WE HAVE LIFT-OFF
Team showed we now have everything in place for City to win the BIG games says De Bruyne
KEVIN DE BRUYNE claimed Manchester City showed their big-game pedigree with this ruthless demolition job.
Last season, Guardiola’s side won just two of 12 games against the other sides in the top seven, picking up 11 points from 36.
That failure to beat their immediate rivals undermined their title challenge, as City ended the campaign third, 13 points behind champions Chelsea, in what amounted to a season of huge underachievement.
This time around, they look ominous, rejuvenated by a core of new signings and fuelled by a collective resolve to make up for last season’s failings, as this emphatic win – their first over Liverpool in seven games – showed.
“The only thing we didn’t do last year was win the big games,” said De Bruyne. “I thought we deserved to win a few more than we did, especially at home, like the ones against Tottenham and Chelsea.
“It makes a difference – that’s five or six points extra and they are losing those points, so then you are closer together.
“Everyone wants to win, especially when you have a couple of years when you don’t win a lot (of trophies).
“Maybe there’s more of an urgency to win something between the players, and I have a good feeling about this season, but you never know.
“We’ve started well, but we’ll see what happens. We’ll need to be there for 38 games, but we’ve had a good start.
“The guys who have come in are very good additions, and I think they really suit the style we play.”
Sadio Mane’s straight red card just before half-time, for a reckless high challenge that ended City keeper Ederson’s involvement in the game, ultimately made the home side’s task easier.
But even accounting for that ad- vantage, the ruthless manner in which City took apart their 10-man rivals – they could have scored several more times – suggests Guardiola’s players will take some beating this season.
Until his enforced withdrawal, Ederson had his best game for City, while summer signing Benjamin Mendy excelled, and Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus proved they can work as a partnership.
Aguero opened the scoring, while doubles from Jesus and substitute Leroy Sane condemned Jurgen Klopp to his heaviest managerial defeat.
And £54million midfielder De Bruyne, who provided two assists in City’s rout, reckons the current squad is only going to get better this season.
“From when I came, it’s a totally new team,” said De Bruyne (celebrating City’s second goal with Jesus, left).
“You’ve seen a lot of change, a lot of players bought, young players for the future. You can see they’re building a project and building to have a stable team for five or six years.
“A lot of the players who played today will still be here in three or four years’ time, and that’s what they’re trying to do.”
City may have missed out on signing Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez on deadline day, but on this evidence they don’t need him.
“No one has really talked about it,” added De Bruyne. “He would have been a very good addition, but we’re happy with the guys who are here. “Everybody who’s playing here is very talented – they’re big players. “All the big clubs are going to add more players. If it’s not possible, we’ll just do it with the guys we’ve got.”