Pep Guardiola has described Kevin De Bruyne as the best midfielder in world football.
Liverpool's first outing as Premier League champions proved one to forget as Guardiola's dethroned Manchester City ran out 4-0 winners at the Etihad Stadium.
De Bruyne slotted home a 25th-minute penalty after Joe Gomez fouled Raheem Sterling, who doubled the home side's advantage against his old employers 10 minutes later.
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Phil Foden made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain turned Sterling's shot into his own net to complete the scoring.
The latter two goals featured typically precise De Bruyne passes in the build-up and the Belgium midfielder underlined his case for being the Premier League's outstanding player against unquestionably the division's outstanding team this season.