PEP v KLOPP: OF THE BEST
THERE will be smiles, handshakes and possibly a big hug between the two managers shaping the modern Premier League era.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp will not be shy about embracing before today’s crucial clash at The Etihad.
Manchester City hold a one-point lead over Liverpool but that tension won’t be to the detriment of a relationship which is built on foundations of mutual respect and admiration. And that hasn’t diluted the quality with some thrilling games over the past decade. Games that have defined a new kind of rivalry.
August 27, 2013 Dortmund 4 Bayern 2
The German Super Cup was Guardiola’s first time in charge of Bayern following his sabbatical after conquering Europe with Barcelona.
Klopp’s side triumphed 4-2, although it is somewhat ironic that Thiago, who starred in Guardiola’s midfield is now under Klopp’s guidance at Liverpool, while Ilkay Gundogan, who scored for Dortmund, has been a pivotal cog in City’s success under the Spaniard.
Nov 1, 2014
Bayern 2 Dortmund 1
Dortmund won that curtain-raiser but Bayern ended the 2013-14 season as champions, 19 points clear of their rivals.
To make things worse, Robert Lewandowski (inset) announced midway through the campaign he had agreed to head for Munich the following season.
The star striker scored for new boss Guardiola in the first league meeting of 2014-15 when the Bavarians won 2-1.
Klopp would leave Germany at
the end of that season to start a new job at Liverpool that would soon lead to their paths crossing more.
September 9, 2017 Man City 5 Liverpool 0
Liverpool felt this one, but so too did City keeper Ederson.
A thumping 5-0 demolition was kickstarted by a Sergio Aguero goal in the 24th minute – 13 minutes later and Sadio Mane almost decapitated Guardiola’s new No.1 and was shown a straight red.
The following relentless onslaught saw Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane bag a brace each.
City would end up as champions with 100 points, rivals United finishing second with Liverpool a distant fourth, 25 points adrift.
Still, the arrival of Virgil van Dijk in the January transfer window of that season would prove transformative for Klopp.
April 4, 2018 Liverpool 3 Man City 0
The extent to which the Dutch defender was starting to influence the Anfield backline was clear when City visited seven months later for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final. The Reds smashed three past City inside 31 minutes.
February 7, 2021 Liverpool 1 Man City 4
City had not won at Anfield since 2003, but in the midst of the Covid pandemic last year, they turned up and fired in four in the second half with Reds keeper Alisson gifting the visitors two.
It was a seismic showing in a campaign which City romped home in style, having edged Liverpool by just a single point in a far more gruelling 2018-19 season.