Don’t underestimate the significance of De Bruyne’s return

Many believe Liverpool can supersede Manchester City. Yet many are forgetting that City have thus far been deprived of their most influential player.

After Manchester City’s record-breaking title win last season, it was down to the chasing pack to make up the lost ground. Of all the chasing teams, Liverpool have emerged as the most likely to overtake the champions.

Their thrilling Champions League campaign has harnessed a sense of belief and momentum within the club that has carried over into the new campaign. Motivation and confidence appear higher than ever.

Liverpool’s credentials were further reinforced by their impressive business in the transfer market. The acquisitions of Naby Keita and Fabinho have added real depth and quality to the midfield, while Alisson and Virgil van Dijk have quashed concerns surrounding the club’s defense.

It all adds up to a side that look capable of winning the league. With six wins out of six, including an impressive away win at Spurs, that opinion only looks more legitimate.

Encouragingly for Liverpool, their rivals, Manchester City, can only get worse. They won’t get 100 points again this term. History shows Premier League sides have ways of adapting, adjusting and sourcing extra motivation against the champions. Just look at the last three attempts at defending the title.

City’s draw at Wolves, and the loss at home to Lyon, exposed the first signs of weakness in Pep Guardiola’s side. It was the evidence to affirm Liverpool’s chances. City appeared to have weakened, while Liverpool strengthened.

Yet to undermine City, or to suggest they’re a lesser outfit, or that Liverpool are suddenly going to supersede them, is nonsensical. City might not get 100 points, but they won’t need to. City might have been flat at Wolves, and poor against Lyon, but there’s good reason why — Kevin de Bruyne, or a lack thereof.

Little has been said about De Bruyne’s absence. This should be interpreted as a compliment to City. It’s because they’ve coped so comfortably without their best player that there has been little need to bring attention to the matter.

It’s testament to the unrivaled depth City possess. No other side can lose their most influential player and steamroll on. Imagine where Chelsea would be without Eden Hazard, where United would be without Paul Pogba, where Spurs would be without Harry Kane, where Liverpool would be without Mohamed Salah.

Instead of mourn the loss of the Belgian, Guardiola can simply insert Ilkay Gundogan, or Bernardo Silva into the side. The former, an incredibly talented midfielder who would stroll into any other side in the league, was instrumental in the 5-0 demolition of Cardiff and the latter has really stepped up to the plate this season. He’s starting to look like the other Silva.

Yet as good as they are, they’re not De Bruyne. And one can’t help but feel that in the brief lows of Manchester City’s season, the moments that sewed seeds of encouragement in the minds of Liverpool fans, it was the loss of De Bruyne that was hampering them more than anything else.

Against the stubborn rearguard’s of Wolves and Lyon, City were missing that creative genius to unlock the door. That’s in no way to suggest City have struggled — they’ve been their imperious selves for the majority of the season — but nobody in the league is more adept at unlocking defenses than De Bruyne, and it has shown at times.

But now, with news emerging that the Belgian is back in training ahead of schedule, it’s hard to conceive, just as it was last year, of City struggling to break down the opposition. Sixteen assists last season placed him at the top of the league in this domain. The year before, his 18 assists were also the best in the division. Expect nothing less when he returns in the near future.

Ultimately, any predictions or preconceptions concerning where the league might end up are failing to consider the most influential factor in defining last season’s title.

Liverpool have started well, and certainly seem the side best equipped to challenge the champions, but we’ve yet to see City at full strength.

City are just two points off the pace and the season is still so young. They have an ace, namely the league’s, and perhaps the world’s finest creator, up their sleeve and with plenty of time to use it. They have been close to flawless without their main man; one fears for Liverpool what they’ll be like with him.

Liverpool are currently playing in fifth gear. They can’t go any faster. City, on the other hand, are playing in fourth, but are moving at the same pace.

When, upon De Bruyne’s return, they hit fifth gear, don’t be surprised if they overtake Liverpool.