Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne believes that goal difference may play a key role in the title race this season.

Speaking after scoring a brace in the 7-0 win over Leeds United last night, the Belgian midfielder was asked whether the amount of goals scored could prove important in the final reckoning:

“Yes, but now for the moment we just have to maintain the good level and try to win game by game. Obviously it helps (the goal difference). But that is something that can help at the end of the year (season). That’s not something we should think about… It’s one hell of a competition. Even outside the top three, it’s very hard to win every game and you saw a lot of games, like Wolves and West Ham, where you win with one goal difference. It’s still going to be a hell of a race this year, but we are going to try.”

City are now four points in front of Liverpool and five ahead of Chelsea but both of their title rivals will play their games in hand tomorrow evening.

If they win their matches as expected, there will be only two points between the top three. However, City’s seven goals yesterday mean they are only 2 behind Liverpool’s goal difference and four ahead of Chelsea.

Whether the title will be determined by such fine margins, we shall have to wait and see, but De Bruyne seems to believe that the Citizens will need to find every edge they can over their opponents.