Manchester City and Liverpool players congratulate each other afterwards
Manchester City and Liverpool also drew 2-2 at Anfield in October - just a point separates them in the table

There was nothing but respect for one another at the end of the match between Manchester City andLiverpool.

With the title on the line and only seven games remaining, the players and managers of both clubs could have been forgiven for letting their emotions get the better of them.

Both sets of players appreciated the fact that they had competed in a match of the highest quality.

The 90 minutes had everything - goals, VAR decisions, crunching tackles, and an ever-changing narrative - and players and managers embraced each other.

The Brazilian contingent of City, Ederson, Gabriel Jesus, Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Alisson were talking at full-time about the outcome.

The City boss clasped his hands with his counterpart before hugging, while Kevin de Bruyne was quick to highlight the quality of their opponents in his post-match interviews.

A lot of the players live in the same area. My kids go to school with a lot of their friends and I like that.

Everyone gives their all for the team when we are on the pitch. I think it should be that way. You don't have to fight all the time. We battle on the pitch.

Andy Robertson and Phil Foden
Liverpool full-back Andrew Robertson embraced Manchester City's Phil Foden at full-time

During the years of the premier league, there have been fiery press conferences and heated exchanges between players.

While he was at the helm of the Reds, he had a lot of back-and-forth exchanges with his counterpart at the other side of the pond, Jose Mourinho.

The rivalry between Sir Alex Ferguson and the old nemeses of the game, such as the current one, was on display on the pitch.

He wanted to know that he respects him a lot.

The rivalry between the two men began in the German league when they were both in charge of different teams.

I don't know if he respects me, but I respect him a lot. He has made me a better manager.

The team is always aggressive. We are not friends, we never see each other, and I don't call him. I have respect for him, but I will try to beat him in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp (left) described Pep Guardila as "the best coach in the world" earlier this week

When he finally retires, he said he would not be sad to see the back of the man he described as the best coach in the world.

I really mean all of the things I say about City. He said that he always wanted to be the coach of the team who could beat the best team in the world.

The two teams will face off at Wembley in six days time for a place in the FA Cup final and if both progress, they could still meet in the final of the European competition.

Since the start of the season, the title race has been separated by just a single point, with both City and Reds having four campaigns.

The idea of the two battling it out again is one that will surely be excited by the fact that it was a 2-2 draw.

Two big men are chewing at each other. The intensity is crazy. It was a good football game.

If you played for another club yesterday, trained today, then watched City vLiverpool... I don't know what I would have done to watch it, but I would be a part of it. I can't stop being surprised. I love it.

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