MANCHESTER, England — Enjoy it while it lasts.
The most enduring English Premier League rivalry in recent times will end this season when Jurgen Klopp steps down as Liverpool manager and, presumably, makes life a lot easier for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.
Mikel Arteta may have something to say about that, but Klopp stands as the only man to break Guardiola’s dominance of English soccer’s top-flight over the past six years and looks to be the biggest obstacle to City winning a record fourth straight title.
Sunday at Anfield is potentially the last time Guardiola and Klopp face off as managers of City and Liverpool respectively. The stakes are as high as ever.
First-placed Liverpool leads City by one point.
Arsenal under Arteta has emerged as a credible title rival but Klopp is the only manager who has stared down a challenge from Guardiola and come out on top.
The German coach will walk away even though he has begun to rebuild a team that won a full set of trophies under him. Liverpool doesn’t know yet how it will fill the void left by a man who transformed the club from a sleeping giant to a power again in European soccer.
Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola celebrates after Manchester City’s Phil Foden scores his side’s second goal during an English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 3, 2024. Credit: AP/Dave Thompson
Guardiola has repeatedly described Klopp’s Liverpool as the biggest challenge of his coaching career, having edged them to the Premier League title by a single point on two occasions.
“I have this feeling that he’s leaving part of us at Man City, too, as Liverpool have been our biggest rival in his years. He will be missed. Personally, I will miss him,” Guardiola said at the announcement of Klopp’s departure in January. “But I am pleased because without him I will sleep a little bit better the night before we play against…
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