Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp 'will be back' says teary-eyed Guardiola

Manchester City wrapped up their fourth Premier League title in a row with victory against West Ham on the final day of the season, their sixth English top-flight prize in seven years. 

It represents a major achievement for the Cityzens, as NO team has ever won four in a row, although the wins are tainted heavily by the 115 charges for alleged financial wrongdoing the club is facing in the background. 

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are the only team to come between Pep Guardiola and the title in that time frame, winning their first title for three decades back in 2020. 

That was one of EIGHT major honours won by Klopp during his time on Merseyside, which came to an end at an emotional Anfield on Sunday. 

The Reds beat Wolves 2-0, solidifying their grip on third place in the table, but ultimately their title challenge fizzled out. 

Nonetheless, Klopp leaves having driven Pep and Man City to new heights, finishing runner-up in 2019 with 97 points and City requiring a total of 98 to see them off. 

The Klopp - Guardiola rivalry has been one of the most intense and dramatic English football has ever seen, with the sides hoovering up domestic and European honours, as well as the majority of individual honours going to City and Liverpool players. 

Klopp paid a warm tribute to Guardiola last week, calling him ‘the best manager in the world’, and, putting the 115 charges to one side, boldly stating that: ‘If you put any other manager in that club, they don't win the league four times in a row. That's down to him and his team'.

Guardiola faced the press on Sunday after City’s title win, and repaid the compliment in kind. 

A teary-eyed Spaniard admitted he would dearly MISS the competition supplied by Klopp but also added a hint that the 56-year-old German might well be BACK in the management game one day. 

Pep puts Klopp alongside Shankly and Paisley

"I will miss him a lot," he said. "Jurgen has been a really important part of my life. He brought me to another level as a manager. We respect each other incredibly.

"I have the feeling he will be back and thank you so much for his words but he knows that behind me there is a lot that this club provides me with, otherwise alone I can't do it. I'm humble enough to understand that.

"He helps me with his team, he has been a huge competitor in my life. I didn't discover the way I can punish them like I can find for other teams. With him it has been so difficult. 

"I'm pretty sure Mikel [Arteta] will continue his legacy to drive us to another level. I wish him all the best and hope his final game was special, he deserved it. 

"He made Liverpool recognised with his stamp, and the incredible pride of being a Liverpool fan. It's not just about titles, there are personalities that when they arrive in one place they stay forever and Jurgen and Liverpool will be part of the level of [Bill] Shankly and [Bob] Paisley and these incredible legends."