Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola will meet today for the 30th and potentially final time as Liverpool welcome Manchester City to Anfield in a game that may also go a long way to deciding the Premier League title.
A potentially defining afternoon in the title race awaits as Liverpool host Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp faces Pep Guardiola for what could be the final time.
It has been a remarkable run, a rivalry that will remain at the heart of history books for decades to come, and ahead of this 30th meeting between the pair there is little to choose between them.
City may have won more trophies over the past eight years, yet the individual duel between two of the great managers has always been compelling.
It has often been a case of Klopp’s embracing of chaos versus Guardiola’s desire for control – but the head-to-head has never been lopsided.
Jurgen Klopp’s still seismic decision highlights brutal reality for modern day managers
Here is the definitive history of their meetings – from the stark numbers to the most notable games and a pick of the many, many words spoken.
Overall record
This will be the 30th meeting between the pair and a City victory at Anfield would not just put them in control of retaining their title but see Guardiola equal Klopp on the head-to-head.
As it stands the Liverpool boss has won 12 of the previous 29 meetings, with Guardiola on 11 and six draws – including Community Shields.
Klopp’s team have scored 46 goals in comparison to Guardiola’s sides finding the net on 49 occasions.
Across their entire careers, Guardiola has won 32 major trophies compared to Klopp’s 10 – but were it not for the former, the latter would have won far more.
First meeting
The 2013 German Super Cup was not the most obvious starting point for a storied rivalry but Klopp sent new Bayern boss Guardiola a message that he would not have it too easy domestically with a 4-2 win in front of more than 80,000 in Berlin. In eight meetings as Borussia Dortmund and Munich head coaches, they ended with four victories each.
Biggest margin of victory
Another area in which Guardiola gets the nod: City have won by four and five goals in home league games against Liverpool, while Klopp has twice won games 3-0 (the first leg of the 2018 Champions League quarter-final and a Bundesliga game in 2014).
Anfield run
There is an angle in which Klopp has the clear edge: Guardiola has just the single victory in eight visits to Anfield. That came in the league in 2021 but Liverpool have won five visits at home.
The planned chaos of Jurgen Klopp’s teams against the structured dominance of Pep Guardiola’s approach has defined much of the past decade. ( Image: Getty Images)
What have they said about each other?
Rancour may have built between the fanbases and the clubs have locked horns but the managers have aired nothing but respect towards each other. “He is the best coach in the world,” Klopp said of Guardiola on Friday, adding of the rivalry: “It’s been special.”
“It was always a pleasure and it will be Sunday as well,” Guardiola said in response. “It’s the way Liverpool play. He doesn’t play, but the way he makes his teams play football, you always learn. “And Anfield is so tough, especially with the quality of the team. The crowd, of course, but especially the quality of the team.”
