Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has named Liverpool as the toughest and most significant rivals he has faced during his time in the Premier League.

Guardiola, who took charge of Manchester City in 2016, replacing Manuel Pellegrini, has since enjoyed immense success at the Etihad Stadium, winning 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles.

During his tenure, City and Liverpool have developed one of the fiercest rivalries in English football, often competing head-to-head for league supremacy. Guardiola’s side has finished ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in at least four title races, while Klopp led the Reds to their long-awaited league triumph in 2020.

Speaking ahead of the next phase of the rivalry, Guardiola said:

“If I have to choose one rival, it will be Liverpool. I will share it with many people, but this will be the best.

I have been here longer than others in this country, and the impact it has had on my life is huge.

Barcelona is my club, and Bayern was incredible, but Liverpool have been the biggest rival in this country — especially with Jurgen [Klopp]. It could not be better.”

The ongoing competition between City and Liverpool has been widely regarded as one of the defining rivalries in modern English football.