LONDON, Apr 09 (Agencies): Premier League title race will take place on Sunday afternoon as rivals Manchester City and Liverpool meet at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola's City are currently top of the table, one point ahead of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in second. It's been an incredible title race, one that seemed over in January after City defeated Chelsea 1-0 at home to move 13 points clear at the top.
Since then, the Reds have won 10 consecutive Premier League games to move within touching distance of the leaders. Sunday afternoon's fixture is being billed as a title decider, despite both teams having another seven fixtures to fulfil.
Pep Guardiola admits Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is the biggest rival of his career as the Manchester City boss prepares for Sunday's Premier League title showdown.
Guardiola's side have battled with Liverpool for Premier League supremacy several times in his reign and their latest race is going down to the wire again.
Reigning champions City are one point ahead of second placed Liverpool going into the crucial clash at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool have overturned a 14-point deficit to pile pressure on City, who have won three English titles under Guardiola, while Klopp has led the Reds to the trophy once.
Guardiola's admiration for Klopp is so strong that he rates the German as an even bigger rival than his old nemesis Jose Mourinho.
"In the last five years they have been the biggest opponent. They have been an incredible, marvellous contender, with good games," Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
"Jurgen, as a manager, has been the biggest rival I've ever had in my career and I think what both teams propose is good for football.
"Except the year we made 100 points, the rest were tight. It is because they are good and hopefully they think we are good too.
"I will remember my period here, when I'm retired watching and playing golf, I'll remember my biggest rival was Liverpool, for sure."
A win for City this weekend would be a huge step towards retaining the title, but Liverpool can seize control of the race with a victory.
Although Sunday's match will clearly have huge implications for the title race, Guardiola did not want to say it will be decisive.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said facing Manchester City is the toughest task in football and hailed Pep Guardiola as the world's best coach.
Klopp's side visit City on Sunday in a crucial clash in the Premier League title race.
Second placed Liverpool are one point behind leaders City with eight games left for both teams.
A win for Liverpool would put them in pole position to lift the Premier League trophy for a second time in three seasons.
But a Liverpool defeat or even a draw would leave reigning champions City as the favourites to retain the title. That would be a bitter blow for Liverpool, given their superb form of late, but it would not be the first time they were unable to catch City despite playing at the peak of their powers.
In 2018-19, City pipped Liverpool to the title by a point despite the Reds' record points haul for the runners-up.
Klopp knows City are by far the toughest opponent his team will face as they chase an unprecedented quadruple.
