Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has stressed the importance of beating their rivals at the top of Premier League this season.
City failed to sustain a title challenge last term and their record against the other teams that finished in the top seven proved a major shortfall.
In games against Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton, City - who ended the campaign third, 15 points off the top - collected just 11 points.
They may have gone some way to addressing that by thrashing Liverpool 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.