Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.

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The team news is in…

Ominously for Everton, Manuel Pellegrini has a very good record against the Toffees.

We’re underway…

It’s been a scrappy, stop-start beginning to this game.

Man City have had the better possession, with Everton looking a little cautious.

City are beginning to dominate now.

Seamus Coleman has just made a timely block to stop a Delph cross.

Lukaku is looking a little isolated right now, with Everton starved of possession (Man City have had 64% of the ball so far).

This match’s opening isn’t dissimilar to how the Toffees’ game with Tottenham at the weekend began, though the visitors have yet to carve out a clear-cut opportunity.

For all City’s dominance of the ball, Everton have looked relatively secure at the back thus far.

The likes of Silva and Aguero have been marshaled well by Gareth Barry among others.

Worryingly for Everton, Ross Barkley has gone down injured.

It looked a relatively innocuous challenge, with the England international landing awkwardly.

It’s been the frustrating version of Yaya Toure in action so far tonight — the Ivorian has just passed the ball straight out of play.

Meanwhile, Barkley is back in action and running smoothly again.

It’s been a typical first leg if such a thing exists.

Both sides have started in a palpably cautious fashion, with neither team really looking like scoring at the moment.

Everton's former manager David Moyes gestures to supporters before the English League Cup semi-final first leg. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The crowd has reason to cheer finally, as Baines bursts forward before being taken down cynically by Fernandinho.

Lukaku can’t quite get his head on the full-back’s subsequent curling free kick.

Otamendi’s run is perfectly timed, but his header from a De Bruyne corner goes well wide.

John Stones probably could have marked the Argentine defender more tightly there.

Deulofeu finds space down the wing, but he crosses straight into the side netting.

That attack started when Yaya Toure, who looks a little out of sorts tonight, conceded possession with a heavy touch.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila, his assistant John Collins and Roy Keane in the stands before the game. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Lukaku looks as if he’s about to have a free run on goal, but Otamendi makes a superb last-ditch challenge to stop him.

Again, that came from Toure losing the ball, following a well-timed sliding challenge by Besic.

After Man City’s bright opening, the Toffees are coming into this game more and more.

It’s the hosts who have done all the probing in recent minutes, with Man City on the defensive.

Baines’ free kick is headed across goal by Barry for Stones to tap home.

However, it’s disallowed correctly, as Barry was offside when the ball came his way.

Besic howls in frustration as he narrowly fails to pick out the overlapping Seamus Coleman owing to an overhit pass.

It’s been a frustrating half to watch in general, with defences on top.

Deulofeu plays through Lukaku, who slots home, but again, he’s rightly adjudged offside.

Down the other end, Aguero twice goes close — his initial shot forces a decent save from Joel Robles, before Funes Mori positions himself smartly to block the follow up.

EVERTON 1-0 MAN CITY (FUNES MORI 45)

On the stroke of half-time, Everton gain the advantage.

A corner falls to Barkley, whose shot is parried into the path of Funes Mori, and the defender makes no mistake with a simple finish.

HALF-TIME: EVERTON 1-0 MAN CITY

Here’s a look at the first-half stats via Sky Sports.

So it’s been a cagey first-half, but that goal at the end should make it far more interesting.

Man City dominated possession and territory in the opening 15 minutes, but Everton came into it more as the game developed.

It’s been even enough, but Everton have looked slightly more threatening and probably just about deserve their lead as a result.

The second half is underway…

Demichelis has replaced Mangala for City at half-time.

As I type, Lukaku narrowly fails to get on the end of Barkley’s cross.

Great skill by Lukaku to beat two City players before laying it off to Baines.

The Belgian international has been excellent so far tonight.

Jesus Navas has come on for Fabian Delph.

Pellegrini is clearly looking to add greater width and creativity to the team.

Coleman shrugs De Bruyne off the ball before producing a clever backheel to Deulofeu.

Everton then break and Barkley dribbles through on goal, but his touch is just too heavy to beat Cabellero and he runs it out of play instead.

Big chance! Silva lays the ball off to Aguero, but he scuffs his shot from inside the box well wide.

Moments later, the Argentina international’s shot is deflected wide.

Barkley gets the better of Otamendi down the left.

The England international then takes the shot on from a tight angle, and Cabellero makes a decent save.

It’s been a livelier second half.

City have improved, but Everton continue to look a threat on the counter-attack.

As I type, Mirallas replaces Deulofeu.

Two superb interventions from Demichelis there.

Firstly, he puts in an excellent tackle to stop a Barkley run. Shortly thereafter, he cuts out a dangerous-looking Baines cross.

As I type, Joel makes an excellent save to parry out a curling De Bruyne shot for a corner.

It’s starting to turn into a bit of a siege on the Everton goal with just over 15 minutes remaining.

Can the Toffees hold out?

EVERTON 1-1 MAN CITY (NAVAS 76)

Everton are punished on the break.

It’s great play from Aguero, who plays an inch-perfect pass to an onrushing Navas, and the Spanish winger finishes well.

EVERTON 2-1 MAN CITY (LUKAKU 78)

Lukaku responds immediately for Everton to keep up his fine scoring record this season.

The Belgian powerfully heads home Gareth Barry’s cross to restore the Toffees’ advantage.

Sky have shown a replay of an earlier Navas penalty claim.

City have a right to feel aggrieved, as Mirallas appeared to clip his heels.

Lukaku, who has been hobbling since scoring that goal, is being replaced by Kone.

City have a free kick from about 30 yards out… It’s blocked by the Everton wall.

Here’s a look at that Lukaku goal.

Bad news for Ireland fans, as Coleman limps off. Everton will play the final few minutes with 10 men, as they’ve used all three subs.

Meanwhile, for City, Fernando comes on for De Bruyne.

Four minutes of added on time will be played…

Everton have done well since going down to 10 men, keeping hold of the ball and showing great composure.

Seconds remain now…

FULL-TIME: EVERTON 2-1 MAN CITY

So that’s that. What had been an ordinary enough first half turned into a highly entertaining match after the break.

Man City improved after half-time, while Everton soaked up plenty of pressure and looked dangerous on the break.

The hosts showed good character to recover after Navas’ equaliser, with Lukaku’s winner coming two minutes and six seconds later.

Ultimately, Everton’s gritty win was probably just about deserved, but they still have their work cut out in the second leg against a City that tend to be a different animal on home turf.

Okay, that’s all from me for now, but we have further reaction to follow.

Thanks for reading and commenting.