Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the final Premier League match of the weekend as Huddersfield Town host in-form Manchester City at the John Smith's Stadium!

If you had offered Huddersfield a top-half place after 12 games of their first season in the Premier League then they would have snapped your hand off, but today they come up against a different beast altogether - a Manchester City in relentlessly devastating form who are looking for an incredible 18th win in a row across all competitions.

Before we take an in-depth look at whether the Terriers can be the team to stop them, let's first check out the team news...

HUDDERSFIELD STARTING XI: Lossl; Smith, Malone, Schindler, Zanka; Hogg, Mooy, Van La Parra, Williams, Ince; Depoitre

HUDDERSFIELD SUBS: Green, Kachunga, Cranie, Lowe, Quaner, Mounie, Hadergjonaj

MAN CITY STARTING XI: Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Kompany, Delph; Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva; Sterling, Sane, Aguero

MAN CITY SUBS: Bravo, Danilo, Zinchenko, Jesus, Bernardo, Mangala, Gundogan

What can we make of those two sides, then?

Well, we'll have a look at the hosts in a moment, but let's start with the headline news as Gabriel Jesus is left out of the Man City starting lineup in favour of Sergio Aguero leading the line. Guardiola earlier this week suggested that the duo would not play together until Benjamin Mendy was back from injury, only to backtrack on those comments yesterday, but he has once again opted for just the one striker and it is Aguero who gets the nod today.

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Guardiola really is spoilt for choice in that position, and in any other scenario leaving a player who has scored 10 goals this season and been directly involved in 20 goals throughout his 21 Premier League appearances would be widely questioned by supporters.

When Aguero is the man replacing him, though, there is a degree of understanding as the club's record scorer has also found the back of the net 10 times so far this term. Aguero started against Feyenoord in midweek, but that has not prevented Guardiola from playing him again today.

Nicolas Otamendi also returns to the domestic fold having missed the win over Leicester through suspension by virtue of picking up five yellow cards, and he joins the fit-again Vincent Kompany at the heart of the defence after the Belgian sat out in midweek.

John Stones is set for more than a month on the sidelines, so this is likely to be City's first-choice centre-back partnership over the busy Christmas period, with Walker and Delph flanking them in the full-back slots.

Further forward there is creativity and flair galore. Kevin De Bruyne has been at his dazzling best again this season to release those in front of him, while David Silva has also contributed eight assists in 12 games so far this term - already one more than he managed in 34 Premier League outings last season.

Add to that the pace and increasingly reliable finishing of Sterling and Sane and it is no surprise that City have been so devastating going forward so far this season.

The big question is: How to stop them? It is a question not many teams have found an answer to so far this season, and the Huddersfield starting XI will know that in all likelihood they have a long afternoon ahead of them.

David Wagner has made three changes to his side for this match following their hugely disappointing 4-0 defeat to Bournemouth last time out, with Smith, Schindler and Hogg coming back into the starting XI.

Schindler returns to the starting lineup having missed the Bournemouth defeat through suspension, while Jonathan Hogg was absent for that match in order to attend the birth of his son.

Both return in central defence and midfield respectively today, though, with Cranie and Kachunga the men to make way. There is also a switch at right-back as Smith replaces Hadergjonaj - much to the delight of every commentator out there.

Tom Ince will be eager to impress this afternoon having failed to live up to his potential since being billed as one of the brightest young talents in English football a few years ago.

The former Liverpool target holds an unwanted lead in the Premier League this season, though, having had 30 shots without scoring in the top flight this term - more than any other player.

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Indeed, the whole Huddersfield team have struggled for goals so far this season, with only four different players having scored for the Terriers in the Premier League this term - plus an own goal.

Depoitre and Mooy are the top scorers from those on the field today, each with two goals apiece, while Mounie has also scored twice and Van La Parra has one goal to his name.

Attacking may well be the least of their concerns this afternoon as they welcome a rampant Man City side to the John Smith's Stadium, and despite their very respectable league position their defensive record is not the greatest either.

Huddersfield have conceded 17 times from their 12 appearances which, while not being the worst total in the league, is not a good mix with their tally of only eight goals scored. Only Swansea have scored fewer than them this season, and only four teams have a worse goal difference.

Nonetheless, Huddersfield are sitting pretty in 10th place as things stand, which would have been beyond all expectations when they began their first ever season in the Premier League.

Of course, there is still a long way to go of the campaign and the five-point gap which separates them from the Premier League could be wiped out very quickly should they go on a poor run of form, but they only need 25 more points to reach the magic 40-point mark so they are well on their way to survival.

A shock victory today would leave the Terriers ninth in the table, and they have already beaten one Manchester club here at the John Smith's this season, picking up a famous victory over United last month.

That is one of two wins from their last four outings and, while their wider form of only two wins in their last 11 games across all competitions is relatively poor, they are picking up points on a regular enough basis in the Premier League to keep themselves ticking along.

Their recent form does suggest that the honeymoon period may be over, though, and aside from the fact that they have failed to score in eight of their last 11 games, their upcoming fixtures look incredibly difficult.

Wagner's side must face Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea in three of their next five outings, while five of their next six games come against teams currently above them in the top half of the table. I mentioned that a bad run could see them begin to slip closer towards the bottom three, and that could be exactly what is heading their way.

The one attribute that may save them when the going gets tough is their home form, and Huddersfield can rightly be proud of how they have performed in front of their own fans so far this season.

Across all competitions the Terriers have only lost one of their seven matches at the John Smith's Stadium, winning four and drawing two in that time, including back-to-back victories coming into this match - one of which came against Manchester United, of course.

Another victory today would see Huddersfield record three top-flight home wins on the bounce for the first time in the same season since December 1955, having already won back-to-back home top-flight outings for the first time since 1971.

Huddersfield's only home defeat this season was a heavy one - going down 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur - but they have otherwise been very impressive, with only the Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs picking up more points in front of their own fans.

Once again, the problem comes in the final third, with only Swansea have scored fewer home goals than Huddersfield's five this season - despite the Terriers performing well here.

Defensively things have also been getting worse - in their opening six Premier League games Huddersfield's opponents scored just three goals, converting 4.5% of their shots, but since then they have conceded 14 and let in 21.9% of chances.

That will be music to the ears of a Man City side who don't exactly need any help on the goalscoring front, having already found the back of the net an incredible 40 times in the Premier League this season.

City's goal tally is a full 12 higher than the next highest scorers after only 12 games of the season, while they have also been keeping things tight at the other end having conceded only seven times - a tally only second-placed Manchester United can beat.

Manchester City's form has been simply unstoppable so far this season, and while it must surely come to an end at some point, it is hard to see that coming any time soon.

Pep Guardiola's side have won their last 17 matches in a row across all competitions stretching back to August 21, when Everton became the first and so far only team to take points off City in any competition this season. Even stretching back to last season, City have now won 22 of their last 23 outings in all competitions.

In the Premier League alone City have now won 10 consecutive matches since that August draw with Everton, scoring 37 goals in a the process at an average of just under four per game - an incredible rate of scoring in a division as competitive as the Premier League.

Indeed, stretching back to last season again City have now won 15 of their last 16 Premier League matches, and they look well set to pass the record 30-win mark set by champions Chelsea just last season.

The ongoing run of 10 wins in a row is already a single-season record for City, but another today would equal their club record of 11 set over two seasons and ending in 2015.

City already have 11 wins to their name from their opening 12 league games this season, dropping only two points on their way to a convincing lead over the chasing pack. They saw that lead cut to five points by Manchester United yesterday courtesy of a narrow win over Brighton, but Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool all dropped points - and Arsenal are currently on course to do the same - so victory here would cap off a really good weekend for Guardiola's side.

City could also make history this afternoon as victory would see them become the first team in the Premier League era to amass 37 points from their opening 13 games of the season.

Guardiola's side are already seven points better off than they were at the same stage of last season, and the type of football they are playing at the moment is worthy of being regarded amongst the best we have ever seen in the Premier League. Guardiola has played down the possibility of becoming the Invincibles mark II, but not many teams have looked as capable of achieving that feat.

Teams will naturally feel as if they have a greater chance of taking something off City when at home, but that hasn't proven to be the case this season, with Guardiola's side having won all nine of their away outings across all competitions.

Stretching back to last season they are actually on a 10-game winning run on the road, scoring 31 goals in that time at an average of more than three per game.

It will come as no surprise, then, that City are the only side yet to drop a point on their travels in the Premier League this season, taking a maximum of 18 from a possible 18.

Not only that, but City have also scored more (16) and conceded fewer (3) than any other team on the road so far this term, so any Huddersfield fans expected a slightly easier time of things today may find themselves proved emphatically wrong.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the John Smith's Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction!

Huddersfield have been impressive at home so far this season and their victory over Manchester United cannot be ignored, but City are a different animal at the moment and it is impossible to back against them right now. The hosts will make things difficult, but it should be a relatively comfortable win for City.

SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Huddersfield 0-2 Man City

Meetings between these two sides have understandably been scarce in recent times, although they did come up against each other in the fifth round of the FA Cup last season.

Huddersfield came away with a 0-0 draw at home on that occasion too, although they were comfortably second best in the replay as Sane, Aguero (2), Zabaleta and Iheanacho were all on the scoresheet to hand City a 5-1 win from behind.

You have to go back to the 1999-2000 season for the last time these two sides met in league competition, with the most recent clash coming in February 2000 when Clyde Wijnhard opened the scoring for Huddersfield before Shaun Goater equaliser for visitors City in a 1-1 draw.

Huddersfield beat City at Maine Road that season, though, remaining unbeaten in their two clashes against Joe Royle's side that year.

City have only won one league match away to Huddersfield since 1985, with that victory coming in a second-tier match in March 1998, but you have to go even further back to February 1972 for their last top-flight meeting, when Tommy Booth's goal handed City a 1-0 win at Maine Road.

This fixture was also the last to see one team score 10 goals in the English league, with three City players scoring hat-tricks in a 10-1 triumph in November 1987 - City's biggest ever league win and Huddersfield's biggest ever league defeat.

Right, we're just a couple of minutes away from kickoff now, so let's have a quick reminder of the team news for today's game...

HUDDERSFIELD STARTING XI: Lossl; Smith, Malone, Schindler, Zanka; Hogg, Mooy, Van La Parra, Williams, Ince; Depoitre

MAN CITY STARTING XI: Ederson; Walker, Otamendi, Kompany, Delph; Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva; Sterling, Sane, Aguero

KICKOFF: Here we go! The John Smith's Stadium is rocking as Huddersfield get us underway!

As expected, City have seen the vast majority of the ball in these opening exchanges as they begin to probe for a way through. Otamendi tries to float a ball over the top for Silva, but he puts just too much on it.

This already looks like being a long afternoon for Huddersfield. They are being pinned back into their own half with City just knocking the ball about amongst themselves at will.

CHANCE! City have their first half-chance from a corner as Kompany overpowers his marker to meet the delivery, but he can't steer it on target.

You can tell that Wagner has drilled his side to stay in position when City have the ball. They are all moving together and refusing to be drawn out despite City continuing to dominate possession.

Even this early in the match it looks like something needs to change for Huddersfield here. They have all 11 men packed deep in their own half so even when they do win the ball and clear their lines, it comes straight back at them.

DISALLOWED GOAL! City have the ball in the back of the net as De Bruyne takes a free kick early, bending it behind the defence for the ever-alert Aguero to tuck home. The linesman's flag is raised, though, and despite Aguero's protests it is the correct decision.

A huge roar goes around the John Smith's Stadium following a string of sliding challenges in quick succession for Huddersfield. They keep the visitors at bay for now, but it won't be long before they are right back under the cosh.

SHOT! Man City's relentless pressure earns them another corner, but this time Huddersfield are able to break. Ince releases Smith down the right flank and he cuts inside before trying his luck from range, but his left-footed effort is well off target.

The Huddersfield fans, as you would expect, are shouting for anything and everything their team could get here. The latest sees them baying for a Delph yellow card after a trip on Ince, but the referee is right to award only a free kick.

It has been slightly better from Huddersfield in the last five minutes or so, but only insofar as they have actually been in the City half a couple of times. Pep Guardiola may be happy to see that, though, as it could draw the hosts out a little more.

Really sloppy from Fernandinho as he gives the ball away in a dangerous area having initially done well to step in and intercept it on the edge of his own box, but Williams cannot capitalise.

City are back on the front foot as Sane and Silva combined to send the former down the left channel. The Germany international reaches the byline before fizzing a low ball right across the face of goal, but Aguero cannot get a touch to it.

SHOT! De Bruyne tries to dink a clever pass over the top for Silva which is cut out, but the clearance is only cleared as far as Aguero who sends a first-time volley bobbling wide of the target.

David Wagner will be pretty pleased with what he has seen from his side so far. City have dominated possession, but they are yet to create a really good chance and the hosts have kept their shape well.

This is a good test for City - they will come up against this type of opposition a lot this season as teams try to nullify their attacking pace by sitting deep and keeping their shape. Can Pep Guardiola's side find a way past them? It was one of their biggest weaknesses last season, after all.

Almost a chance for City to break as Sane wins the ball on the left and races down the left before cutting a ball into De Bruyne. Unusually, the Belgian's touch lets him down and the chance goes begging.

Brilliant defending from Kompany to deny Depoitre a clear goalscoring chance! Otamendi had misjudged a long ball forward and Depoitre then shrugged Delph out of his way to break into the box, but when trying to cut inside Kompany the Man City defender got a crucial toe to the ball. Had he not then it would have been a one on one for Huddersfield.

Kompany has looked back to his dominant best so far today. He has attacked crosses into his box, shown his strength on more than one occasion and that challenge to deny Depoitre moments ago was superb.

CHANCE! Brilliant from Silva to fashion a good chance for Aguero. The Spaniard darts past a couple of defenders before receiving the ball back off De Bruyne and threading the ball through for Aguero. The Argentine only has the keeper to beat, but his touch is poor and that allows Schindler to get back and make a vital challenge.

Silva is beginning to pull the strings here. He almost sends Sane through down the left flank, but this time delays his pass just too long and the winger is offside.

SHOT! It may take an unlikely source to break the deadlock here, and Otamendi would fit the bill. He exchanges passes with Aguero here before lashing an effort over the crossbar from 25 yards.

CHANCES! City create their best chance of the match, but first Aguero and then Sterling waste it! Silva is again the architect with a delightful touch to find Aguero, who sees his effort saved by Lossl. The ball bounces back out to Sterling, but he has to take his time over his shot and eventually sends a wild effort wide of the target when a lot of the goal was open.

For all of City's dominance in this match, that Aguero strike was their first on target so far this afternoon. I suspect it will not be their last, but it is something they need to improve.

CHANCE! Oh my word, Huddersfield almost take the lead completely against the run of play! City don't fully clear their lines from a free kick and the ball is played back into the area, being flicked on at the near post to Zanka at the back. The centre-back gets there first, but steers his effort wide of the target when he probably should have done better! A warning shot for City!

Almost another chance for City as Silva clips another pass over the top for Aguero, who this time tries to cushing his header into the path of Sterling. Lossl reads it, though, and falls on the loose ball.

CHANCE! Half-chance for the hosts as Sterling darts in behind before clipping a cross back into the middle. Fernandinho is coming on to it but turns down the chance at a spectacular volley, instead taking a touch and sending his subsequent strike over the crossbar.

There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.

Incredible! After dominating the opening 45 minutes, Manchester City fall behind right on the stroke of half time through an own goal. Kompany very nearly turned the ball into his own net from a corner seconds before, but from the resulting delivery it is Otamendi who gets the final touch as the ball bounces in.

City are stunned, but the John Smith's Stadium goes wild!

Wow! What an end to the half as, against all the odds, Huddersfield go into the break with a 1-0 lead over Manchester City, setting themselves on course for the biggest shock of the season so far.

City absolutely dominated possession in that first half, but clear chances were difficult to come by for Pep Guardiola's side and they were stung by a set-piece goal right at the death.

Nicolas Otamendi was the unfortunate soul to provide the only goal of the game so far as the ball bounced in off his shoulder and past a helpless Ederson with virtually the last action of the first half.

Huddersfield had to wait until the 45th minute for their first corner, and that saw Kompany turn the ball just over his own crossbar before the following corner did result in the own goal. Huddersfield now have a lead to defend in the second half!

City have otherwise been in complete control, but despite their dominance they have only managed one shot on target so far, when Aguero was denied by Lossl. The rebound from that created another chance as the ball fell to Sterling, who fired a wild effort wide of the target with much of the goal gaping.

Fernandinho and Otamendi have also seen effort fly over the crossbar, while the likes of Aguero and De Bruyne have seen potential chances of their own pass by due to poor touches.

In truth, the best chance of the half arguably fell to Huddersfield, even before they took the lead. Zanka perhaps should have broken the deadlock with only four minutes remaining until half time, but he fired wide from a very good position after a cross had gone all the way through to him.

The game plan has worked perfectly for Huddersfield so far, but it is still a big ask to keep City out for another 45 minutes.

KICKOFF: Manchester City get us back underway for the second half at the John Smith's Stadium.

How about that for a response from City? They come flying out of the blocks and win a penalty within one minute of the restart!

Sterling is the man to win it, skipping away from Malone before being brought to ground by the full-back, and Aguero makes no mistake from the resulting spot kick as he calmly rolls it into the bottom corner.

You cannot argue with that response from City - they endured a frustrating first half with a sting in the tail too, but have come out fighting in this second half. Huddersfield will still be content with this scoreline, but City are back in control.

Huddersfield must not make sure that they don't let City build any more momentum - if they can put in a similar performance to the first half then they will stand a fighting chance, but that goal has just changed the feeling around the stadium.

CHANCE! Big chance for City to add a second as Fernandinho slides a ball through for Aguero, but Lossl gets a crucial hand to it and makes the save.

It has been an alright response from Huddersfield so far - they have quickly fallen back into their shape and are making it difficult for city to play through them again now.

Uncharacteristic from Silva as he ignores a couple of decent runs around him and instead goes for goal, firing his long-range strike well off target.

YELLOW CARD! Hogg goes into the book for a robust challenge on Aguero.

OFF THE CROSSBAR! Oh Leroy Sane is so unlucky here! He fires a magnificent free kick towards goal with pace, bend and power, leaving Lossl helpless. However, the crossbar comes to the goalkeeper's rescue - and the woodwork is still shaking. Brilliant effort from Sane.

The Huddersfield fans want a card for Walker as he collides with Van la Parra and comes off significantly better. Wagner is furious, but the referee does not even give a free kick.

Van la Parra is only just back up after that collision, sending the stretcher away. The Huddersfield fans feel as if their side have been hard done by following that penalty, with Craig Pawson, Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling all now acting as the villains of the piece.

YELLOW CARD! Fernandinho goes into the book for a dive right on the edge of the box as Van la Parra took a huge swipe at the ball. It was a reckless one from Van la Parra, but there was no contact with Fernandinho.

YELLOW CARD! Malone is the latest in the book for a cynical challenge to stop De Bruyne.

It is foul after foul at the moment, which is disrupting the rhythm of the game. Each one increases the volume inside the stadium and the fans are directing all of their ire at the referee, who is now having a word with the Huddersfield coaching staff.

Just over 20 minutes remaining in this match now and Huddersfield have done really well to avoid any further damage following that early goal in this second half. Can they hold out to end City's incredible winning run?

De Bruyne threads a brilliant ball through to Silva inside the box and the Spaniard is able to turn on the byline, but he subsequent cross goes straight into the arms of Lossl when Sane was screaming for it.

It will be a case of battening down the hatches from now on for Huddersfield. A 1-1 draw would be a great result for them against City, but they are likely to come under some huge pressure in these closing stages.

HUDDERSFIELD SUB: A first change for the hosts as Chris Lowe replaces Malone.

This game is being played exclusively in Huddersfield half now - almost in their third, in fact. Huddersfield are coping with it quite comfortably at the moment, though.

Huddersfield win a free kick, which eats up a few more valuable seconds. The hosts have made just 16 successful passes in this second half, which is an incredible statistic.

MAN CITY SUB: Attacking change from Guardiola as Gabriel Jesus is introduced in place of Kompany.

HUDDERSFIELD SUB: Another change from the home side here as Collin Quaner replaces Ince.

Ohhhh it is heartbreak for Huddersfield as they concede with only six minutes remaining and in the most unfortunate way!

De Bruyne's through-ball takes a deflection which puts it into the path of Aguero, but Lossl is alert to it and rushes out to deny the Argentine with a fine save. However, the ball rebounds off Sterling and loops into the net. That is so unlucky for Huddersfield, but City do not care one bit.

HUDDERSFIELD SUB: A late third and final change for Huddersfield as Hogg is replaced by Steve Mounie.

MAN CITY SUB: City also make a change, with Ilkay Gundogan coming on for Aguero.

YELLOW CARD! Silva goes into the book for a challenge which gives away a free kick in a very dangerous position...

CLOSE! Mooy is so close to a late equaliser as his free kick beats the wall but then ripples the side-netting on its way wide. Not far away at all!

MAN CITY SUB: A third and final change for the visitors sees Eliaquim Mangala replace Silva.

There is life in this one yet - FIVE added minutes are indicated by the fourth official!

This one is not quite over yet, but even if Huddersfield do lose they can be proud of this performance. This is set to be a very cruel defeat.

It is so cruel for Huddersfield, but Manchester City are left celebrating as though they have just won the title courtesy of a late, late victory over the Terriers.

City needed to come from behind, and they needed luck with Sterling's winner too, but they pick up all three points to restore their eight-point lead over Manchester United courtesy of an 11th straight league win, and an 18th in all competitions.

Right, that is all we have time for today!

Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the final Premier League match of this gameweek as Manchester City leave it late to continue their remarkable winning streak at the expense of a spirited Huddersfield side. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.

From me, though, it is goodbye for now!