Pieters fouls Raheem Sterling, allowing Sane to step-up to take the free-kick. He's very close with his effort, clipping the side netting, but Butland seemed comfortable to see it pass by.
63'
Bernardo Silva enters the game and replaces Gabriel Jesus.
Manchester City's first change of the game sees Gabriel Jesus, who's scored a brace, replaced by Bernardo Silva. The summer signing has seen his minutes restricted this season but he'll fancy his chances against a leaky Stoke side.
62'
L. Sané has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by K. De Bruyne.
De Bruyne has been the best player on the pitch today and his two assists have both been fantastic.
City have struck again! The hosts have turned up the heat since conceding their second of the afternoon and they're tearing Stoke apart. De Bruyne again with another fantastic ball to Sane, who beats Butland at his near post.
60'
Fernandinho has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by F. Delph.
What a goal from Fernandinho! There was appeals for a penalty in the build-up but Manchester City don't need it, as the Brazilian midfieler sets his sights at goal and fires an effort into the goal via the bar.
Fabian Delph is credited with the assist but the credit has to fall entirely to Fernandinho.
55'
Gabriel Jesus has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by K. De Bruyne.
De Bruyne has been excellent today, being heavily involved in the opening two goals, and he gets his assist on his 100th appearance for Manchester City. Right now, he may just be the best player in the Premier League.
Brilliant from Manchester City! Stoke again caught in possession but it's nothing they can do to stop De Bruyne's incredible low ball into the middle of the box, where Jesus tucks home his second of the game. City are back in control and this time there's surely no way back for the Potters.
53'
Ramadan Sobhi enters the game and replaces T. Edwards.
Final substitution of the game for Stoke then, with Edwards stretchered off. Ramadan Sobhi is his replacement, potentially signalling a slight change of set-up as it appears Geoff Cameron has switched to right-back.
51'
Tom Edwards' day looks to be coming to a premature end as he's required treatment both before and after that Manchester City free-kick. He's done reasonably well on his debut, particularly with the cross for Stoke's second-goal, but defensively he has, rather unsurprisingly, struggled.
49'
Well, that certainly wasn't in the script for Pep Guardiola's side. You'd expect them to up the tempo again but the danger is that they could regret taking their foot off the gas in the first-half.
Fletcher has conceded a free-kick in a dangerous area for a clumsy challenge on Fernandinho. David Silva steps-up to take, lashing a shot way over the bar.
47'
K. Walker is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
It's in! Game on! Stoke have got their early goal in the second-half and it's an own-goal from Kyle Walker. Young Tom Edwards has impressed with a dangerous cross, which finds the head of Diouf. His effort is off target but it deflects in off Walker.
46'
I. Afellay enters the game and replaces Jesé.
B. Martins Indi enters the game and replaces K. Wimmer.
Half-time change for Stoke sees Kevin Wimmer hauled off and replaced by Bruno Martins Indi.
Second change of the break sees Ibrahim Afellay introduced, with Jese Rodriguez taken off.
Stoke get us underway for the second-half and they'll be hoping not to concede too many goals in the second-half. If they strike early, they could make a game of this.
45' +2
Brilliant save from Butland! Sane lays the ball off to De Bruyne and the effort seems destined to find the back of the net but Butland's diving hand palms it behind for a corner. That's exactly why many believe he should be England's starter for next summer's World Cup.
45' +1
Manchester City come firing back immediately, with Leroy Sane skinning his man before seeing a shot from distance comfortably saved by Butland.
44'
M. Diouf has scored a goal for Stoke City! Assist by Jesé.
Diouf crafted the opportunity largely by himself but that's superb work from Stoke's lone striker to put the ball on a plate for his team-mate.
It's against the run of play but Stoke have a goal! A superb through ball unleashes Mame Biram Diouf and he charges towards goal, playing a one-two with Jese Rodriguez, before firing a shot at goal that takes a wicked deflection and loops over the head of Ederson.
42'
Manchester City are keeping the ball like a training exercise here and it requires a save from Butland's foot to keep the Citizens from scoring again. It's Silva with the shot after fine work from Sterling. In truth, it wasn't the best of attempts.
40'
Stoke almost masters of their own downfall there, as Jack Butland struggles to clear a ball away under pressure. To be far, the defence didn't show themselves in the best of light with that back pass.
37'
Guardiola's side have taken their foot off the gas now and it's not surprising. There's certainly more goals in this game but the hosts don't need to force it. Barring a miracle, City will be two points clear at the top this evening.
34'
A sight of goal for Stoke! Kurt Zouma bursts forward and fires an effort towards Ederson. Unfortunately, the Brazilian goalkeeper is untested as the attempt is a good distance wide of the mark.
31'
Manchester City really have been firing on all cylinders today and there's no way back for Stoke. It would probably help if they started defending though.
27'
David Silva has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by R. Sterling.
A goal and an assist for Sterling today, who's had a whale of a time down the right. Credit must be given to Sane and Gabriel Jesus though, both of whom were involved in the build-up.
It's a third and it's been coming! Manchester City, once again, with superb quick attacking play. Sane drives a low ball across the face of goal, with Sterling then cutting the ball back to Silva and it's another easy finish. The hosts are coasting and this could become a cricket score.
25'
Another big chance for Manchester City, this time with David Silva bearing down on goal, but the Stoke defence does their job this time out to clear the danger.
22'
We're about halfway through the first-half and it's already damage limitation for Stoke City. It was always going to be a challenge for Mark Hughes' side but the fans won't be happy with how easily they've been carved apart.
19'
R. Sterling has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by L. Sané.
It's again brilliant build-up play and Sane was heavily involved, first playing the pass to De Bruyne on the edge of the area and making the run to receive the ball again. From there, it was always going to be another goal.
It's two! Manchester City walk the ball into the back of the net to double their lead. De Bruyne is again involved with a superb reverse pass to Sane, who unselfishly plays the ball across to Sterling and it's an easy finish.
17'
Gabriel Jesus has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by K. Walker.
Walker's overlapping run there showed why he's regarded to be one of the best full-backs in the Premier League and it shows that Stoke are really struggling to keep the Citizens quelled down that side.
Manchester City take the lead! Stoke are easily dispossessed as Darren Fletcher plays a poor ball and the hosts hit on the counter. De Bruyne finds Kyle Walker on the overlap, who cuts the ball across goal where Gabriel Jesus is on-hand to tap home.
13'
First corner of the match for Manchester City, as Kurt Zouma does well to prevent Sane from playing a low ball into the box. City go short from the set-piece, eventually launching a high ball into the area where Nicolas Otamendi heads wide.
11'
Another sight on goal for the hosts, with Sterling dragging a shot wide of the mark. He's been heavily involved so far and Erik Pieters has struggled to keep him quiet.
7'
Huge chance for Manchester City! Kevin De Bruyne played an early cross into the early and Kevin Wimmer's defensive header is woeful, allowing the ball to pass him by and find Leroy Sane in acres of space. The German winger should have opened the scoring but he can only managed to fire a shot way over the top of the bar.
6'
The Citizens are posing quite a threat down the right-hand side of the field, with Sterling involved vastly so far, and they're yet to really test debutant Tom Edwards on the opposite flank.
4'
First chance of the game falls Manchester City's way, as Raheem Sterling picks up the ball on the right-hand side of the penalty box and tries to feed a ball into the area. Jack Butland is on-hand to pounce on the ball though, Sterling should definitely have asked more from his England colleague.
1'
We're underway at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City can move two points clear at the top with a victory and it's the hosts that get us underway, kicking from left to right.
Interesting start in Manchester here as Kyle Walker, literally, goes through the advertising board. Thankfully he's ok!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE text commentary of Manchester City v Stoke City in the Premier League, where the hosts will be looking to climb to the top of the standings.
Pep Guardiola's title chasing side have been in phenomenal form this season, winning six of their opening seven league matches- including a 1-0 triumph over defending champions Chelsea prior to the international break.
Meanwhile, Stoke City have struggled for consistency this season and enter the week sat 13th in the Premier League table with 18 points to their name. Morale was boosted by a 2-1 victory over Southampton before the international break but they'll know the odds are stacked against them this afternoon.
Manchester City XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Otamendi, Delph; De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva; Sterling, Jesus, Sane.
Pep Guardiola's Citizens are unchanged from the side that beat Chelsea 1-0 two weeks ago but the big news is on the bench, where Sergio Aguero is present having returned from a car crash in Amsterdam. Kevin De Bruyne makes his 100th appearance for the hosts today.
Stoke City have sprung a suprise with their team, handing 18-year-old Tom Edwards his Premier League debut at right-back. The teenager comes into the side as one of two changes by Mark Hughes, with Jese Rodriguez leading the line. Joe Allen and Saido Berahino drop out of the team, with the latter on the bench.
Half-time at the Etihad Stadium and it's been a relatively comfortable ride for Manchester City, although Pep Guardiola will be frustrated by their inability to keep a clean-sheet. Two goals in the space of two minutes from Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling put the hosts in control, with David Silva then putting the icing on a cake. Just as the game seemed to be dead and buried though, Mame Biram Diouf managed to give the visitors some hope.
So far so good for Manchester City then and they've managed to pretty much walk the ball into the back of the net on three occasions. They seemed comfortable to see the game out but Diouf's goal before the break might hand the visitors some spark.
Stoke, as mentioned, may have had their spirits lifted by their goal before the break but in the grand scheme of things it's only likely to be a consolation. There will be massive concerns about their defensive performance, although the fact it's against Manchester City may give them a free pass.
That's a wrap! Manchester City have stormed to victory today against a sorry Stoke City though, although the Potters may have felt they had a chance after fighting back to 3-2 after being three goals down. It all fell apart for the Potters from there though, as they conceded a further four.
Manchester City surge to the top of the Premier League in style then, with a superb attacking display. Gabriel Jesus continued his fine run with a brace but the Man of the Match was certainly Kevin De Bruyne, who put in a terrific performance that was capped off by two fantastic assists. Having conceded two today though, they may feel they have some work to do.
It's certainly an afternoon to forget for Stoke, who now have the joint-worst defensive record in the Premier League alongside Crystal Palace. Conceding seven is never good, even if it is away from home against Manchester City, but they'll be hopeful of a better showing next weekend against Bournemouth.
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