Where next for the Liverpool – Manchester City rivalry?
For generations, the most powerful rivalry in all of English football was that between Liverpool and Manchester United. Even though their periods of dominance in the game rarely coincided, the enmity that existed between the two very much equipped their respective local beefs with Everton and Manchester City. In the present day, though, it is hard to escape the feeling that the Red Devils’ place in the pre-eminent rivalry has been supplanted by their cash-rich, domestically dominant city neighbors – and the contest between Liverpool and Manchester City is looking baked-in for the foreseeable future.
The recent final-day drama in the English Premier League had many a bettor looking for a good resource for bookmakers, as City fell behind against also-rans Aston Villa, seemingly opening the door to Jurgen Klopp’s men for a title win. It was not to be for the Reds, though, and their heartbreak was augmented this past weekend when they contested the Champions League final against Real Madrid and – just like City in the round before – were seen off by the Spanish champions. So the rivalry will await its next act in the 2022/23 season. The question is, will it remain as fierce?
City 4 Liverpool 1 – the stat that will sting Klopp
As well as the two most successful managers operating in the Premier League, Klopp and Josep Guardiola are also the longest-serving, having been in situ since 2015 and 2016 respectively. In that time, Klopp has brought one Premier League title to Merseyside, while his Catalan counterpart has picked up four at City. The fine margins on two of those titles notwithstanding, the disparity must rankle with the former Dortmund coach even if his 2020 triumph was Liverpool’s first in 30 years. He’ll be keen to redress that balance.
Guardiola to bid his farewells?
It’s easy to characterize Manchester City as a megabucks club, but their success is not merely down to a bulging bank account – last summer’s nine-figure deal to bring Jack Grealish to the Etihad is by some distance the most they’ve spent on a player. They’ve stayed out of the richest transfers that have seen the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar move for close to double Grealish’s fee, and relied on Guardiola’s tactical nous. However, the City manager has trailed the idea that the upcoming season may be his last in Manchester. He’s done the same before and reneged, but if he did go, what would become of his club’s upper hand over everyone else?
The Haaland factor
Before the season was even over, Manchester City had completed their main transfer business for next season, securing Erling Haaland from Dortmund for a comparatively low fee. The Norwegian is agreed by most to be the standout striker in world soccer right now. So City have strengthened while they’re ahead – will Liverpool answer with a similarly bold foray into the transfer market, or will they seek to do better with the already impressive squad they have? Who could they even sign that would improve them and throw the ball back into City’s court? We’ll surely see as the summer progresses.
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