Conor Coady
Former England and current Leicester City defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

There's not much to separate them. They are two incredible, world-class teams.

It's something we are really looking forward to but it is just a shame we are talking about it being Guardiola and Klopp's last game against each other (in the league).

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp's surprise announcement that he is to step down at the end of the season means this could well be his final league meeting with Pep Guardiola.

The two managers have won 24 honours between them in England, with both having the opportunity to add three more before the end of the campaign.

Klopp holds the direct head-to-head advantage - winning eight of their 21 meetings to Guardiola's six.

Speaking about Guardiola, the Liverpool boss said: "In my lifetime he's the outstanding manager, definitely."

Asked whether his job will get easier once Klopp has left, Guardiola said: "I would like to know, but I don't think so. Liverpool have always been Liverpool and the contenders are there."

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Manchester City will be apprehensive going into this match.

They'll be cautious, they'll have the respect, but I think it was a top performance against Manchester United last weekend. They're getting results now, Erling Haaland is scoring goals again and Kevin de Bruyne is in and around it. I think they will be going into it with cautious confidence.

You have to understand Liverpool's record is exceptional, especially at Anfield, and rightly so there will be respect.

Image source, Rex Features

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "Title race decider? I don't know who thought that up. It's really early, we could go through all the possible scenarios. Whatever the result, I don't think anybody should open the bottles of champagne."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: "Whatever happens, still we'll have many, many games to play. This is a really important game for the title challenge, but I still have the feeling that many things are going to happen."

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on the We're Not Really Here podcast

Manchester City's players are probably going to be facing the best atmosphere Liverpool have had all season because this is the business end of the campaign and the fans know how important this game is.

For Liverpool to win and have a cushion over City with 10 games left, that would be an amazing feeling for them.

I'll be honest, I'm not looking forward to it.

Don Hutchison
Former Liverpool midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Rodri's statistics are frightening. It's that conversation when you're sitting with your pals and you ask 'who is City's best player?'. Who is their most important player?'

It's Rodri.

Strategy1975: Rodri is a fantastic player and the stats speak for themselves, small doubts when he first came, as Fernandinho was so good, but he has proved his quality!

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport

Rodri's run surpasses that of former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho (58 games), with Rodri's last loss in a Manchester City shirt coming against Tottenham in February 2023 - although it does include City's defeat on penalties by Arsenal in the Community Shield.

In that time City have won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup along with the Uefa Super Cup and the Club World Cup, while Rodri was also part of the Spain team that won the Nations League.

The holding midfielder signed from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for £62.5m in the hope that he would eventually step into the boots of former captain Fernandinho.

Like his predecessor, Rodri's role at City is one that tends to fly under the radar, with the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne taking the headlines.

But according to players, pundits and his manager along with the stats, his significance in City's exploits in recent years cannot be overstated.

Read more: Manchester City's invincible & 'best midfielder in the world'.

Erling Haaland? Kevin de Bruyne? Phil Foden? Bernardo Silva? John Stones?

There are a whole host of candidates when it comes to naming the best player at Manchester City.

What about Rodri?

The last time the Spain midfielder played and Manchester City lost was in February 2023. Since then, he has featured in 60 games. He has not tasted defeat in any of them.

Not only one of the best players in this multi-talented side, also one of the very best in the Premier League.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, .

Is it a title decider? If Liverpool win, they will know there is still work to do because Manchester City will continue to grind out results. If City win, I think it is a massive step towards the title.

Liverpool

Image source, PA Media

Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's really big game and I am excited to play - I am ready for it."

On stopping City dominate possession: "As everyone knows they have good midfielders. We have to have an organised defence and get the ball from them as many times as we can.

"It is a key game, I will focus on myself and my game."

Shay Given
Former Man City goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Trent Alexander-Arnold was a little bit naive.

He should just have stuck to what it means to him, what it means to Liverpool and his own bunch of supporters rather than try and presume that he knows what other people are thinking.

As if this fixture needed any extra spice...

Trent Alexander-Arnold has gone and stoked things up by suggesting that recent trophy wins have meant more to Liverpool supporters than to Manchester City fans.

In an interview with Four Four Two,, external the Reds defender said: "You're up against a machine that’s built to win – that's the simplest way to describe City and their organisation.

"Looking back on this era, although they've won more titles than us and have probably been more successful, our trophies will mean more to us and our fanbase because of the situations at both clubs, financially. How both clubs have built their teams and the manner in which we've done it probably means more to our fans."

His comments have not been well received in the blue half of Manchester.