Manchester City ace Kevin de Bruyne admits this season's title battle is involving more teams than usual.

Liverpool currently sit top of the table.

“The competition is always there," De Bruyne told City's website. “Maybe this year there are a few more teams together.

“Most of the teams maybe also dropped a little bit more points than they did in the years before, us included.

“I wouldn't say that anybody has had a fluent run until now and that can help us. We just need to try and do our job as good as possible.

“The quality is there, the willingness is there, sometimes it gets finished in the details. I don't see any reason why we couldn't [win it], but the competition is really hard.

“Last year we also had difficulties. Arsenal were doing great. But we found a way to win, and this year is no different.

“We have to find ways to win games, to win difficult moments. Every year, no matter when you play, there are going to be moments where it goes easy and other moments it is really, really hard and tough to win games. You cannot compare.

“In difficult moments, at the time you have that one, you have to figure it out, go through it mentally or the quality has to make a difference."