Jealousy in the Rivalry: Man City's Envy of Liverpool Can Drive Healthy Competition

Pep Guardiola recalls how his former assistant coach, Brian Kidd, advised him to not pay much attention to the League Cup when he first arrived at Manchester City. Kidd's suggestion was to prioritize playing young players as "nobody cares" about the tournament. However, Guardiola chose to take the competition seriously and led City to four consecutive victories between 2018 and 2021. Despite the success, Guardiola felt that he received little recognition for these achievements.

Therefore, it came as a surprise to Guardiola when he witnessed Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp being widely praised for winning this season's Carabao Cup. In his first press appearance following Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Wembley, Guardiola expressed his confusion, stating, "I don't know what happened in these last years; it looks like the final of a different competition."

Guardiola's remarks indicate a sense of bitterness, as he believes that the media portrayed Liverpool's recent triumphs in a more positive light compared to City's previous successes. This was not the first time Guardiola felt this way about the differential treatment in media coverage.

No credit for City?

• Premier League: Hearing for Manchester City's 115 Charges Expected 'in Near Future'
• Chelsea: Cole Palmer Ready for Aston Villa Clash, Malo Gusto and Raheem Sterling Unavailable

In May 2019, shortly after Manchester City narrowly clinched the Premier League title ahead of Liverpool, Pep Guardiola expressed his belief that his team's accomplishments were often overlooked and taken for granted. He suggested that City had become victims of their own success.

"Liverpool have gone 29 years without winning the Premier League - so it's normal people are waiting for them to finally win," the former Barcelona boss said. "But if Liverpool had won the Premier League, it would have been an 'incredible' achievement. When City win, it is, 'Oh, it's OK. It's an achievement...'"

'Everyone in this country supports Liverpool'

Three years later, during another intense title race between Manchester City and Liverpool, which City would once again edge by a single point, Pep Guardiola took his claims even further. In an interview with beIN Sports, he made the bold statement that "Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone."

This assertion was met with incredulity as it seemed far-fetched. While Guardiola could have rightfully pointed out the presence of former Liverpool players in the media, such as Jamie Carragher, Danny Murphy, and Jamie Redknapp, to highlight potential bias, his claim that everyone in England supports Liverpool was simply absurd. This is especially true considering the rivalry between Liverpool and several other clubs, which often involves contentious chants and references to socio-economic issues.

Guardiola's attempt to belittle Liverpool's Premier League record by mentioning their sole title in 30 years also backfired. Despite dismissing it as not a problem, his ongoing sniping suggests otherwise.

'Is it our fault?'

When Manchester City faced questions regarding the legitimacy of their title triumphs due to being charged with numerous breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations, Pep Guardiola reacted strongly. In response, he expressed his frustration by asking rhetorically, "I don't know if we are responsible for Steven Gerrard slipping [in 2014]... Is it our fault?"

Following this incident, Guardiola showed remorse for involving Steven Gerrard in an argument unrelated to his most painful moment on the pitch. He privately apologized to the former Liverpool captain for bringing him into the discussion.

However, Guardiola did not offer an explicit apology after some of his City players were captured on video singing a derogatory song mocking Liverpool during their title celebrations in 2019. Instead, he followed the familiar pattern of offering a generic apology, stating, "I'm sorry if anyone was offended."

Although both the club and Guardiola insisted that the specific line referencing Liverpool fans being "battered in the street" was not a direct dig at Sean Cox, who suffered life-changing injuries after an assault by Roma fans outside Anfield, neither party felt the need to explain why such a lyric was deemed acceptable in the first place.

'They're sick of us'

Ultimately, Manchester City's apparent animosity towards Liverpool has proven to be beneficial for Pep Guardiola. Maintaining the motivation of successful superstars can be a challenging task. In the case of basketball legend Michael Jordan, he would create fictional adversaries to keep himself hungry because for some, preventing others from succeeding can be as satisfying as staying on top.

Similarly, Guardiola's City team has openly embraced not only their own achievements of winning five Premier League titles but also their success in limiting Liverpool to just one title during their golden era under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Former City winger Riyad Mahrez expressed this sentiment, acknowledging Liverpool's quality as a formidable team but also asserting that they harbor animosity towards City. Mahrez stated, "Liverpool are a mad team. They are a superb team. But I know they hate us. They're sick of us because if we weren't here, they would've won everything every year. But we're here and we're never letting go, and we'll be here next year too."

Pep's City & Klopp's Liverpool intrinsically linked

Liverpool's presence and success have played a significant role in keeping Manchester City at the top of their game and the league. Without the challenge posed by Liverpool, City may not have achieved as many titles or broken numerous records, as they would not have had to consistently push themselves to the limit.

Guardiola himself expressed his shock and acknowledged the importance of Liverpool and Klopp in defining City's period of success when news of Klopp's imminent departure was announced. He recognized that their rivalry has been an integral part of their journey together and that it would be impossible to separate their achievements from one another.

While some argue that the mutual respect between Guardiola and Klopp diminishes the rivalry between the two clubs, it is evident that Guardiola holds Anfield in high regard and is envious of the inspiring atmosphere it generates. He has even criticized the energy of the Etihad crowd during their matches, contrasting it with the passionate atmosphere at Anfield.

Therefore, Guardiola will be particularly determined to secure a victory at Anfield, especially with the opportunity to do so in front of fans after their previous win behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The importance of this match is amplified by Liverpool's desperate need for three points to boost their chances of securing a second Premier League title under Klopp. This prospect will undoubtedly drive City and intensify their motivation to succeed.

City right to feel wronged?

Guardiola certainly seemed to derive immense satisfaction from Manchester City's dominant victory over Liverpool at the Etihad last season, even celebrating a goal in Kostas Tsimikas' face. This occurred at a time when Liverpool was not in contention for the title. It is evident that Guardiola and his team take pleasure in defeating Liverpool, regardless of the circumstances.

The news of Klopp's impending departure, along with the emotions surrounding it, will likely further fuel Manchester City's determination to win a fourth consecutive title. Ruining Klopp's farewell party would give City the satisfaction of denying Liverpool the credit that they feel is often given to them. This desire to prove themselves and make a statement is undoubtedly a motivating factor for City.

While it may be debatable whether City's feelings of being wronged or overshadowed by Liverpool and the media are justified, it is somewhat irrelevant. The belief that their victories are undervalued compared to Liverpool's achievements has, in fact, worked in City's favor. This mindset has not only fueled their love for winning but has also instilled a strong aversion to losing to Liverpool, driving them to perform at their best.

In this sense, the rivalry with Liverpool has been a driving force behind City's sustained success, as it has provided additional motivation and determination to prove themselves and maintain their dominance.

Ten Hag Offers Support to Rashford Amid 'Abuse': 'Everyone Should Back Him'

The United manager showed sympathy for the forward who is currently out of form. Rashford responded to a social media post showing support for him.