Jurgen Klopp imparts force of personality over Pep Guardiola’s tactics once more to keep Liverpool on track
Pep Guardiola may have settled for a handshake but the huge figure of Jurgen Klopp enveloped him in a hug. An epic, extraordinary rivalry may be over but Guardiola versus Klopp is the saga that never grew tired. If it ends with the status quo preserved, with Arsenal still top of the table, Liverpool still ahead of Manchester City and Guardiola’s side still favourites for the title, it also does with further evidence of Klopp’s primacy in another respect.
He preserved his winning record against the Catalan, conjured a second draw after trailing this season, rallied his weakened team to produce a storming, stirring performance and imposed his personality and footballing philosophy over their last duel.
This was the essence of Klopp’s Liverpool, a thrillingly wild ride. The emblematic moment was a barnstorming run by Luis Diaz, barrelling his way 60 yards, bundling and blasting past Kyle Walker and Rodri. The dominant player was Darwin Nunez, the byword for chaos, helping cost Liverpool a goal, helping them get a goal.