Kevin De Bruyne sits fifth in the all-time Premier League assists list on 95, but doesn’t hold a candle to Steven Gerrard as a midfielder, according to Jermaine Pennant.
De Bruyne has Frank Lampard (102), Wayne Rooney (103) and Cesc Fabregas (111) in his sights, but is still way behind Ryan Giggs (162) in the assists stakes.
But Pennant believes both Gerrard and Paul Scholes are ahead of De Bruyne as the best midfielders in Premier League history.
He told talkSPORT: “If you put Gerrard in this team now… Gerrard was the complete midfielder. He could defend like a centre-back, he could score goals and finish like a striker, he could ping like Scholes. He had everything to his game.
“That’s why I’m edging to Steven Gerrard. It’s close.”
When asked for his top four, he added: “I’d picked Gerrard, Scholes, KDB and then I might stick in Frank at fourth.”
He added: “You put Kevin De Bruyne in a very average football team, like you did in the World Cup and everyone was saying ‘where has De Bruyne gone’, he can’t do what Steven Gerrard did in an average team.
“You put Kevin De Bruyne in an average team, like you saw in the World Cup, and he goes missing.
“Steven Gerrard was playing in an average Liverpool team.”
Pennant also had a little dig at Chelsea legend Lampard, adding: “I’ve never rated Lamps. He’s a good player, don’t get me wrong, but he just scored goals.”
De Bruyne was criticised for his comments and performances for Belgium at the World Cup, but has returned to domestic action in flying form, having found the “fire” necessary according to manager Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola said after the 3-2 win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup: “Today he was outstanding. Kevin has had eight years here, you know him like me – he has to find the right fire inside of himself, just to be a little bit, I would say grumpy or upset to play his best. That is his energy inside of him. When this happens, what a player: run, provide assists, score goals, he is more than a player.
“I know it is not easy to find every three days this consistency but today he had something inside that says I am going to it, I want to fight. When this happens it is Mr Kevin De Bruyne, what can I say, eight years he has done everything for this club, an absolute legend. He will be remembered for ever as one of the greatest, greatest, greatest players of this club.”