Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of the day's early kick-off in the Premier League. In store for you today we have title hopefuls Manchester City taking on Southampton from the Etihad Stadium.

City are really struggling to string more than five passes together at present. Every misplaced ball is greeted with a huge groan from the Etihad faithful. There’s real discontent inside the stadium from the home support, and the away fans are cheering every pass. Entertaining stuff.

Great play from Shaw, who drops his shoulder and bursts away from Zabaleta to cross. It’s lofted into the box with no real pace, hanging up there which allows Kompany to clear.

After that woeful start from the Saints, they’ve really come back into this game. They’re attacking in numbers and are doing so with real confidence. Chambers finds some space down the right, finding Lallana with the cross, but it’s a difficult chance and the header is off target.

City’s turn to attack now, and they’re awarded a free-kick wide on the left for a foul on Silva. The Spaniard takes the set-piece and picks out Kompany 12 yards from goal, but the Belgian can only balloon his header over the bar.

Oooh, Lallana should do better. He’s found superbly by Lambert, who spots the run and whips in a great cross. Lallana has pulled free of Demichelis, but his control is poor and Hart watches the ball roll out for a goal kick.

Southampton are starting to ask questions now, and the home fans are not too impressed. They just can’t keep hold of the ball. Cork lofts in a delightful cross, over the top of the City defence and into the path of Lambert, but Kompany recovers well to clear.

Another corner for the visiting side, but nothing comes of it. Davis overhits this one and the ball flies over the pack inside the City box and out for a throw-in on the near side.

Encouraging signs for Pochettino’s men. They’ve finally settled down and are enjoying a decent spell of possession now. City still look very comfortable, but it’s more of an open contest.

Toure now comes to City’s rescue. Davis’s corner from the left looks to be heading for Lambert, but the Ivorian is able to flick it away and out to safety.

First bit of attacking intent from Southampton. Lallana and Rodriguez link up well down the left before the latter swings in a dangerous ball, leaving Hart routed to his line. Lambert rises highest at the back post, but the ball drifts over the top of his head by a couple of inches.

Southampton can’t find a way out of their own half at present. City are pressing high and are doing so in numbers. Dzeko now bursts down the line but is stopped in his tracks thanks to Shaw’s terrific sliding challenge.

The Saints are at sixes and sevens at the back. It’s relentless from the hosts, and the Hampshire-based outfit look visibly shaken.

It’s been ALL City in these opening seven minutes. A real high tempo start for Manuel Pellegrini’s side. Pochettino is cutting a frustrated figure on the touchline.

Almost two!! Zabaleta wriggles free on the right touchline following City’s throw-in. The Argentine pulls the ball back to Nasri on the edge of the penalty area, but the Frenchman can’t direct his first-time effort on goal.

Shaky start for the debutant Gazzaniga in goal. The keeper receives a back pass but his control lets him down and he nearly lets in Dzeko. He sends the ball out for a throw, much to the delight of the City fans.

GOAL!! No doubt whatsoever. Toure steps up, sending Gazzaniga the wrong way to convert his sixth penalty of the season.

Certainly a penalty. Jose Fonte took the bait, sticking a leg out as Dzeko wriggled into the box. Yaya Toure to take this. Any doubt?

PENALTY TO CITY!! TWO MINUTES ON THE CLOCK. GREAT CHANCE FOR A PERFECT START FOR CITY!!

There’s an early stoppage in this one. Silva gets hold of the ball early on and attacks down the right, but he’s sent flying by Shaw. A real big tackle, that one. You get the feeling that if it wasn’t so early in this match he’d have been shown a yellow.

This match is underway. The visitors kick off.

The two sets of players are currently lining up in the tunnel ahead of the pre-match formalities. Not long to go until kick-off now...