Manchester City’s ‘biggest rivalry’ is with Liverpool, says Guardiola

Pep Guardiola believes Liverpool are the greatest opponents of his career and has compared Manchester City’s rivalry with Jürgen Klopp’s side to some of sport’s greatest ever, including Ali-Frazier and Nadal-Federer-Djokovic, as the two teams prepare to face off on Sunday in their Premier League title showdown.

City host Jürgen Klopp’s side with the champions now just a point ahead of the challengers. In the past four seasons the title has been claimed by the two clubs – City winning three and Liverpool one.

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Guardiola was asked how long the rivalry can continue and if it was comparable to that of the heavyweight boxers, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, in the 1970s, and of tennis players Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the last two decades.

“Yeah – but Nadal, Federer and [Novak] Djokovic was 20 years and we are five years [as rivals],” he said. “Footballers run quicker and so to maintain success is more difficult than other sports. When I retire and watch and play golf I will remember the biggest rivalry was with Liverpool. When you achieve 100 points and 98 points [in two of City’s title-winning seasons] you need someone to push from behind to be so close. You have to make another step.”

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Guardiola added: “The most credit I give is for consistency through the years. Both City and Liverpool have had four or five years [at the top]. That’s why Federer, Nadal, Djokovic have been at the top for so long – consistency.”

Having previously faced him while in charge of Borussia Dortmund, when Guardiola was at Bayern Munich, Klopp has more victories than any other manager against