Pep Guardiola claims Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are rivalling one of Barcelona’s greatest ever sides.
The Manchester City manager paid his title rival the ultimate compliment by claiming the German has built a team comparable to Barca’s 2015 Champions League winners.
Guardiola cites this season as the toughest of his career – and believes Liverpool are alongside Luis Enrique’s team of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar as the fiercest opponents he’s ever faced.
“You give credit for the titles and how huge our rival is,” he said. “In my career as a manager, I played against incredible sides. There are two that were ‘wow.’
“One is Barcelona with Luis Enrique, with Neymar, Messi and Suarez in front. The other is this Liverpool.
“I think they’re the best two sides I’ve faced as a manager. That’s why being there, with it in our hands, fighting against them until the end after being seven points behind - you can say ‘it’s done.’
“We did the opposite of that.”
The Premier League title race will go down to the final day of the season after Divock Origi’s late winner for Liverpool at Newcastle on Saturday night.
City can ensure their destiny is in their own hands with victory at home to Leicester on Monday.
After last season’s record-breaking 100-point haul, Guardiola hailed his players for maintaining their hunger in their bid to retain the title.
“When you get 100 points everyone thinks we won’t do what we have to do, we will do less because we won, but it was completely the opposite,” said the Catalan.
“Every three days in all competitions, we try to play and try to win.
“Arriving at this stage, two games left with 92 points, after 100 points, being there, that is the most satisfaction I’ve had as a manager. It’s not easy, honestly. And they did it again.”
