Rio Ferdinand has hailed Pep Guardiola as the generation's best coach - but thinks Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp just edges him at the moment.
The pair are seen as the two stand out managers in the Premier League, and even the world by some.
Debate has gathered momentum over the past two years as to which manager is the best with their titanic tussle for the title last term only adding to that.
Guardiola's Manchester City edged out the Reds by one point, but Ferdinand would still rank the German above his Catalan counterpart.
He said: “At the moment Klopp just shades it but Pep is the innovator- the best we’ve seen in our generation. You think Cruyff in the past- Pep today.”
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic Liverpool looked set to cruise to the title and may well have won it by now.
Their relentless form has seen them drop just five points all year as they set about breaking several records.
As it is they will have to wait to back up last season's Champions League final success.
Klopp has been hailed for the clear out job he has done at Anfield since arriving in October 2015 with his Liverpool side now very much mirroring his former Borussia Dortmund outfit.
That side won consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 while also reaching a European Cup final.
Guardiola himself has won the Bundesliga on three occasions, albeit with Bayern Munich.
The possession-loving coach has enjoyed success at Barcelona, Munich and now in Manchester.
It is fair to say he has always had healthy resources at his disposal, but his successors at the aforementioned clubs have never gone close to replicating his achievements.
Guardiola also created what is generally accepted as the greatest club side ever at the Nou Camp.
This year though he will fall well short of Klopp's domestic points total, but could still dwarf the German's trophy count.
