Leaders Manchester City can restore a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League by beating visitors Fulham before second-placed Manchester United travel to Chelsea, who are fourth, on Sunday.

Good ball from Silva and Dzeko is in but he scoops the shot too close to Schwarzer who saves easily.

The first half is underway at Eastlands.

City fans have some nice big banners and flags out there - should keep them snow-free when it gets hairy later.

Pretty snowy out there as it continues to come down hard in Manchester. The pitch is decent though.

You can talk to me about this game, the terrible weather or the fact that Owen Farrell has just scored his first points for England rugby by contacting me on Twitter @Reda_Maher.

Today's referee is Mike Dean from the Wirral.

Mousa Dembele and Mark Schwarzer return for Fulham. The former has missed recent matches with a hip problem but is fit to return, while goalkeeper Schwarzer has recovered from a spine injury sustained in mid-December. Andrew Johnson (groin) and Steve Sidwell (hernia) both miss out while Pavel Pogrebnyak does not feature as he awaits international clearance.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has failed to recover from a knee injury so Stefan Savic fills in for hm at the back. The hosts are again without suspended striker Mario Balotelli while defender Kolo Toure and midfielder Yaya Toure are still at the African Nations Cup. Playmaker David Pizarro, signed on loan from Roma this week, is on the bench.

TEAMS: Man City: Hart, Richards, Savic, Lescott, Kolarov, Nasri, Barry, Silva, Johnson, Aguero, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Clichy, Zabaleta, De Jong, Milner, Pizarro, Rekik. /// Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland, Senderos, Baird, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Dembele, Dempsey. Subs: Stockdale, John Arne Riise, Kasami, Ruiz, Hughes, Gecov, Frei

City endured a difficult January, losing twice in the Barclays Premier League as rivals Manchester United drew level at the top of the table, while they were also knocked out of two cup competitions.

The 2-2 draw back in mid-September ended Roberto Mancini's perfect start and and Martin Jol believes his side have it within themselves to ask questions of the league leaders. "I am not sure what we can do differently to those 11 sides that have lost because there were quite a few good teams going over there," the Dutchman said. "Of course away from home they are good, but they are even better at home. We have to find a solution to give them a few questions.

The west Londoners face the unenviable task of trying to become the first side to take points away from the Etihad Stadium this season. City have won all 11 home league matches and scored 34 goals in the process, although Fulham can be buoyed by the fact they were the first team to take points off the Citizens this season.