Jurgen Klopp invading Man City space means Pep Guardiola needs new rival

Pep Guardiola had only just begun his press conference in the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey in July 2018 when Jurgen Klopp bowled through the doors to whoops and cheers from the Liverpool fans crowded round the glass-panelled room.

Klopp was immediately apologetic for barging in and offered to take a seat alongside the Manchester City boss but Guardiola needed no invitation to make an exit. Off he went, but the two would be together again before they knew it.

That moment six years ago had many layers to it, but it comes to mind following the news that Klopp will leave Liverpool because of what it represented. Even when the energetic German wasn't trying to, he still had a habit of invading Guardiola's and City's space.

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For more of Guardiola's time in England, Liverpool have been their main rivals. There have been others - Antonio Conte, Thomas Tuchel, and Mikel Arteta have all posed different challenges - but the biggest and longest challenge that remains to this season has been Klopp.

In the season after their New Jersey summit, a John Stones clearance with just 11mm of the ball left on the goalline helped City to roar back from what seemed a critical position and pip Liverpool in one of the most high-quality title races ever that ended with a combined 195 points. After the pair then traded titles, City had the edge until the final day when they nearly threw it away, only for three goals in six minutes to rescue it for Guardiola.

The obvious conclusion from Klopp leaving Liverpool is that they will be worse off without such a talisman and such a brilliant manager,