De Bruyne on verge of historic goalscoring milestone

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in seven goals in his last eight Premier League matches (five goals and two assists).

His next goal will be his 50th overall in the competition, making him the fourth Belgian to reach the milestone after Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke and Eden Hazard.

Last month De Bruyne rose one place on the Premier League’s all-time list for assists after supplying the cross for Aymeric Laporte’s goal in Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Southampton.

The Belgian midfielder has now set-up 80 goals in the competition and is level with David Beckham in ninth position after Laporte timed his run to perfection to nod home a typically dangerous free-kick.

De Bruyne broke into the Premier League top 10 last February and, having provided assists at an outstanding rate during his six and half seasons at the Etihad Stadium, looks set to climb higher up the rankings before the end of his career.

The 30-year-old has become a byword for creativity since he arrived at City in the summer of 2015, winning the Premier League playmaker award for the most assists in a season on two occasions.

The first of those was achieved during his hugely impressive 2017-18 season and, since the start of that title-winning campaign, De Bruyne has proven himself to be the most creative player in the division.

And, by some margin.

City’s No.17 has clocked up 52 assists in that time, nine more than Liverpool full-back duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, who are tied for second place.

With his trademark teasing crosses from the inside right channel and the accuracy to split defences with slide rule through balls, De Bruyne can rightly claim to be City’s creator-in-chief.