Liverpool and Manchester City showcased the Premier League the void it will confront when Jürgen Klopp bids adieu at the season’s end. Anfield witnessed a quintessential showdown of titans in the final English top-flight showdown between Klopp and Pep Guardiola before the Liverpool gaffer stepped down.
It’s no surprise Guardiola admits he’ll rest easier once his long-standing adversary is out of the picture. He likened Liverpool to a “tsunami” as the defending champions had to withstand extended spells of pressure in the second half.
“Oh my God, they come from everywhere,” Guardiola remarked after a 1-1 draw on Sunday, keeping second-placed Liverpool a single point ahead of City in third. Arsenal topped the standings on goal difference after the weekend, yet the Londoners’ 2-1 victory at Brentford on Saturday felt overshadowed by the latest, and potentially final, showdown between Klopp and Guardiola.
John Stones handed City a first-half advantage, and Alexis Mac Allister restored parity from the penalty spot after the interval. That merely scratched the surface of a captivating encounter, with Luis Diaz squandering a significant opportunity to put Liverpool ahead, while Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku rattled the woodwork for City.
In stoppage time, Klopp felt Liverpool should have earned a penalty for Doku’s chest-high challenge on Mac Allister, only for VAR to dismiss the appeals. “Why would the guy in the VAR studio think that is not clear? What must you have for lunch if you think that is not clear?” Klopp queried.
Perhaps Klopp is softening as he approaches his final days at Liverpool, yet he chose to spotlight the performance of his revamped and injury-ridden team.
“For us, besides the result, the most important information is we are right there, we go the distance. Let’s see what we get for it, but the boys fought so hard through everything to be there,” he articulated. “Today I saw the best 53 minutes we had against Manchester City. It was exceptional and important as well that we learned that about ourselves.”
It would be enthralling to witness how this team could evolve under Klopp, who swiftly reshaped Liverpool after the departure of key figures like Sadio Mané, Jordan Henderson, and Roberto Firmino.
Few anticipated him to mount a title challenge so swiftly, let alone compete on four fronts this season, with the League Cup already clinched. Against all odds, his squad is also in contention for the Europa League and FA Cup.
A second league title during his tenure is the priority, and Liverpool showcased its ability to go toe-to-toe with a City side defending last season’s treble of trophies – the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup.
Liverpool’s 2020 title prevented City from achieving a clean sweep of six consecutive triumphs under Guardiola from 2018. Guardiola has consistently labeled Klopp’s Liverpool as the most significant challenge of his managerial career and narrowly edged him to the title by a solitary point on two occasions.
“He made us a better team, he made me a better manager. I wish he will be back soon, because football needs personalities like him,” Guardiola expressed. It’s shaping up to be another fiercely contested title race, and only time will reveal the importance of a point at Anfield.
The added dimension this year is a third contender in Arsenal, and Guardiola is equally cognizant of the threat posed by Mikel Arteta as that from Klopp.
“Arsenal last year came back and will stay for a long time because they are a young team with an exceptional manager,” he remarked. “Still, there are 10 games to go, 30 points to play for. One point difference. The important thing is still we are thereafter where we came from in previous seasons, still, we are there.”
