It is undisputable that Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have transformed football in England in recent years.
The pair's battles for Premier League supremacy in the 2018/19 and 2021/22 seasons will go down in the all-time greatest rivalries, but the Reds have tailed off this season. And that means Gary Neville was on the money when he said the fixture has some way to go to match the Manchester United and Arsenal rivalry in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Two of the main protagonists, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, were this week inducted into the Premier League hall of fame and while Guardiola and Klopp may well one day follow, the longevity of City and Liverpool at the top of the tree is yet to exceed the United and Arsenal duopoly that existed for many years.
ALSO READ: Guardiola and Neville agree on 'forgotten' City star
After City and Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium, Neville compared how the modern day rivalry compared to Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United vs Arsene Wenger's Arsenal and he could only come to one conclusion. Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, he explained: "I know Jamie Carragher riled a few during the week when he said that it (City vs Liverpool) is the greatest rivalry of all time. I didn't bite.
"Of course it has got a case. In terms of consistency and quality and excellence, I think it has absolutely got a point. The point I make is that when you talk about rivalry I almost feel like there has got to be more to it than that. It is almost like the ferocity and intensity, is there a story to tell?
"People point towards Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, there were stories to tell. The tunnel incident, the 1999 semi-final, [Marc] Overmars' goal at Old Trafford that wins the title.
"There were moments that were really big between the two teams, along with the ferocity and the fights, so there was a rivalry that was more than just football excellence. I don't think it beats that yet because there are just too many hugs, they like each other too much but that is a good thing - I am only joking there.
"Whether this will be a documentary in 25 years I am not sure but it is an exceptional rivalry in the terms of excellence and consistency which I admire. What they are doing is absolutely brilliant."
READ NEXT:
