Saturday 21 November 2015 16:49, UK
Manchester City and Liverpool go head to head at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday Night Football in the standout Premier League fixture of the weekend.
The match pits Manuel Pellegrini and Jurgen Klopp against each other for the first time since the German's appointment at Anfield last month.
From previous meetings to tactics and style, here's how the two head coaches compare…
Previous meetings
Pellegrini and Klopp's only previous encounter came when Malaga and Dortmund went head to head in the 2012/13 Champions League quarter-final. After a tense goalless draw in La Rosaleda, the second leg in Dortmund could hardly have been more dramatic.
Robert Lewandowski cancelled out Joaquin's opening goal at the Westfalenstadion, but Portuguese winger Eliseu looked to have sent Pellegrini's men through when he put them back in front in the 82nd minute.
Dortmund needed two goals in stoppage time in order to progress - and they got them in controversial fashion. Defender Felipe Santana should have been flagged for offside when he poked home the equaliser, but Malaga's protests fell on deaf ears, and Marco Reus struck the decisive goal with seconds remaining.
For Pellegrini, who had only returned from Chile on the day of the game following the death of his father, it was a crushing end to a difficult week. "Maybe of all us at Malaga thought the tie was finished before it was," he said. "Even so, it was only an important mistake by the referee that prevented us from making the semi-final. It was very difficult - I don't think we could believe it."
Klopp, by contrast, was absolutely ecstatic. "I cannot explain what has happened inside me after that - I think I need to see a doctor," he said. "My assistants and I were looking at each other in shock in the dressing room, saying 'this is crazy'. This is the best I've ever felt."
Tactical approach
In his first interview as Liverpool manager, Klopp confirmed he would stay true to the high-intensity playing style his Dortmund side were renowned for. "I believe in a playing philosophy that is very emotional, very fast and very strong," he said. "My teams must play at full throttle and take it to the limit every single game."
Sure enough, Liverpool dramatically increased their distance covered and number of sprints when Klopp took the reins for the first time against Tottenham, and they have maintained that work ethic throughout the opening month of his reign.
While City do not press with quite the same relentless intensity as Klopp's Liverpool, they line up in a similar shape. Pellegrini has favoured a 4-4-2 formation at times in the past, but, like Klopp, he has opted for a 4-2-3-1 shape this season.
Raheem Sterling, who will be facing his former team-mates for the first time on Saturday, has made a big difference to City this season. The 20-year-old has added pace and natural width, which Pellegrini has harnessed to stretch defences and counter-attack at greater speed.
Pellegrini has used City's attackers inter-changeably in the absence of Sergio Aguero and David Silva, but Sterling has largely stuck to the left flank. Klopp and Liverpool will be wary of his threat.
Touchline style
Pellegrini and Klopp's contrasting personalities shine through on the touchline. The City manager is a demure, deadpan figure who rarely lets emotion get the better of him, while Klopp is a charismatic showman whose passion in the dug-out is a big part of his persona.
Pellegrini gives little away in press conferences, let alone on the touchline, but Klopp's heart-on-your-sleeve approach was one of the factors behind his appointment. "Klopp has that aura and special something about him," said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp last month. "He can walk into Anfield and the fans would like that."
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho accused Klopp of badgering the fourth official during Liverpool's recent win at Stamford Bridge, but the German defended his animated style. "That is just my way of coaching," he said. "I try to be calm, but that isn't easy. With the fourth officials, I have no problems. I only ask questions as I am new to the Premier League and I don't understand some decisions.
"Most of the time I do it in a respectful way, but sometimes my face doesn't show it - there is a big difference between my face and what I actually say. I have never had problems with managers of other teams. That's because I am only concerned with my team and sometimes I do maybe talk too much to the fourth official."
Few managers are as cool as Pellegrini on the touchline, but Sergio Aguero insists there is an edge beneath the exterior. "Manuel is calm on the touchlines, but that isn't to say that when we get in the dressing room at half-time or after a match, that he isn't the first to give us what for," he said last year.
Selection questions
Both managers have major selection decisions to make ahead of Saturday's game. Will Pellegrini reinstate Aguero and David Silva? The duo are back in contention after six weeks on the sidelines, but other injury issues mean Pellegrini might not get the chance to ease them back into action slowly.
Up front, Wilfried Bony is a doubt, meaning Pellegrini could be tempted to thrust Aguero straight back into his starting line-up. The inclusion of Silva, meanwhile, would mean dropping one of Jesus Navas, Kevin de Bruyne or Sterling - all of whom have impressed in recent weeks.
For Liverpool, Klopp might get the chance to use Daniel Sturridge for the first time. The injury-plagued striker suffered a knee injury before Liverpool's game with Tottenham on October 17, but insists he is ready to return to action.
Klopp could decide to treat Sturridge's return with caution given his injury record, but it gives him a possible alternative to Christian Benteke as Liverpool's attacking focal point.
Watch Manchester City v Liverpool live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5pm on Saturday
