Rayan Cherki is ready to win £116million Liverpool showdown with Man City praise ringing in his ears

Manchester City signed Rayan Cherki from Lyon this summer and it looks like they have found a bargain after his impressive start to life at the Etihad.

Rayan Cherki's Manchester City career might only extend to 389 minutes so far, but he is already leaving his teammates lost for words, having taken his tally of goal contributions to eight with the strike against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

Cherki has four goals and four assists for the Blues, but has started only four of his 12 games since a £34million move from Lyon. After injury disrupted his early momentum, he has returned with a bang over the last week.

In 174 minutes against Swansea, Bournemouth and Dortmund, Cherki has two goals and three assists, and he looks a near certainty to start against Liverpool this weekend.

He teed up both of Erling Haaland's goals against the Cherries, leaving the striker to say of Cherki that "he has this special ability which is hard to explain".

On Wednesday night, he settled nerves with a goal off the bench against the Bundesliga side. Asked about Cherki's impact since his return from injury, John Stones thought for a moment and said: "I don't know how to describe Rayan, to be honest."

The Frenchman's dazzling impact, whether off the bench or from the start, means he is forcing his way into Pep Guardiola's plans. The question is whether he plays off the right and replaces Savinho, or if the midfield is big enough to fit in Cherki and the in-form Phil Foden. That is a good headache for Guardiola to have.

It is clear that Cherki is making a big impact on his teammates since his summer switch from his boyhood club. He enjoyed a breakthrough season in Ligue 1 last year and is carrying that form into the Premier League.

The 22-year-old is a creative force and an old-school playmaker, and if he does start against Liverpool this weekend, his battle with Florian Wirtz - if he starts for Liverpool - will be box office.

City moved away from Wirtz when Liverpool took the bidding to nine figures and at less than a third of the price, they have clearly got a snip with Cherki instead.

His numbers far outstrip Wirtz's for Liverpool since their summer arrivals in the Premier League and Stones loves watching Cherki bring a dash of arrogance to City's play.

"He's someone that I love to have here," the centre-back said. "His composure, his ability with both feet, his balance, his flair. His arrogance in a really good way. He'll take the ball, he'll see something that no one else does.

"He's got that quality and we're really pleased that he's here and that we're playing and scoring."

Cherki's vision could benefit Haaland, in particular. The Norwegian is a master at timing his runs to get in behind a defence and against Bournemouth, there were clear signs that the France international was getting on his wavelength.

"He's a good guy with some amazing qualities, as we can all see," said Haaland. "In the end, it's about playing football, which we can get the best out of everyone on the pitch.

"It's the same with him, we need to help him in his free mind as a number 10, to help pass the ball to me, to help pass the ball to the attacking players, because he has this special ability which is difficult to explain.

"A little bit like Kevin [De Bruyne] had, he can just pass someone through from wherever on the pitch. He's a special talent and we need to help him develop even more, because he can be really good."

A comparison with De Bruyne after less than six-and-a-half hours in a City shirt is some going for Cherki. This weekend it will be Wirtz he is measured alongside, and on current form, there is likely to only be one winner.