'City put down a marker to the footballing world'

City were dominant in the 1-0 victory of the Premier League champions Chelsea on Saturday, as they extended their unbeaten run to nine games this season.

Former Man City boss Pearce believes their impressive showing made a clear statement across the whole of football.

"I thought for 80 minutes, to control the game at one of your leading rivals - the Premier League champions - was an outstanding performance," Pearce told 'Sky Sports'.

"City put a marker down on Saturday to the whole footballing world and said we're serious contenders now."

The success was manager Pep Guardiola's first victory over Chelsea in all competitions and City extended their run of consecutive clean sheets in the league to four.

Pearce added: "Some of the questions marks you put against City in the times gone by: the goalkeeping scenario, the defence looking a bit shaky - all of those things I think they answered at Stamford Bridge.

De Bruyne scored the game's only goal to secure the three points for the Citizens and Pearce believes the Belgian midfielder is back to his best, after hitting the woodwork nine times last season.

"If you rewind the clock back a year I think he started the season brilliantly. He then went off the boil a little and City suffered accordingly.

"He looks as though he's back to his best again. The rotation throughout their team is fantastic.

"Him and Silva rotate around the team and get on the ball creating chances and scoring them."