I would choose Liverpool for my 1,000th game - Pep | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says that Liverpool are the perfect opponent for his 1,000th match in management.

The City boss will join an exclusive club of coaches to oversee a senior side 1,000 times when we face Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday at 16:30 (UK).

As well as being a milestone fixture for Guardiola, it is also a huge game in the title race with either City or Liverpool winning the Premier League in the last eight seasons.

Guardiola has guided City to six of those titles and has taken part in some memorable battles with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

And the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach says it’s fitting that he should reach the milestone against his biggest rival throughout his career.

“If I have to choose one rival to do this, I will share it with many people, but this will be the best,” he said in his pre-match news conference.

“I have been here longer than ever in this country, the impact it’s had on my life. Barcelona is my club and Bayern was incredible as well but Liverpool have been the biggest rival in this country and especially Jurgen [Klopp], it could not be better. The destiny and universe has decided for this.

“We have to be our best. I know how quickly everything goes here. One week ago, Liverpool, six defeats, was a disaster, won two but now they come back to their best.

“I’m pretty sure all managers take a little time for more perspective and everyone has ups and downs in the competition.

“I have a higher opinion about Liverpool right now. Last season we were losing six games in seven games, it’s the same.”

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Arne Slot’s side have looked back to their best after a run that also saw them lose four successive Premier League matches.

But back-to-back victories over Aston Villa and Real Madrid has shown their qualities and City too are in good form with six wins in our last seven matches.

Guardiola is expecting another difficult test but is hoping his side can build on our last three victories in the space of seven days.

“We are better but we have to prove it again,” he added. “The last three victories help a lot.

“Swansea helped us a lot, we showed many good things in that game. Bournemouth and the game against Dortmund but we know the rival that we have.

“I saw the game against Real Madrid, the quality they have. They are a top, top team.

“Hopefully our people come to celebrate my anniversary in the stadium and together we can beat an important rival.”