Good evening and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Barclays Premier League opener between Manchester City and Newcastle United from the Etihad Stadium.

A great stat about the goalscorer.

Ben Arfa looks lively tonight and picks up another loose ball before driving at the City defence. Great defending by Joleon Lescott though.

A Newcastle free-kick on the far left comes to nothing.

On Twitter @OptaJoe says: "51 - Man City have now scored in each of their last 51 Premier League home games, the longest current run in the division. Guarantee."

ATTEMPTS: City 5-1 Newcastle.

Debuchy pulls back a clever run by Yaya Toure in the area... NO PENALTY! Big decision from the ref. It looked like a certain spot kick.

Elsewhere on Twitter, @JohnPordum has a different way of looking at the Cabaye situation... "Newcastle should have put a bid in for Hart, Aguero and Kompany. It seem like if you're under offer, you won't play!"

GOAL! .... No, it's offside, Ben Arfa dances beyond three before teeing up Yoan Gouffran who slides the ball home - but the flag is up. Correct decision.

The omens aren't in Newcastle's favour tonight... STAT ALERT: Newcastle have only won two of their 10 previous away games on the opening day of a Premier League season.

On Twitter, @09Toona has issued a hands off Cabaye warning to Arsene Wenger! She wants the Frenchman to remain with the Magpies and on this evidence they are missing him in that midfield tonight.

It's been on the cards from the first whistle and Pellegrini couldn't have asked for a better start to his Etihad era.

GOAL! David Silva gives City a dream start! The Spaniard plays in Dzeko down the left and then follows in to head home after the forward's cross was deflected into his path.

Newcastle respond and Hatem Ben Arfa drifts into space before drilling over the top from 30 yards.

ANOTHER CHANCE! City fly out of the traps and Dzeko is denied by Krul once again.

GREAT SAVE! Krul produces a stunning stop to keep out Aguero after Zabaleta went down in the area.

City have paid tribute to legendary keeper, Bert Trautmann tonight following his passing earlier this year. The front page of the programme shows a picture of the German stepping out of the tunnel during his playing career while the ground has just marked the occasion with a minute's applause.

KICK OFF! Newcastle get us underway.

Just moments away from kick off now. Can City get off to a flyer under Pellegrini? Or will Newcastle put the Cabaye news behind them and pull off a shock? All will be revealed over the course of the next 90 minutes...

City boss Manuel Pellegrini is relishing his maiden match in the Barclays Premier League. Speaking to press yesterday, he said: "It is my first time here in England and it is a different league. (Whether it is) more difficult or less difficult we will see during the year, but for me (it is) exactly the same. I worked for nine years in Europe and I saw a lot of matches in the Premier League every weekend. I played in the Champions League against English Premier League teams so I know about it."

Why not share your pre-match views on Twitter? City fans, what is your reaction to Zabaleta's new contract? And Magpies supporters, would you now sell Cabaye if the right bid came in or is he still crucial to your hopes this term? Get involved and we'll include the best comments right here on this live matchcast.

Pardew on Cabaye: "We want to focus on getting a result here. What I can confirm is that we've had a bid for the player we don't think is acceptable... Therefore, I have to pick the team I think will get us a result. I know what my opinion is on that bid... I know it's the main focus for the media today, but I have to focus on getting a result here and trying to lead us towards a successful season."