Manchester City – Liverpool

Join us at 1945 GMT to see if Manchester City can repeat their 3-0 defeat of Liverpool in the Carling Cup semis.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0108/vincentkompanysentoffvmufc20120108_275x155.jpg"><br>Vincent Kompany won't be playing for City after he was banned by the FA.

And Kompany has been having a bit of a rant <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1007181/vincent-kompany-predicts-%27wave-of-red-cards%27?cc=5739" target="_blank">about his sending off</a>; he thinks there may be a few more to follow.

Manchester City start with Savic and Lescott in central defence with Kolo Toure away and Vincent Kompany suspended. Mario Balotelli is fit and starts alongside Sergio Aguero. Nigel de Jong comes in with Yaya Toure also away and there is a rare start for Adam Johnson.

For Liverpool, Jose Enrique is out so Glen Johnson moves over to the left and Martin Kelly drops in at right-back. Steven Gerrard starts while Andy Carroll and Craig Bellamy provide the two-pronged attacked.

David Silva has not recovered from the injury which forced him off against Manchester United on Sunday and he will be another big miss for City.

Just a few minutes to go to kick-off now. Both teams are missing key names tonight, a situation which will be no different for the return leg in two weeks.

Man City are without Kolo and Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany and David Silva. Maybe the league is more important anyway.

All the lights have gone out at Eastlands for the big crowd moment as a Blue Moon, in homage to the club's song, is projected onto the stadium.

The lights come up again, and the players come out.

Liverpool are without midfield lynchpin Lucas, key striker Luis Suarez and one of their players of the season, Jose Enrique. Enrique, along with Charlie Adam, sits on the bench.

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The players come out to Right Here, Right Now by Fatboy Slim - and now Blue Moon rings out.

Man City kick-off at Eastlands.

Just to clarify, away goals only count in this tie if the scores are still level after extra-time in the second leg.

De Jong closed down - strange to think he was such a vital figure last season but this term has started only four Premier League game.

Liverpool start well, an early Downing cross is just too high for Carroll.

Speculative hit by Downing which is blocked at point-blank range by De Jong.

Andy Carroll should have scored!

Savic is all at sea at centre-back, allowing Carroll the chance to break through on goal through the centre. Hart stays big to block Carroll's shot, though it was not well placed by the Liverpool forward.

So an early escape for City, Liverpool most definitely on top.

City have lost the spine of their team in Kompany and Yaya Toure - it's going to be a testing couple of weeks for them

De Jong tries to find Balotelli over the top, Skrtel does superbly to guide the ball back to his goalkeeper.

Pepe Reina, of course, will be hoping for a better night than he had a couple of weeks ago when he got it all wrong on an Aguero shot.

Great save from Hart! Gerrard bends a shot round a couple of players and the shot was going in, Hart getting down brilliantly down to his left.

Hart to the rescue again from the corner! Volley from Downing and it deflected off Carroll, and Hart produces the best save of the lot.

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!

Savic with a pathetic challenge on Agger, definite penalty. Steven Gerrard steps up.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Steven Gerrard slots home from the spot, low into the bottom corner. Hart just couldn't get there.

Thoroughly deserved lead for Liverpool. Fourth goal of the season for Gerrard, despite him barely kicking a football.

Roberto Mancini has work to do here. City have been woeful.

First time cross fromm Milner and it almost drops on the head of Balotelli.

The loose ball drop the Aguero, but his volley is sliced horribly wide.

Andy Carroll looks to break down the left, the ball bounces off his knee and shin ... and it's gone.

Man City won the Premier League game here 3-0. It looks more like being 0-3 today. Liverpool controlling the play.

Liverpool haven't created anything since the goal, but Joe Hart has already made three saves, two of them world class.

Jay Spearing is down and needs a bit of treatment. This does not look good at all.

Charlie Adam is stripping off straight away. It looks like a hamstring strain for Spearing. He did it kicking the ball with no one near him.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Charlie Adam replaces the injured Jay Spearing.

Spearing of course is the man sitting it for Lucas, who is out for the season. So the loss of Spearing brings concerns not just for today, but for the length of this absence.

Ignore the current 0-0 scoreline on the match at the moment. Liverpool lead 0-1 through a Steven Gerrard penalty. There is a problem with our score provider.

Aguero is deep, deep, deep defending against Glen Johnson in what should be a right-back berth.

Henderson is felled by Richards, free-kick.

I'd be worried if I were a Man City fan. Stefan Savic has already gifted a chance to Carroll and given a penalty away. And he has to play the next three games.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0111/stefansavicfoul20120108_275x155.jpg"> Stefan Savic sends Dan Agger to the deck for the penalty.

Balotelli looks to break through the centre but is tripped by Adam. Balotelli nearly loses it after Adam then taps him on the back of the head - Milner has to pull him back to stop it all kicking off.

Balotelli hits the free-kick, but it is straight into the wall.

A reminder the score is actually 0-1, Steven Gerrard penalty.

Johnson on Johnson - Glen trips Adam on the wing. Free-kick.

And now Milner is penalised for a foul on Adam. It was a foul, and it's getting a bit scrappy now.

Balotelli has the ball in the centre of the park 25 yards out, he hesitates too long and loss it.

Great cross from Kelly, Carroll meets it going away from goal and guides it inches wide of the post.

The ball is played out left to Balotelli, he takes his eye off it and it goes out for a throw. He's on another planet today (like every day).

So far Man City have mustered just one shot, a sliced effort from Aguero.

Milner is sent crashing to the deck by Gerrard, the fans are not happy but there's no card.

City players warming up, maybe Mancini is about to take action.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Mario Balotelli clearly was not happy, and on comes Samir Nasri.

By not happy, I mean with his fitness and performance rather than being subbed. He knew he was off the boil.

Cross from Henderson, too high for Downing, headed away by Lescott.

The rain continues to fall steadily at Eastlands, Mancini out in the open looking on with eyes of fury.

Nasri turns Kelly twice and forces Reina into a good save as the ball skips off the wet turf. Nasri immediately creates a spark.

City's passing is nothing like we've seen this season. Giving it away far too much.

Richards leaves Glen Johnson for dead, poor defending, and gets to the by-line. He pulls it back for the unmarked Milner on the penalty spot...

...oh dear, that is rubbish. Milner scuffs a shot weakly wide. He had to hit the target, a great chance to make the fans forget a poot half.

Three minutes to be added on.

Adam is down injured now, he looks in a bit of pain. He's going to be okay though, only a knock.

Last minute of added time and Man City have a corner.

The corner was long and wasteful, but Adam Johnson is then tripped by Gerrard just outside the box. Lucky not to get booked this time.

Just time for this free-kick.

Adam Johnson takes it left-footed and it was going wide from the moment it left his foot.

<b>And that heralds the half-time whistle.</b>

Liverpool have been much the better side, but at the same time have offered little since they scored from the penalty spot.

City have been woeful, but improved after Samir Nasri came on to add an extra body in the centre of the park. Roberto Mancini has work to do in the 15-minute half-time break.

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<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0111/mariobalotellioff20120111_275x155.jpg"><br>Mario Balotelli is replaced after a lacklustre display

Liverpool are out first before Man City, eager to get started again.

<b>And it's Liverpool to kick off in the second period.</b>

Corner given to Man City, starting as they mean to go on?

Milner takes, Richards tries to meet it at the near post but just can't get there.

Liverpool standing off early in the second 45, letting City have the ball and take a look.

It looks like Liverpool are happy to sit on the 1-0, playing on the break when the opportunity arises.

Liverpool have barely touched the ball in this half.

I can't work out Kenny Dalglish's thinking here. City have been woeful, there for the taking, yet now they are allowed City time to grow back into the game.

This may be a two-legged tie, but Liverpool should be capable of taking at least another goal back to Anfield. Holding out for the one goal is surely very dangerous.

City continue to be poor on the ball. The possession stats for them must be huge this half, though.

Adam Johnson almost feeds in Aguero, the first touch was just not quite right and Skrtel intercepts for the corner.

Milner drifts the corner in from the left, and finds the gloves of Reina.

Reina intelligently feeds it out quickly and it results in Henderson breaking forward. He bursts into the area but plays it across the edge of the six-yard area blind and it's easy for the defence.

It feels as though the second half could just be about to come to life.

Aguero misses a great chance!

Abysmal back pass from Kelly and it goes straight to Aguero, he tries to get round Reina who makes himself as big as he can. Aguero tries to force it into the empty net from a tight angle but the presence of Reina makes him fire over

And right on cue after that back pass Jose Enrique starts warming up.

Barry drills a low cross into the box and Agger has to put it behind for a corner.

Milner drifts the corner in again, Richards meets it with a bullet header and Reina is in the right place to block and then collect the loose ball. Pressure building.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Stewart Downing is replaced by Jose Enrique - a defensive switch it seems.

Answers on a postcard about Liverpool's new formation.

It looks like it's Enrique left-back, Kelly on the right and Glen Johnson in midfield. What is going on here?

You have to say this is a very bizarre approach from Kenny Dalglish in the second half. But will it earn what seems to be a desired 0-1 win?

Adam with another foul, on Richards in centre-field. Taken short.

Cross from the left from City, calming chest back to Reina by midfielder (!) Glen Johnson.

Edin Dzeko is about to come on.

Great play by Aguero, three Liverpool defenders were drawn to him, and he cuts back inside leaving all of them out of the play. Aguero then shoots, but it's woefully weak and easy for Reina.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Edin Dzeko comes on for Adam Johnson to add more bite up front.

Edin Dzeko has not scored for 10 games now, and more often than not finds himself as a substitute.

Aguero tries to jink across the box to create space for a shot, Glen Johnson gets in with a superb tackle to win the ball.

Liverpool continue to sit deep in their own third.

Nasri gets past Johnson and fires over the bar from the edge of the area. The warning signs are there.

Aleksandar Kolarov will be next to enter the fray.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kolarov is on for Nigel de Jong.

Liverpool have now gone to 5-4-1. Martin Kelly is the centre and Glen Johnson back to right back. It can't get much more defensive.

Free-kick to City, push by Enrique.

It's taken by Kolarov left-footed on the right wing, it misses everyone and goes harmlessly out of play.

Aguero needlessly shoves Skrtel over, free-kick.

Awful cross from Kolarov there, straight to Reina on the bounce.

The atmosphere is pretty woeful tonight. Liverpool fans far more vocal. And City haven't sold out either.

Richards wins the ball off Adam with a challenge which was surely high-footed. He breaks forward and feeds it to Kolarov, who hits a bending shot way over.

Richards fouls Carroll, it's a free-kick which Liverpool take short.

Gareth Barry misses a golden chance. The cross comes in from the right, Barry hesitates in committing to the ball and Reina blocks.

Another sub for Liverpool. Will it be a) defensive b) defensive or c) defensive?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Striker Craig Bellamy is replaced by Jamie Carragher, who will go into the holding midfield role.

Kolarov is tripped by Henderson, free-kick - taken short.

City pressure builds, Milner's shot from distance is dragged wide.

Is 1-0 going to be enough for Liverpool? I'm not so sure. They could have gone home with at least two tonight.

Agger puts it behind and City have a corner.

That was awful from Kolarov, the short corner came back to him and he crossed it well out of play. He has been poor since coming on.

Handbags are out between Carragher and Nasri, and then Kolarov wades into the argument too. The cards will be out here.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Carragher goes into the book for a little kick at Nasri, and so does Nasri for the reaction.

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City just have not been able to find a way through his heavily-loaded Liverpool defence.

Aguero sees a snap shot blocked.

Time tunning out for City now. Is there a twist in the tale?

The return leg is on Wednesday, January 25 at Anfield. Kick-off 7.45pm GMT.

Liverpool have not played at Wembley since the FA Cup final of 1996, when they lost to Eric Cantona's goal for Manchester United. They are 90 minutes away from a return.

Nasri crosses in from the right, Aguero meets it with the flicked header and it lands on the roof of the net. So close!

Three minutes to be added on.

Finally some noise from the City fans in injury time.

Free-kick to City, 25 yards out, Milner delivers and it's headed away.

The ball comes back into the box and Dzeko throws himself to the deck - never a penalty.

There was a bad two footed tackle by Glen Johnson in that move, both feet were off the ground and another ref would have had a card out there. And it would not have been yellow.

<b>And that's it, full-time at Eastlands.</b>

A professional performace from Liverpool, who got exactly what they came for - a one-goal advantage to take back to Anfield two weeks tonight.

There was a distinct lack of adventure from Liverpool, who had six defenders on the pitch towards the end of the game. But Kenny Dalglish will tell you it's half-time and Liverpool are in front.

There has to be a marked improvement on this display from City in the return leg or they will be heading out of two cup competitions this month, and Liverpool will have a League Cup final against either Cardiff City or Crystal Palace.