Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has dismissed talk of a rift with star midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and says he is desperate to have the Belgian back to his best.

De Bruyne has only started four Premier League games in another campaign blighted by injury.

However, he has featured for just 72 minutes across five substitute appearances since returning from an eight-week absence with an abdominal issue last month.

There was just 12 minutes left at Anfield on Sunday when Guardiola introduced De Bruyne into the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.

De Bruyne still had the visitors’ best chance, when he was denied by Caoimhin Kelleher.

In a discussion on Sky Sports after the game, pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville both questioned Guardiola’s use of De Bruyne in a run of six defeats and a draw in seven matches.

Carragher said: “Something is going on with De Bruyne. Something isn’t right between those two.”

Neville agreed and said Guardiola’s treatment of the playmaker was “unusual, bizarre, strange”.

Guardiola did not mention the pair directly but, before the Premier League encounter with Nottingham Forest, said there was no issue with De Bruyne.

“People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin,” he said. “Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? I don’t want Kevin to play? The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don’t want it? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?

“He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club. I’m desperate to have his best.

“But he’s been five months injured and two months injured. He’s 33 years old. He needs time to find his best.”

De Bruyne was out from August to the beginning of January last season after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring issue that forced him to be replaced in the first half of the 2023 Champions League final victory over Inter Milan.

His contract expires next summer and De Bruyne has confirmed talks are yet to take place over an extension, as he prioritises his return to fitness.

“I’d love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27,” said Guardiola. “He would love it too.

“But he is not 26 or 27 any more. He had injuries in the past, important and long ones, and he is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.

“It’s normal, it’s nature. He played a lot of games for 10 or 11 seasons.

“I know he is desperate to help us, he gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have.”