Former Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne reminded him of David Beckham, as the Belgium international produced a man-of-the-match performance against Liverpool on Saturday.
The Belgian, who has been deployed in a deeper role than he's accustomed to under Pep Guardiola this season, laid on two assists in the Sky Blues 5-0 win over ten man Liverpool on Saturday, and Neville is full of praise for the 26-year-old, according to the Standard.
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Speaking on the Sky Sports Gary Neville podcast, the former United defender compared De Bruyne's quality to that of England and Manchester United legend Beckham.
"Kevin De Bruyne has sensational quality, he really has," Neville said.
"I played with a fantastic crosser and passer of a ball in terms of accuracy - David Beckham - and De Bruyne reminds me of him a lot.
"He is deliberate and precise, it looks like every cross lands on a sixpence, like he is aiming for the recipient.
Questions were asked of City at the back as Liverpool made a bright start at the Etihad Stadium, but De Bruyne shifted the momentum with an exquisite first-time through ball which released Sergio Aguero for their opener, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
The ball was then put on a plate for Gabriel Jesus in first-half stoppage time as City hammered home their one-man advantage before the interval.
"Too many times you see people cross and aim for an area or zone in the box, but De Bruyne has got the quality and precision to pick people out.
"David Beckham was like that, it's brilliant to watch. De Bruyne's performance was a polar opposite to the lack of quality Liverpool had in the final third.
"De Bruyne's pass for Aguero's opener and the cross to Jesus for City's second ensured it was going to be a comfortable second half for Manchester City."
De Bruyne will be looking to have a similar impact from deep when Guardiola's side travel to Feyenoord for their Champions League opener on Wednesday night.
