Football news - Manchester City v Liverpool: Which manager has the ‘best team in the world’?
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Updated 02/01/2019 at 22:04 GMT
It’s the biggest match of the season so far: the Premier League leaders versus the Premier League champions.
Pep Guardiola gegen Jürgen Klopp
Image credit: Eurosport
Seven points separate them in the table but beyond that it is tough to decide which team has the edge.
Even the managers don't know.
If you ask Jurgen Klopp, he believes Manchester City are the best team on the planet.
Ahead of Thursday's match, he said: “The opponent, for me, is still the best team in the world.
It’s 100% my opinion because of the way they play, the things they achieved, the ability and all that stuff. Nothing changed. Only the points changed but not the preparation for the game.
Guardiola disagrees. He reckons Liverpool are better - and hailed them as the continent's standout side.
"They are in the moment the best team in Europe, in the consistency, the way they control the details in their game," he said. "We are going to focus on what we have to do to win the game. Everyone is talking if we lose, but we can win."
So who is right?
There are many guides to finding the answer. Let’s take a look at some of them…
Form forecast
A simple barometer, and one that which shows a clear winner: Liverpool.
Klopp's men have won their last eight matches in all competitions, with their last defeat coming to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at the end of November. They are also unbeaten in the Premier League this season.
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Roberto Firmino of Liverpool celebrates with team mates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on December 29, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom
Image credit: Getty Images
Recently they have looked particularly ominous, with emphatic wins over fellow top-four contenders Manchester United and Arsenal.
Last 10 matches: WLWWWWWWWW
City, meanwhile, have seen their form dip alarmingly over the past month. They have lost two of their past four matches in all competitions, drawn one and won one.
More surprising are the opponents that have beaten them with Crystal Palace and Leicester turning them over before they restored a bit of confidence against Southampton with a 3-1 win on Sunday.
Last 10 matches: WDWWLWWDLLW
Head-to-head record
The historical results show that City have won 42 times, compared with 81 for Liverpool and 42 draws.
But the only relevant records are those under the current managers, which show that Klopp has the upper hand with four victories to Guardiola's one, with a single draw.
The only solace for Guardiola? The one win came last season in this exact fixture - a 5-0 demolition.
Combined XI
Everyone has an opinion - and a bit of fun - when choosing a combined XI. Here is Eurosport's best effort...
Given that there are six City players and five Liverpool men - Guardiola's side are the better team by this less-than-precise yardstick.
Stat's a good point!
The stats give an interesting spin on the rivalry, with Liverpool struggling in recent times when playing away against City...
- Liverpool have only won one of their last nine league visits to the Etihad Stadium (D3 L5), winning 4-1 in Jurgen Klopp’s first away game against the Citizens since taking over the Reds. They have conceded 20 goals in those nine away games (2.2 per game).
Having said that, Jurgen Klopp is something of a bogeyman for Guardiola...
- Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has lost more matches against Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp (seven) than he has against anyone else in his managerial career, although only two of those defeats have come in home games (P6 W2 D2 L2).
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Bayern Munich's coach Pep Guardiola (L) congratulates Borussia Dortmund's coach Juergen Klopp (C) on winning the German Cup (DFB Pokal) semi-final soccer match in Munich, Germany April 28, 2015. Dortmund won the match 2-0 on penalties.
Image credit: Reuters
The Spaniard also has a proud record when managing teams at home...
- February 2016 was the last time Manchester City lost consecutive home Premier League games, losing to Leicester and Spurs; manager Pep Guardiola has never lost consecutive home league games as a manager.
And there are no surprises as to who will likely be the key men for each team...
- Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero has scored in all six of his home league appearances against Liverpool (six goals), the best 100% rate of home games scored in by any player against any opponent in Premier League history.
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Guardiola Aguero
Image credit: Getty Images
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in five goals in his last four games against Manchester City in all competitions (three goals, two assists).
(All stats courtesy of Opta).
Conclusion
Of the two teams, clearly Liverpool are the better side at the moment. However, despite their recent form, it is still a stretch to say they are the best side in the world or even Europe. To attain that title they need to win the Premier League at the very least and probably the European Cup too. Let's not forget, they scraped through into the Champions League knockout stages, albeit from an extremely difficult group, and have not won anything yet under Klopp.
And when the pressure comes from City, or perhaps Tottenham Hotspur, at the end of the season when their first English title for 29 years is within their grasp, that is when they will be able to demonstrate they have the credentials for such superlative 'best team' titles.
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Ronaldo - Allegri - Juventus 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
As it stands, although they might be one of the best teams on form, Guardiola might have irked his former club, Barcelona, with his comments, and possibly one Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus who are looking imperious in Serie A and are arguably the team to beat in the Champions League this year.
Clearly the City boss is being cute and trying to take the pressure of his side. After all, they made the Premier League into a procession last year and have possibly the most talented squad - and manager - on the planet. Just because their form has been slightly shonky recently, does not mean they can be counted out of any competition this season.
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