The defender joined Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer, and has impressed since, and he feels he has proved his worth to his former employers who doubted his ability

Liverpool defender Kolo Toure believes Manchester City must regret sanctioning his departure from the club.

The Ivorian moved to Anfield in the summer having struggled to gain first-team action in his final season at the Etihad Stadium.

Toure has already made eight league starts this season as his new club have climbed to second in the table, and the defender feels he has proven a point to City.

“I was better than certain players at Manchester City but I was left on the bench,” the 32-year-old told The Sun.

“Before I left the club, I told the people in charge that they would regret letting me go. People said I was finished and that I could never get back to my former level.

“But now I am at Liverpool – and I am sure that City must be kicking themselves when they see how I am performing.”

Toure sees similarities between his own situation and the one brother Yaya faced when leaving Barcelona to join City in 2010.

“I have had a similar experience to Yaya,” he added. “Managers come to clubs bringing players with them and they want to pick them at all costs – whether they are any good or not.

“Yaya was much better than Sergio Busquets at Barcelona. But he was behind him in the pecking order and he found that hard to accept.

“I advised him to come to Manchester City while I was still there. He listened to his big brother’s advice – and now he is the big boss on the field for them.”