Kevin de Bruyne believes Manchester City and Liverpool will have time to recover fully from their Champions League exertions before Sunday's crucial Premier League showdown.
Both teams were in action in the first legs of their respective quarter-final ties in the European Cup on Tuesday and both achieved important wins. Liverpool were 3-1 victors in Benfica while City ground out a 1-0 success at home to Atletico Madrid.
Attention will now turn to Sunday's colossal league fixture between the two teams as Liverpool look to move to the summit of the table. City's lead has been cut to just one point after Jurgen Klopp 's side embarked on a 10-game winning run.
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But victory at the Etihad Stadium for either team would make them title favourites, such is the relentless pace being set by the top two.
De Bruyne scored the winner for City against Atletico and was naturally asked about what is to come in Manchester this weekend.
"It’s five days until Sunday, both teams played today, it’s a big game, I think everyone’s looking forward to it now we have to recover as best as possible and get ready for Sunday," he told BT Sport.
The Belgium midfielder has found form in recent weeks, scoring five goals in his last five outings. He was also on the scoresheet when the two teams met at Anfield this season, with his deflected effort cancelling out Mohamed Salah 's memorable go-ahead goal.
