Jurgen Klopp agrees with Pep Guardiola on Liverpool FC vs Man City rivalry

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool would have been Premier League champions by February in recent years were it not for Manchester City, as he repaid a compliment from Pep Guardiola this weekend.

Liverpool moved back to within three points of City on Saturday with both teams level on points, but the Blues beat Manchester United to extend the gap again having played a game more. After that win, which was seen by many on Merseyside as a potential banana-skin for City, Guardiola opted to praise Liverpool when asked about the title race.

"I said many times, the biggest success for a manager is after winning three Premier Leagues in four years, we still run like we run and are there to win again," he said. "Normally you have bad thoughts and you are confused thinking you are like you are not. Still we are humble enough every single training and every single game, do it to be there. After you can win or lose.

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"These guys are still there, if we can't do it at the end, it's because we have the toughest opponent I've faced in my 12, 13 years as a manager. Liverpool are outstanding. Fight with them and be with them means after a big success in domestic trophies and titles is the biggest achievement in my career."

Naturally, Klopp was asked to respond to the comments and how it was quite a significant statement from the City boss.

"Yeah, I can give that back!" he said, saying both sides have denied each other trophies and titles over the course over their relentless rivalry in the last five or six years.

"I could say City are the toughest opponent I ever had, but Pep at Bayern wasn't easy either. But I know what he means. We pushed each other on insane