The champions have already fallen five points behind last season’s nearest challengers after a surprise 3-2 loss to newly-promoted Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday.
Liverpool meanwhile have their tails up having won 3-1 at home to Newcastle United to preserve a 14-game winning streak.
Manchester City famously pipped Liverpool to the title by a single point last season despite Pep Guardiola’s men needing to claw back a seven-point deficit at the start of the year.
De Bruyne, who started from the bench in Saturday’s surprise defeat, has sent Liverpool a gentle reminder of how things panned out last term especially with just five games played so far.
Speaking after the Norwich game, De Bruyne said: ‘Last season we were seven points behind – it happens. Of course, we want to win every game but it is difficult.
‘You have to respect the other team and when they do well. They do well and that is it.
‘It will be tough, the next seven months, like last year. It never stops. It is our job and sometimes it is hard but you have to take it on the chin.
‘We lost four games out of 38 last season and that is a good record. We can still win this season with the same points at the end of this season.’
Manchester City host bottom-placed Watford in their next league game while Liverpool have the small matter of travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Sunday.
