Jamie Carragher believes Manchester City are often frustrated by Jurgen Klopp’s ability to make Liverpool’s title challenge feel “like an underdog story”.
The Merseysiders have managed to overhaul a 14-point gap to move within just one point of Pep Guardiola’s side. Liverpool travel to the Etihad Stadium to face the Citizens in what has been dubbed as a potential title decider.
Klopp and Guardiola will also square off at Wembley a week later, when the two sides meet again in the FA Cup semi-final. And former Reds defender Carragher believes the contrasting narratives of the two sides may irritate the current Premier League holders.
“Liverpool love the fact that everything changed when Fenway Sports Group appointed Klopp, while no matter how much Guardiola has won and goes on to achieve, neutrals will always see the arrival of Sheikh Mansour as the game-changer for City,” Carragher wrote in his column for the Telegraph.
“Liverpool would like a little of what City have - the unlimited funds so that contract negotiations with star players like Mohamed Salah do not become so complicated. “While City would like more of Liverpool’s global popularity, and their European nights to have Anfield's aura.
“It will burn at City that, even now, whenever Liverpool play them Klopp is adept at making it sound like an underdog story. But he is right to do so.”
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While Guardiola has won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and four League Cups since he took over the City reins, many believe Klopp’s Champions League triumph in 2019 means he has the edge over his City counterpart. But while City remain at the top of the division, Klopp has regularly found himself rebutting claims his side could win the ‘Quadruple’ this season.
The Reds overcame Chelsea in a tense penalty shootout to win the League Cup for the first time under Klopp. They also appear to have one foot in the Champions League semi-final after securing a 3-1 away victory over Benfica in the first leg of their quarter final.
And while Klopp has often seemed relatively frustrated by the Quadruple claims, Carragher believes City may crave this kind of attention. “The irony is that while City will resent Liverpool receiving so much media attention for their quest for four trophies, Klopp would rather it was Guardiola being asked about the treble than he about the quadruple,” Carragher added.
“The on-field differences elevate the rivalry, too. Whenever City meets Liverpool, I see it as the best team in the world with the ball coming up against the best team in the world without it.
“That is a little simplistic. Liverpool are well-tuned at keeping possession, and City expertly drilled to get it back, but there is a style contrast which makes it one of the most tactically exciting games. City and Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final first leg victories in midweek over Atletico Madrid and Benfica confirmed why they are the teams everyone else most wants to avoid.”
