Sunday’s superb 4-1 derby win over Manchester United where De Bruyne struck twice saw Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions re-establish out six-point lead at the top of the table.
However, Liverpool do enjoy a game in hand with Jurgen Klopp’s side – who were champions in 2019/20 – also on a fine run of form having gone 11 games unbeaten.
And looking ahead to the remainder of the season, De Bruyne said he was anticipating another hugely exciting title tussle which has echoes of the thrilling 2018/19 race for glory between the two sides.
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“I think it has been like this for the last few years,” De Bruyne pointed out.
“It is exciting to play, this is what we want to do, and it should be a privilege to play for titles.
“I know a lot of people were talking when we were 12 points ahead that it is over, knowing [Liverpool] had two games in hand against Burnley and Leeds.
“With all due respect, I think 99 per cent of the people expected them to win these two. We lost one game against Tottenham, so they gained three points.
“I think every game is hard in the Premier League. We fight until the end and that is what we will do in the last ten games.”
With both City and Liverpool also still in the hunt for the Champions League and FA Cup, it throws up the potential spectacle of the two sides competing for honours on three separate fronts between now and the end of the season.
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From his own perspective, De Bruyne said the prospect of what he termed two ‘great teams’ contesting the game’s major silverware was an exciting prospect.
And with the Champions League resuming again on Wednesday when we play host to Sporting in our last-16 second leg tie, the Belgian said success on the European stage remained a major incentive for all of the City squad.
“People have debates about all of these things. I think for the time I have been at City we have been a great team,” De Bruyne asserted.
“I think I am a person who enjoys other great teams and I think Liverpool is another great team who we are fighting, so to win these leagues is impressive.
“The Champions League is one of our goals and every year we are trying to fight for them.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t have the opportunity yet or we didn’t reach it, because we were maybe just not good enough last year. I just think the pathway that we took is very positive.
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“If I win it or not, it is not going to define me who I am as a person or us as a club, but obviously it would help when people have debates.
“I am going to try to win, if I don’t I don’t, but I know I will have done everything in my power to do it.
“Hopefully at the end of my career I will have one at a minimum.”
