Kevin De Bruyne is back and making up for lost time. A goal and assist in the first half brought back shades of Newcastle away last season, and Manchester City will hope that he shows the form he did after that heroic return last season.
It can’t come a moment too soon – City immediately looked more fluent and confident in attack with their talisman pulling the strings. Talk of a rift this week between De Bruyne and Pep Guardiola were ridiculed by the manager and the Belgian’s selection from the start further dismantled the unfounded speculation of Carragher, Neville, Lineker and co.
