Manchester City: De Bruyne lifts squad to top spot in Premier League

Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne beat Chelsea with a 23-yard screamer in the 66th minute Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

City pulled off the 1-0 win to move into first place in the Premier League standings.

De Bruyne had a beautiful give and go with Gabriel Jesus on the play. The midfielder delivered a pass to Jesus at the top of the box. Jesus received the ball with his back to the goal and fired a one-touch pass back to a sprinting De Bruyne.

"For sure there is disappointment about the result but at the same time I'm pleased with the commitment of my players, we gave everything,' Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said after the game, according to the team website. 'You can win or lose, but the most important thing is to see your players giving everything and today that happened."

"We played against a really good team, we created chances to score but we didn't take them. Man City created chances and did well to score. In this type of game it's very important to score first but great compliments to City."

City manager Pep Guardiola lauded De Bruyne in his postgame press conference.

"He can do absolutely everything," Guardiola said, according to the team website. "With the ball he is excellent and without the ball he is the most humble guy."

De Bruyne, 26, now has a goal and eight assists in 12 games this year for the English club. Manchester City has the same record as Manchester United but leads the table on goal differential.

City faves Stoke City at 3 p.m. Oct. 14 at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England.