This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Pep Guardiola is far from a stranger to gargantuan fixtures but the trip to Anfield this weekend has thrown up a set of difficult circumstances.
The legendary manager has won consecutive league titles in Germany, England and Spain and has even dethroned some of the greats like Sir Alex Ferguson.
Just a few years after his playing career had finished, the Spaniard battled with Ferguson in two Champions League finals and tika-taka’d his way past a legendary Manchester United side on both occasions. These famous wins allowed Guardiola to secure a treble in 2009 and received the label as “the best team ever” in 2011 from his nemesis.
All of this came before he even had a chance to dwell on the fact he had just turned 40. Now, eight years on and after an unthinkably spectacular 198 points from two seasons, Guardiola now faces arguably his biggest individual test since arriving in Manchester.
This Liverpool side may indeed be the best team the 48-year-old has faced down the years, especially as the clash is at the formidable dome that is Anfield. Most seasons at Barcelona, Real Madrid struggled to get near Guardiola’s dominant side, conceding just one league title to them in four years. Then, in Germany, he comfortably bagged seven major trophies for Bayern Munich without breaking a sweat.
Now, against Jurgen Klopp, Guardiola finally faces a test he does not often see, as he chases a team and must win to perhaps avoid failure. Liverpool are arguably in the best shape they have been in during the Premier League era, having bagged 97 points and a Champions League title last season.
Defensively, Liverpool beat City right now by conceding one less goal, whilst the Reds’ front three is arguably the best in Europe.
But even with Liverpool’s imperious and relentless form in mind City would normally be fancied to come away with three points. The fact Ederson has been ruled out of the clash, however, seems to have swung the pendulum towards Merseyside.
Down the years, despite his unrivalled success across three countries, Guardiola has taken charge of teams already set to dominate. Now, this Liverpool side certainly has the capabilities to surpass what the former Barcelona man has done at City.
Guardiola is not familiar with witnessing a side get so close to him and perhaps be even better than his squad.
Should he beat Liverpool at Anfield, it will have to go down as one of his best ever victories.