Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp praised Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Friday, acknowledging him as the best manager of his lifetime as he gears up his Liverpool team for what could be the culmination of their enthralling rivalry.
Having clinched five of the past six Premier League titles, City has consistently faced fierce competition from Liverpool, who seized the crown in 2020.
The two teams are currently engaged in a tight battle at the top of the table, with Liverpool leading the defending champions by a single point before their highly anticipated clash at Anfield on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Klopp commended Guardiola, whose team is pursuing a second consecutive treble of Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup, describing him as "outstanding in many aspects."
Klopp, who has a positive record of 12 wins against Guardiola's 11 in their 29 meetings, emphasised his admiration for the city manager's achievements over the years.
Reflecting on his personal record against Guardiola, Klopp admitted, "I have no clue how that happened, to be honest, but it is all fine. I know I'm quite good at what I'm doing as well." He unequivocally declared Guardiola the most outstanding manager in his lifetime.
Liverpool boasts a remarkable record against City at Anfield, where the visitors have secured only one victory since 2003, and that too in front of empty stands during the 2021 pandemic-hit season.
Klopp emphasised the significance of playing at home, deeming it a "massive, massive" factor. However, he refrained from labelling the upcoming match as a definitive title decider.
Addressing comments made by defender Trent Alexander-Arnold about the importance of trophies to Liverpool compared to City, Klopp supported his player's perspective.
Alexander-Arnold, born in Liverpool and a product of the club's youth teams, expressed that trophies mean more to Liverpool than to City, backed by Abu Dhabi.
Klopp reiterated the sentiment, emphasising that it's about how the players and the club feel, stating, "It's just how he feels, how we feel, and I've absolutely no problem with that."
