Roger Alton Roger Alton

Pep and Klopp, kings of England

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It’s a game for the ages all right, City against Liverpool on Sunday as the Premier League moves to its most exciting climax in years: two magnificent managers, two awe-inspiring collections of players. Both teams are so far in front that the rest are nowhere.

There’s more to come as they face each other the following weekend at Wembley in the FA Cup. And both are involved in Champions League quarter-finals. The money must be a help, but still we are blessed to have Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp here, both at the height of their powers. But for how much longer? Anyone who loves football will be dreading the day either of them decides to move on.

Anyone who loves football will be dreading the day either of them decides to move on

Klopp seems to be here for the long haul: he’s almost a Scouser. He clearly gets the place, and it loves him back. Perhaps the chill wind off the Mersey might in time drive him abroad to revive one of the languishing Spanish giants. That would be a challenge. Guardiola will move on to some sort of project: either in football or politics in Catalunya. If City win the Champions League he could be off, perhaps to Barcelona or maybe to turn Girona into another Catalan powerhouse. The club is owned by the City Football Group: worth a thought.

Of the two men, Klopp probably had the hardest job at the start. Only James Milner and Jordan Henderson were in place, but look at the stunning football side he has built. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson on the flanks; the best defender in the world, Virgil van Dijk, in the back line; and a sensational forward trio that is replenishing itself with Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz. Pep inherited a very strong City squad, with Raheem Sterling, Fernandinho and Kevin De Bruyne, the best in Europe, in place – as well as the brilliant and now departed Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and David Silva.

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