“Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfielder to ever play in the Premier League. Now he also scores like Van Persie”

Manchester City won very convincingly against a weak Brighton and is still fully involved in the battle for the title in the Premier League. They are one point behind leaders Arsenal and have played one match less. De Bruyne (32) started in the starting line-up and opened the score just after fifteen minutes with a wonderful header. A goal that received a lot of praise, not least from Sky Sports analyst and former English international Jamie Redknapp. “Every time I see him play, I sit there with my mouth open.”

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The discussion flares up again. Which category of midfielders will ‘KDB’ belong to when he leaves the Premier League? For Jamie Redknapp – himself a gifted midfielder at Liverpool and then Tottenham in the late 1990s – he will definitely go down in history. He watched the new top match of ‘KDB’ in Brighton with wide eyes. “Look, we have already had great midfielders in the Premier League, such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, David Silva or Yaya Touré. But I think De Bruyne is even better. He does things you’ve never seen before.”

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This is not the first time Redknapp has said this. He said that for the first time four years ago and would repeat it several times later. “The passes he has already made in his career, and certainly in England: there are not many who can do that. Moreover, he can score different types of goals. Now it turns out he can also score with his head while diving. I didn’t expect that from him. Every time I see him play, I sit there with my mouth open.”

“This is actually a goal like Robin van Persie scored at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, after that famous diving against the Spaniards. Goals with the left, with the right, in the top corner, the bottom corner… and now also after a fantastic header. Infiltrating the box, he is so dangerous.” After his long injury, De Bruyne has already scored 6 goals and 14 assists in all competitions this season.

Side note: De Bruyne and goals with the head are rather an exception – especially compared to Van Persie. The Red Devil has only scored four times with his head in his career. In the Wolfsburg shirt against Hoffenheim and as Citizen in the FA Cup against Burton and, also a very nice and important one, against Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League. Also falling to Mahrez’s cross, albeit slightly less beautiful than last night in Brighton.

LOOK. De Bruyne scores against Real with a header

According to Redknapp, De Bruyne also serves the English cause. “De Bruyne is also the perfect role model for Phil Foden.” The England international has already scored twice and is a top candidate to win the title of ‘Player of the Year’ in the Premier League. “This is about the master and his master student,” Redknapp continues. “Foden is doing great and always keeps an overview. No doubt thanks to Kevin. Because a player like Foden needs a good role model. It is great for him to be able to train with De Bruyne every day. He can learn and learn a lot from him.”

Van Persie with his iconic diving to score against Spain in the 1-5 win at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. © Getty Images

Redknapp still sees how Tottenham can play a crucial role in the title battle as a referee. “Next week is the derby at Tottenham. If Arsenal can win that – with the emphasis on if – they will put a lot of pressure on Man City. Especially because they also have to go to Spurs in the penultimate match of the season, where they have always had difficulties in recent seasons.”

Jamie Redknapp: only international goal against Belgium

Jamie Redknapp (44) was contracted as a midfielder from 1989 to 2005 with Bournemouth, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton. He won a League Cup with the Reds (1995). Certainly towards the end of his career, he struggled with his knee. Redknapp made seventeen appearances for the England national football team from 1995 to 1999, scoring once. In fact, in a friendly against Belgium in 1999 in Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. Redknapp is the son of former footballer and coach Harry Redknapp.

The Citizens pushed through last night after De Bruyne’s 0-1 and it paid off. Lewis Dunk made a slight but stupid foul on Foden on the edge of the box in the 27th minute. The Englishman got behind the ball and kicked in via Van Hecke. Brighton also shot itself in the foot with the third goal by stupidly giving the ball away in the build-up. Foden intercepted and kicked neatly into the far corner.

Manchester City was also in charge in the second half and the score became 0-4 thanks to Alvarez on an assist from Walker. Jérémy Doku came on the field for the last fifteen minutes in place of Bernardo Silva. He still had a big chance at the end. The Red Devil came one on one with Steele, but decided straight at the goalkeeper.