And the Belgium midfielder believes his Spanish teammate can be the difference for Manchester City in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final at Anfield.
Silva didn’t play when City lost 4-3 at Anfield in January - our only Premier League defeat of the season - but is expected to start when the two sides meet again in Europe’s elite knock-out competition.
Speaking to the press ahead of the game, De Bruyne hailed Silva’s quality and says he is a player capable of giving City an edge over their opponents.
“He can make the difference every time he wants to,” De Bruyne said.
“David is one of the best this season. Since I came here he’s been unbelievable. He’s helped my game in a lot of ways.
“I hope he can do what he’s done all season because when he plays we often win. I hope he’s in good form tomorrow.
“For me, he is [Player of the Year]. In the end, we cannot choose City players but if you look in our team, there are so many who could be [in contention for end-of-season awards].”
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De Bruyne, who himself has been touted as a possible Player of the Year contender, says he is delighted with his own form.
The 26-year-old has scored 11 goals and added 19 assists, making him one of the most productive creative-midfielders in the English top flight.
He has received widespread praise for the quality of his performances and he believes this has been his most consistent season.
“[This is] Probably the most complete.
“I play as a central-midfielder now and do a lot of stuff. I happy because I can play almost every minute without any problems and play at a level that is constantly very good, very high.
“That’s what I’m most pleased with.”
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The game against Liverpool is seen as one of the most important in City’s season so far.
With the League Cup already in the bag and the Premier League tantalisingly close to being wrapped up, the Champions League is now a priority for Pep Guardiola and his squad.
A hostile reception is expected at Anfield on Wednesday - but De Bruyne says it’s all part of being a professional.
“I expect nothing less,” he said.
“It’s the way it goes. I like to play in big stadiums, big crowds, in the end it’s what it’s all about.
“There’s a lot of passion in football and you need to try and manage it.”
