The match of the season is just around the corner!Although Arsenal are also contenders for the Premier League title, the majority of the public on the Island believe that the crucial title match is Sunday’s derby between leaders Liverpool and reigning champions Manchester City. Liverpool have a point advantage over City with 11 games to go, and a win would put either team in pole position for the Premier League throne ahead of the final 10 games.This will be the 30th meeting between the two coaching greats Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, whose rivalry has lasted for more than a decade, ever since they were competitors in Germany coaching Borussia Dortmund and Bayern. Neither one nor the other had more matches against a third coach.Liverpool vs. Man City.Klopp vs. Pep for one last time.First place in the Premier League up for grabs.CANNOT. WAIT. 🍿🏆 pic.twitter.com/srkiu4uzYV— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 8, 2024 For now, Klopp leads the head-to-head against Guardiola with 12 wins and 11 losses. But the Catalan has more trophies… This will be their last Premier League clash as the German is leaving the Reds bench at the end of the season.”I absolutely respect his decision. We spoke after he made his decision and I got the impression that he would be back to work sooner or later. He loves football and explained perfectly the reasons for his decision. This is the last time we meet in the Premier League, not in general, because there is also the FA Cup… I don’t believe that this will be the last match between us. He is young, I am young and no one knows what the future holds. The way his teams play makes you constantly learn. It’s always a pleasure to play against him and it will be like that on Sunday,” Guardiola said today at the press conference dedicated to Sunday’s derby.##NAJAVA_MECA_7939336##Will your job be easier next season when Klopp is not around?”I don’t think so. Liverpool is always Liverpool. Arsenal is also there and was our main competitor last season. Look at how they play… Liverpool need more than 90 minutes to win a game, Arsenal sometimes do it in 25,” Guardiola alluded to Liverpool’s stoppage-time victories.However, it was the controversy sparked by Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold’s provocative message that “trophies are worth more under Klopp than under Guardiola”, alluding to financial irregularities during Pep’s tenure at City. He was answered by Erling Haaland who said that Alexander Arnold “doesn’t know how nice it feels to win the triple crown like it was with City last season” and Ruben Dias who repeated something similar and said that “the answer will come on the field” .”I wish him a speedy recovery and to return to the field as soon as possible,” said Guardiola.A short and sweet answer from Guardiola 😮Pep responds to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s comments regarding trophies between both Liverpool and Man City! pic.twitter.com/h9BvhMwMp0— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 8, 2024 When asked if his players will be more fighting spirit to defend the club after the words of Haaland and Dias, Guardiola replied:”Do you really think that we will fight more just because Haaland and Dias said so? Otherwise we wouldn’t be fighting? They defend the club on the pitch, not by talking. That’s the best way. I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve done so far and I don’t need the feeling of being defended by the players. We know what has happened in recent years and we are going to play another good game on Sunday”.Klopp: I’m not bad but Pep is the best! This match is not deciding the titleA hellish atmosphere is expected at Anfield…”Of course, the atomosphere has an effect, but above all it affects the quality of the opponent. We always had a good time there and we accept the challenge”.Finally, he admitted that the participation of Doku, Grealish and Nunez is uncertain due to injuries.”We’ll see what the situation is tomorrow at training and then we’ll asses it.”
