Jurgen Klopp vs Pep Guardiola: Comparing their best signings at Liverpool and Manchester City as title race nears epic conclusion

The Premier League title race is almost over and it promises to be dramatic as both Liverpool and Manchester City vie for the prestigious crown.

Neither side is relenting in their quest for top spot.

Separating the two rivals is proving almost impossible, as City attempt to defend their title from Liverpool, a team that last celebrated being the best in England 29 years ago.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola will be desperate to lift the Premier League trophy

As it stands, Liverpool are top and clear by two points.

However, they have played a game more. So if City were able to beat bitter rivals Manchester United next Wednesday, they would be one point clear.

With Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax leading the way in the Champions League, the policy of spending big to win big seems a touch outdated.

And in the Premier League, City and Liverpool are two of the biggest. So how have the respective mangers spent their money since taking charge?

Here’s how the top of the Premier League table looks currently

Here at talkSPORT.com, we wanted to examine how both managers have used the considerable transfer funds at their disposal to propel their sides into the reckoning for the top prize in the English game.

With Klopp taking over in 2015 and Guardiola arriving just a year later, the time frame for comparison is almost identical.

JURGEN KLOPP STATS

The German is not afraid to splash the cash...

Date joined: 7/10/15

Players signed: 13

Total amount spent on transfers: Â£398,475,000

Average transfer fee per player: Â£30,651,923

*stats courtesy of transfermarkt.co.uk

To describe Brendan Rodgers’ transfer policy at Liverpool as erratic would be fair and his sacking saw the Fenway Sports Group search overseas for his successor.

Klopp’s self-imposed sabbatical from Borussia Dortmund was soon over and the German was tasked with getting the Reds back to the pinnacle of world football.

With a second successive Champions League Final almost delivered and a first ever Premier League title within his grasp, it’s fair to say the 51-year-old has succeeded.

TRANSFER MISSES

Ragnar Klavan has struggled at Liverpool

Since his first transfer window in January 2016, Klopp has altered his transfer policy somewhat. At Dortmund, he brought through a team of academy graduates and bargain buys to Bundelisga glory. Signing Robert Lewandowski for just â‚¬4.5million was a particularly shrewd move.

His attempt to be as frugal on Merseyside was not a complete success, to put it politely, as the likes of Ragnar Klavan, Marko Grujic and Loris Karius proved to all be poor signings.

While it is perhaps too early to judge him, Naby Keita has not had the impact many had hoped, nor that his early form promised.

TRANSFER HITS

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are two of the most in-form players in world football

In all honesty, the German has worked wonders with his business dealings since taking over at Anfield.

By changing from his bargain hunting style to an all-out charm offensive, Klopp has welcomed some of the biggest names to the red half of Merseyside.

Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Fabinho have all proved invaluable to Liverpool’s title challenge and Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker are arguably the best in the world in their respective positions.

PEP GUARDIOLA STATS

The Spaniard has inspired a revolution with City's riches...

Date joined: 30/6/16

Players signed: 22

Total amount spent on transfers: Â£539,721,000

Average transfer fee per player: Â£24,532,773

*stats courtesy of transfermarkt.com

After performing football miracles at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, the Manchester City board finally convinced Pep Guardiola to try his hand in the Premier League.

An indifferent debut season saw the Spaniard show his ruthless side as he completely revamped City’s defence by cutting out the likes of Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart – all firm fan favourites.

However, his methods clearly deliver results and last season’s record-breaking Premier League title success is proof of that. But the lack of Champions League success will irk the former Barca captain.

TRANSFER MISSES

Claudio Bravo was wildly inconsistent in between the sticks

Guardiola has spent big during his time at the Etihad, but you cannot fault his efficiency.

After deciding the aforementioned Hart was not technically gifted enough, he immediately shipped the England intentional out tin place of Claudio Bravo. However, the arrival from La Liga proved to be a flop and Guardiola was forced to delve into the transfer market 12 months later.

Another player from that first window who could not cut it was Nolito, a player who promised a lot but delivered little. And the jury is out on RiyadÂ Mahrez still – a player lacking consistency and the pedigree in big games.

TRANSFER HITS

Signing Sane, Jesus and Silva have proved to be fantastic pieces of business

Like Klopp, when Guardiola gets it right in the transfer window, he gets it very right.

Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Gabriel Jesus can form the spine of this City team for years and the mix of decorated players from across the continent yet to hit their prime like Ilkay Gundogan and Benjamin Mendy also makes for a great squad.

The Spaniard has also spent well when bargain hunting. Oleksandr Zinchenko has developed into a Premier League standard defender while Jack Harrison (on loan at Leeds United) could well become a regular in years to come.

CONCLUSION

Jurgen Klopp’s revolution at Liverpool may have cost a pretty penny, but the German takes the biscuit in this contest.

While Guardiola has added to an already star-studded City team, his title adversary has literally taken a side struggling to qualify from the Europa League to the brink of a European and domestic double.

Should Klopp win the Premier League title this season, the signings he has brought in during the past 12 months alone will be crucial to a potentially historic season for the Reds.

Chelsea fans will always look at Ba's time at Stamford Bridge with fondness because of how he scuppered Liverpool's chances of Premier League title glory five years ago. The 33-year-old found
Liverpool v Chelsea: Demba Ba mocks Steven Gerrard over THAT

Toni Kroos took to Twitter on Friday to rubbish reports he's set to leave Real Madrid during the summer transfer window. Per DW Sports and Goal, the German midfielder was quick to dismiss the
Toni Kroos will 'fight' for his place if Paul Pogba joins

Marvin Sordell EXCLUSIVE: Burton Albion striker on accepting depression is a 'part of his life', a rollercoaster career and his 'happy spot' by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 5 Jun
Sport24.co.za | Thomas hopes to shake off rust on Canadian

Sport › Football › Chelsea Chelsea transfer news LIVE! Eden Hazard, Callum Hudson-Odoi latest - targets, gossip and rumours FIfa transfer ban and appeal leaves summer plans in limbo
Bayern Munich Transfer News and Rumors - Bavarian Football Works

Everton manager Marco Silva has been fined £12,000 ($16,000, 14,000 euros) for confronting match officials on the pitch following his side's 3-2 defeat at Newcastle earlier this month, the
Everton boss Marco Silva fumes at referee Lee Mason after his

MANCHESTER UNITED stars are "openly joking" about Paul Pogba's transfer saga, according to reports. The French World Cup winner wants to leave Old Trafford this summer and has reportedly "agreed" a big money move to Real Madrid.
Manchester United Players 'Openly Joking' About Paul Pogba's

League Two play-off final: LIVE and exclusive talkSPORT coverage of Newport vs Tranmere - preview, match d; Arsene Wenger EXCLUSIVE: Former Arsenal boss explains why Henrikh Mkhitaryan saga makes him; Arsene Wenger EXCLUSIVE: All-English European cup finals due to 'aging squads' of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juv
Arsene Wenger EXCLUSIVE: All-English European c

Raheem Sterling says Liverpool rivalry is now THE game for Manchester City fans. City pipped the Reds to the Premier League title by a point on Sunday, denying them a first top-flight title
Man City star Raheem Sterling reveals anger in Premier League

Arsenal's Denis Suarez scores stunner, hits out at critics PS don't talk about my workouts if you have no idea," he wrote. dont talk about my workouts if

After missing the PFA Players' Player of the Year Award, Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has been named the Football Writers' Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year for 2019. The winger has enjoyed a stunning 2018-19 season for club and country, scoring 17 goals and providing 10 assists in Man City 's relentless battle against

Andy Carroll's West Ham career over as ankle surgery rules

Tottenham are hoping that Paul Gascoigne will be involved in the Legends game at their new stadium later this month. He tweeted this week that he would be keen to be part of the glamour fixture.
Tottenham stadium latest: Paul Gascoigne set to play in

Manchester City vs Watford: Hornets skipper Troy Deeney vows

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has gotten off to the best start in Manchester United history. Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images. United have eight straight wins under Solskjaer, the best start for any Manchester United boss. The team did win nine in a row under Mourinho in December 2016 through January 2017, games spread over four competitions.
Loughlin, Giannulli plead not guilty in college scam - Gist
gistjunction.com/2019/04/15/loughlin-giannulli-plead-not-guilty-in-college-scam/
NEXT POST Next post: Manchester United slammed: 'There is something wrong' with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team, says Ian Holloway Leave a Reply Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United return is romantic

GAME OF THRONES has entered its final season but will have a tough time topping one of its most memorable episodes, the Battle of the B*****s. While Sean Bean - who played Ned Stark on the show - had already been killed off by that time, he once enjoyed his own version after an almighty row with Neil Warnock.
Kevin De Bruyne reveals he met his wife after sliding into
fussboll.com/2019/04/15/kevin-de-bruyne-reveals-he-met-his-wife-after-sliding-into-her-twitter-dms-during-chelsea-loan-spell//
Kevin De Bruyne has blossomed into one of the best midfielders in the world Although he is firm friends with Raheem Sterling now (despite thinking he was a 'd*****d' at first) the 27-year-old admits he owes much of his newfound confidence after sliding into his future wife's DMs while on loan from Chelsea.
Game Of Thrones star Sean Bean ties the knot for fifth time