PEP Guardiola will have had some restless sleep in his city centre apartment this week, but the good news for the bleary-eyed Manchester City boss is that some sounder nights are now just a few months away.
The bad news is what lies ahead to reach the point when he can tuck himself in contended at another job well done.
This weekend could yet be the defining day in the title race.
With a worthwhile nod to Arsenal and their excellent form and the fact they might be top tomorrow, the meeting between City and Liverpool at Anfield has been circled in the calendars for a long time.
In his nine years in England, this is the game that has most troubled Guardiola. It is the one he most wants to win, but finds hardest to. His only victory at Anfield came when the crowds were absent in February 2021 and more memorable have been the moments when he has failed to control his emotions, much to the Kop's delight.
Who will ever forget his disbelieving rant during Liverpool's 3-1 win in November 2019, when he raised two fingers to fourth official Mike Dean and Anfield's Main Stand in anger at decisions that went against City. But it's not just Anfield that drives Guardiola to the edge, but the battle against Liverpool and the rivalry with Jurgen Klopp.
It is that combination that will have kept Guardiola up at night this week and as he admitted in January, when Klopp confirmed this season will be his last at Liverpool, he will sleep better when the German has gone. The farewell is coming but, first of all, City have to ruin it.
It is the head-to-head that has, if not dominated their careers, then certainly influenced them to a greater degree than any other. This weekend will be the 30th occasion that Guardiola and Klopp have stood a few yards across from each other in a technical area.
This story is from the March 09, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
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This story is from the March 09, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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