Reaction to yesterday’s FA Cup fourth round win over Burnley, player ratings, plus a word on the title race feature in your media watch…
READ: Five-star City’s goal frenzy continues
WATCH: Guardiola | ‘De Bruyne is so clever’
GALLERY: City cruise through to FA Cup Fifth Round
First up, there has been plenty of praise for Kevin De Bruyne after our victory over Burnley.
Manchester Evening News’ Tyrone Mitchell firmly believes that KDB is truly back to his best after a stunning performance at the Etihad.
“From the evidence of another routine cup success for City three starts in a week have been enough for De Bruyne to rediscover the magic in his boots. He’s back,” the MEN journalist writes.
“That City are still in the hunt for four trophies heading into February having barely seen De Bruyne all season highlights the collective strength of this squad.
“But winning trophies is about individual brilliance as well. If between now and May City can unleash De Bruyne at his very best then this could yet be another historic season for the Blues.
“City’s brilliant Belgian was replaced by Phil Foden having reminded the Etihad just how joyful he can to watch. But there’s an end product with that as well.
“On his day De Bruyne is the best player in the Premier League. If he can have a few more days like this between now and May than City’s season could yet be golden.”
De Bruyne’s stunning display also earned him a rating of nine from the Manchester Evening News!
Stuart Brennan states: “Teed up the second for Bernardo, scored a trademark arrow of a third and then forced an own goal for the fourth, as well as pinging perfect passes around. 9.”
The Belgian also earned another top rating from ESPN.
Johnathan Smith scribes: “Guardiola has been giving him plenty of time on the pitch recently, and he looks close to his absolute best. Some outstanding passes in the final third, a usual assist and a stunning strike. 9.”
Moving on to title-race predictions now.
Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour still sees us lifting the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.
“Manchester City will still be slight favourites even though Liverpool keep getting results,” Parlour told Sportslens.
“I would probably slightly go towards Man City with their experience, but the way Liverpool are playing they seem to get results when they play poorly, which is very important, but I am going to go slightly with Manchester City to retain it.”
That’s all for today’s media watch but we will back tomorrow with all the latest news and headlines from the back pages…
