Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are in the midst of one of the most enthralling title races the Premier League has ever seen and the two managers have spoken at length about each other.
With the two sides on the cusp of what promises to be a pivotal game for the landscape of the season, there has been claims that the rivalry between the two teams is the best in English football history. However, those same suggestions have been shot down by supporters arguing there is not enough bad blood between the pair.
There is certainly evidence to support that viewpoint, with very few crossed words between the managers ever played out in public. With that being said, Klopp has explained that he does agree the clubs are playing out the best rivalry ever seen on these shores.
"Yes! The consistency both teams have shown over the period is crazy. We know it's tough. What has changed in the four years is everybody else thinks it's tough," the German revealed. Pressed on whether they bring the best out of each other, Klopp added: "Probably. If you play professional football at the highest level, the focus is on your games.
"In sport, I think what helps the most is a strong opponent. In the long term, especially. I think [Rafael] Nadal and [Roger] Federer enjoyed the rivalry they had. That's how it is in sport. I wouldn't say I'm thankful City is that good, but it didn't harm our development."
Klopp's comments come after he paid his counterpart the biggest compliment of all, dubbing Guardiola "the best coach in the world." With just one point separating the Reds from City who lead the pack, many have already interpreted the compliment as some pre-match mind games.
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"Pep is the best coach in the world and we all would agree on that," Klopp claimed. "If anybody doubts him, I have no idea how that could happen." The Spaniard was quick to issue his response. "I'm not the best. Thank you, but I'm not.
"I would like to tell you here that I'm the best, but I'm not. I didn't become a manager to be the best. If I had success, as I have said many times it is because I was with my staff with incredible teams, with a lot of money like all the opponents like to hear.
Guardiola did issue some praise of his own back in the direction of his fellow manager. "I think Jurgen makes world football a better place to live," claimed the City boss. The four-time Premier League winner also explained how Liverpool are the greatest rivals of his career.
"We play many times, more times," he said. "Jose [Mourinho] is an exciting manager and we had the rivalry in Barcelona. "In five years here we have played many times, and all the times we were close. I faced in Munich with Jurgen.
"How we set up the teams here we were close many times. Every season except the year we got 100 points and the year they got 99 we were tight. I will remember by period here, when I'm watching and playing golf, I’ll remember my biggest rivals as Liverpool. Absolutely we wouldn’t be as good but for them, after 100 points, 98 you need someone to push them."
