Jamie Carragher has underlined the vital role of Joao Cancelo in Ilkay Gundogan's impressive form as the Sky Sports pundit hailed the German midfielder amid his strongest campaign in England to date.
The 30-year-old has been pivotal in Manchester City's emergence as title favourites, contributing nine goals in the last ten games to send Pep Guardiola's side five points clear at the top of the table.
Gundogan bagged a brace at Anfield on Sunday to deal a devastating blow to Liverpool's hopes of defend their title, stepping up to the plate in the absence of star players Kevin de Bruyne and Sergio Aguero.
The former Borussia Dortmund man has earned plenty of plaudits for his form this campaign, but Reds legend Carragher stressed that a tactical tweak from Guardiola in using Cancelo has helped unleash the German.
'I think on the back of Man City having problems with strikers - (Gabriel) Jesus didn't play yesterday and (Sergio) Aguero is out - other people have had to step up to the plate and this man has done it more than anyone,' Carragher said on Monday Night Football as he outlined how a switch to 4-4-2 at half time paid dividends for City.
'We have known for so long now about Pep's full-back's going into midfield,' the Sky Sports pundit said. 'It's nothing new. He's done it since he first came.
'But when Cancelo steps into midfield, it then means that Gundogan isn't a holding midfield player anymore. He's an attacking eight, he's a number 10, he's between the lines and I think this relationship between those two has been pivotal.
'He's always making penetrating runs, putting his arm up and wanting to get involved. This is not something we saw too much when he first came in.
'He's gone from a goal every 10 shots to a goal every five shots because he's taking them from better areas and better positions. No silly shots from outside the box, hence why he's getting more chances of scoring.'
Gundogan could have left Anfield with the match ball on Sunday having spurned a first half penalty following a foul from Fabinho on Raheem Sterling in front of the Kop.
'When they tell you it's #SuperBowl and a Field Goal is worth 3 points...' he joked on Twitter, along with a picture of his spot-kick sailing into the stands.
Gundogan's blushes were spared minutes into the second half as he turned the ball home from an Alisson Becker save before tapping beyond the Liverpool keeper after he made one of two uncharacteristic blunders.