The Epic English Football Rivalry: A Phenomenal Finale?
Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola’s rivalry has both dominated and changed English football. The Liverpool manager and his Manchester City counterpart have fought out epic title battles – and their Premier League rivalry could be set for a fitting final chapter on Sunday.
The Final Showdown
On Sunday, leaders Liverpool will host Manchester City, with the victors set to be top with 10 games to go, while a draw could open the door for third-placed Arsenal instead. But a lot of the headlines around the game will rightly focus on what could be the last act of a respectful contest for supremacy that started 11 years ago in Germany.
Different Styles, Same Success
Guardiola’s City pass teams to death while Klopp’s Liverpool prefer a high-energy pressing game. Both managers have differing, defined, hugely successful styles. The two managers have differing, defined, hugely successful styles – Guardiola’s City pass teams to death while Klopp’s Liverpool prefer a high-energy pressing game.
The Title Races
Klopp’s Liverpool are all that have stood in the way of City securing an unprecedented six consecutive English titles – winning the 2019-20 Premier League. Klopp arrived at Anfield in October 2015, replacing the sacked Brendan Rodgers, and declared “if I sit here in four years, I am pretty confident we will have one title”. Nine months after Klopp’s English move, about 35 miles down the road, Guardiola popped up at Etihad Stadium. They finished third in the first year but won five of the next six titles.
Thrilling Title Races
In 2018-19, Liverpool picked up the fourth highest amount of points in English top-flight history and did not win the league. City picked up 98 points to Liverpool’s 97. The pair pushed each other to new heights, knowing neither team could afford to slip up. And 2021-22 produced the second most thrilling final-day in Premier League title history. Liverpool scored twice in the final six minutes to beat Wolves 3-1 and champions City bagged three after the 75th minute to beat Aston Villa 3-2. The lead changed hands 32 times that season.
Respectful Rivalry
For such an enduring rivalry, it has been a friendly one. Including their time in Germany, the pair have lost against the other more than against any other manager. They frequently praise each other in news conferences and interviews. Klopp has referred to Guardiola as the best manager in the world countless times over the years.
A Rivalry That Began in Germany
The pair also had two seasons together in Germany – managing Der Klassiker arch-rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Klopp was in charge of Dortmund and led them to the Bundesliga title in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Bayern would go on to run away with the Bundesliga title and beat Dortmund in the German Cup final. A year later Klopp stepped down after a seventh-placed finish.
What’s Next?
With both sides still in the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage, they could face off again at Wembley. After that, though, it is anyone’s guess. Klopp has already said he will never manage in England again and that he intends to have a year off in 2024-25. Guardiola has another season left on his City contract at the end of this one and has hinted he will stay on beyond that. So could their next meeting be at the 2028 World Cup in North America?
Classic Meetings Between the Two
One of the classic meetings between Klopp and Guardiola was when Liverpool beat Manchester City 4-3 in the Premier League on January 14, 2018. Manchester City’s hopes of an unbeaten Premier League season were ended in game 23 by their rivals. Three goals in the space of nine second-half minutes put Liverpool 4-1 up and in total control before a late City comeback fell just short.
In Conclusion
The rivalry between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola has been a defining feature of English football over the past decade. Their battles for titles have been memorable and closely fought. Despite their different styles, both managers have achieved incredible success. Their rivalry has been marked by respect and admiration for each other. As Klopp prepares to leave Liverpool, their final showdown on Sunday could be the last act of an extraordinary contest that began in Germany. What the future holds for these two great managers remains uncertain, but their impact on English football will be remembered for years to come.