Manchester City star pays Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool ultimate respect after Arsenal draw

Manchester City star Bernardo Silva paid Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp the ultimate respect following their 2-2 draw with Arsenal yesterday.

A late John Stones goal meant Arsenal were forced to settle for a draw at the Etihad, despite leading by a goal for almost the entirety of the second half. It ensured that they remained a point ahead of Liverpool, who enjoyed a comfortable home win over Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal were forced to produce a ‘backs against the wall’ type performance following the dismissal of Leandro Trossard in the first half. Pep Guardiola’s side managed 90% possession in the second half which perfectly encapsulates the tactics Mikel Arteta’s side were forced to adopt to protect their lead. Those two sides have been battling for the title across the past two seasons and are expected to once again, with Liverpool lying just behind.

Klopp, alongside Antonio Conte’s Chelsea in 2017, was one of two managers to win the league while Guardiola has been in England and Klopp’s side pushed City to the very final day of both the 2018/19 and 2021/22 campaigns, as we all bared witness to those excellent title races of years gone by.

We saw a definable style from Liverpool at that time; an unrelenting attacking and pressure-based approach that didn’t change no matter the opposition. And it’s safe to say that the latest comments from Silva in the aftermath of yesterday’s game suggest it was more respected than Arteta’s more pragmatic tactics.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Silva opened up on the frustrations of playing against Arsenal’s defensive tactics in the draw. “Well, perhaps because Liverpool has already won the Premier League and Arsenal hasn’t. “Liverpool at that time had also won a UCL, while Arsenal hasn’t. Liverpool always faced us head-on, to win matches. From that perspective, our games against Arsenal haven’t been like the matches against Liverpool were, and still are.”

Dropped points was a boost for the Reds, as was the news that midfielder Rodri will be out of action for a period of time. We won’t have to wait long for the trio of sides favoured for the title to meet again. Liverpool travel to the Emirates Stadium on October 27 looking to avoid another defeat in North London, but they don’t face City until December 1 at Anfield - and both are opportunities to take vital points off their rivals in this unique title race.