'At his best' - Man City have found their own Robin van Persie for Premier League title race

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes Kevin De Bruyne channelled his inner Robin van Persie during Manchester City's commanding performance against Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Belgian midfielder has earned a reputation in the Premier League for his creativity and assists. However, he managed to get himself on the scoresheet after just 17 minutes on Thursday night with a spectacular diving header.

It was City's first of three first-half goals as Phil Foden grabbed himself a brace shortly afterwards. At half-time, Redknapp told Sky Sports that De Bruyne never ceases to amaze him.

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"We have seen the full repertoire from this guy over the years," Redknapp explained. "Top corners, right foot, left foot.

"But the one thing we probably didn’t expect today was a Robin Van Persie-style diving header. It was a great bit of football, Phil Foden just wriggles away, Kyle Walker gets on that run on the outside and cuts it back.

"Then from there, that is a magnificent header. That is his first Premier League header.

"That one just shows you, why hasn’t he scored more because he is so good in that position. I thought this was a really difficult game for them today, but they have just dispatched Brighton.

"It’s a wonderful team goal but also wonderful technique with the header. Look at this. Van Persie at his best."

Former Manchester United striker Van Persie stunned the world ten years ago when he produced a sublime diving header in the Netherlands' clash with Spain at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The Dutchman was a Puskas Award finalist that year but lost out to James Rodriguez's goal for Colombia in the same