Manchester City attacker Kevin De Bruyne says he ‘does not care’ about his side’s dreadful record at Liverpool, ahead of the two Premier League title rivals going head-to-head in Merseyside on Sunday.
City have won at Anfield just once since Boxing Day 1981, and that was in 2003, but the Belgian has no interest in talking about statistics ahead of the eagerly anticipated showdown.
“I don’t care,” said De Bruyne. “A lot of circumstances will decide the game. What can a player do with statistics like this?
“It’s a game like another. We know it’s a big game – Liverpool are ahead. We have to go back, recover and be ready for next Sunday.”
Jurgen Klopp’s men led the reigning champions by six points after 11 games, with the contest already very much having the feel of a six-pointer.
City will be anxiously awaiting updates on goalkeeper Ederson, who was forced off at half-time in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw against Atalanta with a thigh injury.
His obvious replacement, Claudio Bravo, may also not be high in confidence after being sent off late in the game following his introduction as a substitute.
City ended the game hanging on for a draw with Kyle Walker in goal.
It all seemed so different from early in the game when Raheem Sterling rounded off a fine team move to score the opener after seven minutes.
City failed to build on their advantage and Atalanta responded well to Gabriel Jesus’ missed penalty before half-time, levelling through Mario Pasalic.
“From then it was they who looked the more likely side.
De Bruyne said: “We dominated (the first half) and in my estimation it should have been 2-0 or 3-0, and the game is over.
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“We gave them the opportunity to come back and the second half was more difficult.
“These things happen, but after the red card, we did what we had to do. We weren’t going to play stupid and openly, but we controlled it. It’s a good point.”
The closing moments also gave Walker, who made one save, something to talk about for years to come.
“He’s buzzing,” said De Bruyne. “It happens and you have to improvise, and he did his job.”
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