Jurgen Klopp Running Away From Pep Guardiola, The Day After Liverpool Beat Man City, Is Still Gold

The time is almost upon us. In what could be a crucial game in the 2021/22 Premier League title race, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool will take on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at 4:30 pm UK time on Sunday.

City, who sit one point ahead of their rivals, will have the home advantage this afternoon but it's so difficult to call as two of the world's best managers prepare to do battle.

Ahead of the crunch clash, both men have been waxing lyrically about each other.

"Pep is the best coach in the world," Klopp said in a recent press conference. "I think we would all agree on that and it might be a coincidence that it didn't work out in the Champions League so far. If anybody doubts him, I have no idea how that could happen."

Guardiola, meanwhile, hit back at the Liverpool manager with some compliments of his own.

"Jurgen makes world football a better place to live. His message, he is a huge competitor," he said.

"It's good. I try to have a good relationship with all the managers. I learned it's better not to have a relationship with others. He knows we spoke together in Germany, the message, and the way his teams play. He's a good guy and I don't have any problems with him."

In years gone by, there has often been a somewhat ill-natured relationship between opposing managers during a title race.

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Arsene Wenger springs to mind, as does Jose Mourinho's often fractious relationship with former Arsenal boss Wenger, who never shirked away from confrontation. But coming into Sunday's crunch clash, the atmosphere between both managers is different.

Image credit: Alamy

Take a moment in 2019, for example.

Just a day after Liverpool opened up an eight-point lead in the Premier League title race after knocking three goals past Manchester City, both Klopp and Guardiola bumped into each at the UEFA's Elite Club Coaches forum in Switzerland.

And during that event, Klopp was speaking to the press when Guardiola was lurking behind in the background. The former Borussia Dortmund manager misheard a reporter in that chat, and it made for entertaining viewing. You can see the clip below.

As you can see in the footage above, Klopp proceeds to run away after spotting Guardiola - a moment that has gone viral on several occasions since it happened.

Who do you think will come out on top between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday afternoon?

Let us know in the comments.

Topics: Manchester City, Liverpool, Football, Pep Guardiola, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_