Kevin De Bruyne set new Premier League record in Man City win v Nottingham Forest

Kevin De Bruyne set a new Premier League record on Sunday in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Unsurprisingly, it was to do with assists, an area De Bruyne specialises in. He has registered 168 in 377 City appearances in all competitions, and holds the joint record for the most assists (20) in a single Premier League campaign. He managed that tally in the 2019/20 campaign, the same as Thierry Henry’s 2002/03 haul.

But De Bruyne set a new landmark at the City Ground when he set up both goals in the game. The first came via a perfectly flighted corner that was nodded home by Josko Gvardiol, before he fed a well-weighted through ball into Erling Haaland’s path in the 71st minute, which resulted in the second goal of the game.

That was the 18th time De Bruyne has registered multiple assists in a Premier League game, the most of any player in the division’s history.

It’s yet another remarkable feat, and the double assists moved the 32-year-old up to 110 in the Premier League, just one behind second-place Cesc Fabregas in the all-time rankings. There is every chance he overtakes the ex-Arsenal and Chelsea man before the end of the campaign.

De Bruyne’s performances have actually come in for some criticism of late, but his assist numbers show no sign of levelling off. Despite missing the first half of the season, the City midfielder is on eight assists, just four short of Ollie Watkins league high of 12.

He’s also on 14 assists in all competitions, the joint-highest of any player in the English top flight. Bukayo Saka has registered the same number, despite playing over double the amount of games (54 compared to 21).

“Every season he shows again the quality he has,” opined team-mate Nathan Ake after Sunday’s game. “He’s been out for five months but you don’t see that at all. 

“Straight away he came back in the form that he was in before. He helps us so much, so hopefully he can keep it going.”