Premier League champions Manchester City travel to Stoke City for a FA Cup fourth round match. Roberto Mancini's men are on a five-game winning run and confidence will be high in the Citizens' camp after four clean sheets in a row.

Stoke, meanwhile, have had a disappointing start to 2013, the defeat of Championship side Crystal Palace notwithstanding. Tony Pulis has not beaten a top division side since the surprise 3-1 home defeat of Liverpool back in December. The Potters have conceded eight goals from the last three games in all competitions, a statistic that will worry their manager.

The last time these sides met was at the Etihad, for a league encounter City won comfortably, courtesy of goals from Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Pablo Zabaleta.

David Silva
Reuters

Where to Watch Live

Kick-off is set for 12.45pm GMT. Live coverage is on ITV London and ITV London+1. Radio commentary is on Talksport.

Overview

Stoke come into this game on the back of a 3-1 league defeat to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. The good news, though, is that the Potters' home form in the Premier League suggests City will have to work hard for the win today; Pulis has lost only once in 11 home games, which is a record comparable with league leaders Manchester United, Everton and City themselves.

The club has scored a respectable 14 goals from those 11 fixtures and the trademark direct and physical style of play will be their best chance of getting a result from this match.

Goals from Kenwyne Jones, Cameron Jerome and a brace from Jonathan Walters gave Stoke a 4-1 win over Palace in a third round fixture. The match was a replay, after the sides played out a goalless draw in the first tie at Selhurst Park. The final score was a little unfair on the Eagles, who pushed their Premier League rivals to extra time after Glen Murray scored an 87th minute penalty.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are on an excellent run of form and will back themselves to extend their five game winning run and progress in the tournament. The champions' run of wins includes a polished 2-0 defeat of Arsenal at the Emirates and a similar win against Fulham at home. City have won six of seven league games since United beat them in early December and the Old Trafford's side draw at Tottenham last week means the gap at the top is down to five points.

City's away form, in the league, should worry Stoke. Mancini has lost only once in 11 games. There have been six wins and four draws otherwise, with 18 goals scored.

The club coasted past Championship side Watford in the previous round, with Argentine striker Carlos Tevez scoring twice in a 3-0 win.

Jonathan Walters
Reuters

Team Form

Stoke City

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): L W L D L
  • Last Match: Swansea City 3 - 1 Stoke City

Manchester City

  • Last Five (all competitions, most recent first): W W W W W
  • Last Match: Manchester City 2 - 0 Fulham

Team News

Line-Up: Sorensen; Shotton, Huth, Shawcross, Wilkinson; Whelan, Kightly, Nzonzi, Etherington; Walters, Jones

Line-Up: Pantilimon; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov; Barry, Milner, Tevez, Silva; Dzeko