Pep Guardiola declares his fierce competition with Jurgen Klopp has made him a better manager and is the reason he is "still in this business".
Manchester City boss Guardiola will take on Klopp for the 22nd time in his decorated career as the Premier League champions travel to Anfield on Sunday evening.
Between them, the two managers have dominated English football over the last four seasons and they are jostling for top spot in the top flight after six rounds of fixtures this term.
Guardiola and Klopp are regarded among the best managers in the world and the former claims his adversary is constantly pushing him to improve.
"He helped me, his teams helped me to be a better manager," said Guardiola of Klopp on Friday. "Give me another level to think about it, prove myself, what I have to do to be a better manager with our teams to try and beat them.
"It's the reason why I'm still in this business.
"There are some managers, Jurgen is one, to challenge you to move a step forward. In Germany when we faced each other, I couldn't face him in Barcelona.
"Here (in England) we have many years, many competitions together. Every game was nice, both teams have the same idea, go to score goals in different ways. Quicker than us, but in the same way to win the games."
Guardiola and Klopp have each won nine of their meetings together, while there have been three draws.
The only manager Guardiola has faced on more occasions than Klopp is Jose Mourinho, whom he has taken on 25 times since 2009.
Who is the better manager out of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp? Have your say in the comments.
His rivalry with Klopp dates back to 2013, when the German led Borussia Dortmund to victory over newly-appointed Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola in the DFL-Supercup.
The pair would meet a further eight times in Germany before reuniting in England as Guardiola took the City hot seat in 2016.
The Spaniard holds the bragging rights at present after thrashing an injury-decimated Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield in February as City cruised to the league title.
But Guardiola is not allowing complacency to creep in before his side's latest trip to Merseyside and instead hailed the Reds as a "legendary club".
"For ours, it's an honour to be a rival with Liverpool," added Guardiola. "Decades ago we weren't rivals to them.
"For many years we try to compete with these legendary clubs so it's an honour. Hopefully for them too. To compete against one of the historic teams in England that's nice for us."
