Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has labelled Manchester City's Pep Guardiola as "the outstanding manager" of his lifetime ahead of Sunday's top-of-the-table Premier League showdown at Anfield.
The two coaching masterminds of their generation have developed an intense yet respectful rivalry spanning across an 11-year period, which began in Germany when Klopp was in charge of Borussia Dortmund and Guardiola led Bayern Munich.
Sunday's blockbuster battle represents the 30th managerial meeting between Klopp and Guardiola and the final time that these two coaches will lock horns in the Premier League, as the former will vacate his post as Liverpool boss at the end of the season.
Having already celebrated winning the EFL Cup this season, Klopp is hoping to end his Liverpool reign on a high as he seeks an unprecedented quadruple, while Guardiola's Man City could become the first team to win back-to-back trebles.
Although Klopp has played down the rivalry that has developed between both himself and Guardiola and between Liverpool and Man City, the German was keen to express the admiration that he has for his opposite number.
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"I don't feel it's a rivalry, but I understand you call it that. We are both competitive and want to win," Klopp said at a press conference on Friday. "Both blessed with really good players in our teams, that is it. Not a rivalry what we have.
"I do the job myself so I see excellence when I face it, and Pep is definitely that. The way he has influenced football, winning the amount of trophies he was won in his career.
"But if you see him on the touchline he behaves like he has never won before. The desire he has is absolutely outstanding. In my lifetime he is the outstanding manager, definitely.
"He is the best manager in the world. [Man City] have incredible players. Probably the best No.9 (Erling Haaland). Kevin De Bruyne will go down in history as, 'Was it Steven Gerrard or Kevin De Bruyne?".
Asked if he has ever been jealous of Guardiola's success, Klopp said: "I don't know them, but I knew around 3,000 footballers better than me and they still love the game, but I have no problem with that. It definitely made me a better manager to find solutions to beat these teams.
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"I have a positive record against Pep and I have no idea how that happened. I know I am not bad, but he is the best. "I cannot say where he is better, look at the way he plays."
"I've said it before, if [me and Guardiola] meet in the future it will be full of respect," Klopp added. "We have not had an opportunity to meet more often yet, but I say how much I respect him.
"On Sunday, it's not about me having that opportunity for the last time. We could meet again in FA Cup, but [Sunday is] the game of the weekend probably. Being able to be part of that is massive, fantastic.
"We have a few players who have played this game 20 times but the excitement is special. We do it with our tools, so let's see."
Klopp just edges the all-time head-to-head record between himself and Guardiola with 11 wins compared to the Catalan's 10, with the remaining eight meetings ending as draws, including the 1-1 result played out at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season.
Liverpool currently sit at the top of the Premier League table, just one point clear of reigning champions Man City in second, while Arsenal in third sit a point behind the Citizens, but they could climb to the summit if they beat Brentford on Saturday evening, less than 24 hours before the current top two do battle at Anfield.
Oliver Thomas
