Premier League title rivals engage in war of kindness as Pep Guardiola labels Liverpool 'best team in Europe' and Jurgen Klopp lauds 'outstanding' Manchester City ahead of showdown Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have engaged in a war of compliments The two men have shown an obvious respect and admiration ahead of the fixture Liverpool travel to the Etihad on Thursday sitting six points clear at the top Guardiola had previously admitted that defeat could spell the end of City's hope By Danny Gallagher For Mailonline Published: 14:12 GMT, 2 January 2019 | Updated: 14:13 GMT, 2 January 2019 Viewcomments It's set to be the biggest game of the Premier League season, but Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are too busy trading compliments ahead of Manchester City's crunch showdown with Liverpool at the Etihad. Both title-challenging managers conducted their pre-match press conferences at the same time on Tuesday afternoon, speaking simultaneously and almost identically about the strengths and qualities of their foe. A mutual respect clearly exists between the two football icons, with Klopp keen to talk up his 'outstanding' counterpart Guardiola who he feels has created, and currently presides over, the 'best team in the world.' Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on his 'outstanding' counterpart Pep Guardiola Speaking at the same time, over in Manchester, Guardiola labelled Liverpool the best in Europe Guardiola however echoed Klopp's sentiments back down the M60 to Liverpool, labeling the Reds as 'the best team in Europe' right now', given current form. 'We have to be as good as possible be brave, full of desire, angry but with the knowledge that they are for me, still, the best team in the world,' began Klopp. 'That is 100 per cent my opinion, how they play, what they have achieved, what they will achieve. Nothing has changed, only the points. 'It's a strong team with an outstanding manager and that is how it is.' Over in Manchester, former Barca chief Guardiola was keen to stress the revitalising positives a win over Liverpool could give to his City side. 'I have the feeling it is a big opportunity for us to reduce the gap but our focus is the same,' Guardiola said. 'Everybody asks what we are going to do if we lose but we are going to try to make our game and to win it. 'At the moment Liverpool are the best team in Europe for the way they play and control the details in their game. It's a good challenge for us.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility