Honours even in final league clash
Klopp’s last match against Guardiola before departing ends in stalemate
Liverpool and Manchester City showed the Premier League what it will be missing when Jurgen Klopp leaves at the end of the season. Anfield hosted a typically fullblooded clash of titans in the last English top flight encounter between Klopp and Pep Guardiola before the Liverpool manager stands down.
No wonder Guardiola says he will sleep easier when his long-time rival is no longer standing in his way.
He likened Liverpool to a “tsunami” as the defending champions had to dig deep to survive long periods of pressure in the second half.
“Oh my God, they come from everywhere,” Guardiola said after a 1-1 draw yesterday that kept secondplace Liverpool one point ahead of City in third.
Arsenal are top on goal difference but the North Londoners’ 2-1 win at Brentford on Sunday felt like a subplot compared with the latest and possibly last clash between Klopp and Guardiola.
John Stones gave City a first-half lead and Alexis Mac Allister levelled from the penalty spot after the break.
That only told part of the story of a thrilling encounter, which saw Luis Diaz miss a big chance to fire Liverpool ahead and Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku hit the woodwork for City. In stoppage time, Klopp thought Liverpool should have been awarded a penalty for Doku’s chest-high challenge on Mac Allister, only for VAR to dismiss appeals.
“Why would the guy in the VAR studio think that is not clear and obvious? What must you have for lunch if you think that is not clear and obvious?” Klopp said.
Perhaps Klopp is mellowing as he edges towards the exit but he preferred to focus on the performance of his rebuilt and injury-stricken side.
“For us, besides the result, the most important information is we are right there, we go the distance. Let’s see what we get for it, but the boys fought so hard through everything to be there. I saw the best 53 minutes we had against Manchester City. It was exceptional and important as well that we learned that about ourselves.”
It would be fascinating to see how this team could develop under Klopp, who has so quickly remolded Liverpool following the departure of key players such as Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino.
Few expected him to mount a title challenge so soon, let alone compete on four fronts this season, with the League Cup already secured. His team are also still in contention for the Europa League and FA Cup.
A second league title of his reign is the priority and Liverpool showed they can go head-to-head with a City side defending last season’s treble of trophies: the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
Only Liverpool’s 2020 title stopped City from completing a clean sweep of six straight triumphs under Guardiola from 2018.
Guardiola has repeatedly described Klopp’s Liverpool as the biggest challenge of his coaching career and has twice edged him to the title by a single point.
“He made us a better team, he made me a better manager. I wish he will be back soon, because football needs personalities like him,” said Guardiola.
It is shaping up to be another fiercely contested title race and time will tell how important a point at Anfield was. The added factor this year is a third contender in Arsenal and Guardiola is equally aware of the threat coming from Mikel Arteta.
“Arsenal last year came back and will stay for a long time because they are a young team with an exceptional manager. There are 10 games to go, 30 points to play for, one point difference. The important thing is after where we came from in previous seasons, still we are there.”
Son stars in key win for Spurs
Once it was Harry Kane who Tottenham fans pinned their hopes to. Now it is Son Heung-min. The South Korean forward has helped fill the void left by Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich in the off-season and yesterday he helped Spurs to a 4-0 rout against top four rivals Aston Villa with one goal and two assists.
Fifth-placed Spurs are two points behind Villa in fourth with a game in hand. Son provided assists for Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner either side of scoring his 14th goal of the season. James Maddison had opened the scoring in a game that also saw Villa’s John McGinn sent off in the second half.