Kevin De Bruyne expects Liverpool to be at their best against Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne expects Liverpool to be back at their best when Manchester City travel to Anfield on Sunday.

Liverpool have been City’s chief title rival in recent seasons but have made a slow start to the current campaign.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have won just two of their eight Premier League games this season and sit 10th in the table, 13 points behind champions City.

“I expect them to be the best Liverpool possible,” said City playmaker De Bruyne. “Obviously they’ve lost some points but they are still Liverpool and I expect them to be good, that’s the only way I see it.”

Until recently, City have had a poor record at Anfield.

Their 4-1 success there in February 2021 was only their second at the ground since 1981, with the other being in 2003.

The sides played out a pulsating 2-2 draw when they played at Anfield last season. It was the same scoreline in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium and De Bruyne was on target in both games.

De Bruyne said: “I like big games, I like good atmospheres. It’s a game like any other but obviously it’s always hard playing away at a top-six team.

“I think in the last few years we’ve done well there, even last year if we didn’t win.

“They are more of an up-and-down team and we are a team who has more control of the game, so if you can control that style of play then maybe you have more of a chance.

“I think it’s probably going to be a good game again.”

De Bruyne struggled to have an influence as City, reduced to 10 men after Sergio Gomez was sent off, played out a goalless draw away at FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The result was still enough for City to advance to the last 16 but manager Pep Guardiola, who rested Erling Haaland, later said a number of his players