This is how Man City vs Liverpool became the Premier League's biggest fixture

There are many rivalries in English football and one of the most modern is Manchester City vs Liverpool, with the latest edition to take place at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.

These two teams have won the past three Premier League titles, with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City winning in 2017/18 and 2018/19 and with Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool becoming champions last year in 2019/20.

"They won two league titles before we won it last season," Mohamed Salah said ahead of the match. "There is always a competition between us. So, we are looking forward to that match and I'm sure they are looking forward to the game as well."

After winning the title with 98 points to the Reds' 97 in 2018/19, Guardiola was full of praise for Liverpool and for Klopp, admitting they're one of the best sides he has ever faced in his career.

"I learned a lot in Germany the first time I played his team," he has also said of Klopp. "Our styles are not similar, but I like a lot the way they play. They have an intensity with and without the ball."

Klopp has also been complimentary of the Catalan coach over the years.

"He has won so many titles, the way his teams play," the German said of Guardiola. "He's so exceptional. Hands down, the best manager I've coached against."

They first met as coaches in the 2013/14 season when Guardiola was at Bayern Munich and Klopp at Borussia Dortmund. That was in the DFL-Supercup and Klopp won on that occasion 4-2. Overall, the balance is in Klopp's favour as he has nine wins to Guardiola's eight, while there have been two draws.

Of the 11 meetings in England, the record is four wins for Guardiola, five for Klopp and two draws.

This will be their 20th meeting when they face off on Sunday afternoon and there's a title on the line as Liverpool lead the Sky Blues by five points in the Premier League table - although the Reds have played one game extra.

A new rivalry

This fixture has truly become a rivalry. There were a couple of title races between the clubs in the past, such as in 1976/77 when Liverpool won by a point or in 2013/14 when Brendan Rodgers' side lost out to Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City.

"The rivalry started with the two coaches," Albert Riera told MARCA of the duel, speaking with authority considering he has played for both clubs. "If one of them weren't there, it wouldn't be the same. Liverpool's history and Manchester City's investment means that both clubs have to fight for everything.

"They have two of the best squads around, but it's Klopp and Guardiola who bring this extra element of competitiveness.

"In the past, these matches were totally different. There wasn't the needle that there is now because the clubs weren't so close.

"I wouldn't say it's a new Clasico. In England, the rivalries are traditional. When I was at Liverpool, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard had the Everton game marked in red. The same as it is with Manchester City and Manchester United.

"The Manchester City vs Liverpool rivalry is relatively recent and will pass into history in a few years. But, what is felt in the derbies won't change."