Man City against Liverpool thrills just like United vs Arsenal… without the tunnel bust-ups and hatred

MANCHESTER CITY versus Liverpool — where does it rank as a Premier League rivalry?

That is the question going around right now.

It is being compared to the Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson days — and that’s the bracket I put it in as well.

At the start of the season, if you’d asked people who they thought were going to win the league, it was Manchester City or Liverpool. Nobody else.

You take an outside bet if you want but this rivalry reminds me of the early 2000s when it was a case of asking: “Who do you think will win — Manchester United or Arsenal?”

It all goes in cycles but what makes this rivalry so good is how they dominate everybody else — and they don’t change for anyone.

City will not change just because they are playing Liverpool, and vice versa.

It is just two teams who are self-confident, know what they’re doing and will just say: “Let’s have it and let the best team win.”

That is ultimately where the rivalry comes from as no one knows who is going to come out on top.

I couldn’t bet for my life who will be the absolute winner.

Unlike United and Arsenal, where there was a genuine hatred, with City and Liverpool it is a competitive respect. They all want success and they both know they are the best.

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I don’t think there has to be hatred, it is just pure respect because of how good both of the teams are.

There will be some tough tackles but none of this intimidation in the tunnel and Roy Keane versus Patrick Vieira. It will just be quality on display.

Everyone across the country will be talking about this game.

My Birmingham dressing room will be talking about it as we travel to face Nottingham Forest.

It is a title decider — it doesn’t get much better. If City win, it is wrapped up, but if Liverpool win then they go on to win it.

And it isn’t just in the Premier League. Look at what they are doing in the Champions League.

I don’t think both United and Arsenal were at that level.

They were challenging but they weren’t competing across all fronts in all the competitions.

That’s what these boys are doing. You have got to tip your hat, and the squads they have are something else.

I saw that City had a "reshuffled" back four the other day and it was worth £200million. It is ridiculous.

All either side need now is that new version of a No 9 down the middle.

If one of City or Liverpool get that, they go to another level and we are all screwed, aren’t we?

This is a rivalry that still has legs in it, too. Both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp just love going at each other and, besides, what else is there outside of the Prem for these two?

What other exciting job is there? Everyone else is either going through transition or are not in a competitive league.

These guys will stick around, especially as Klopp will be desperate to add to his one league title.

There are those who think he needs another one to be considered a Prem great.

Yet the likes of Wenger and Fergie had a longevity that no one will ever have again, so we can’t compare this generation to that.

Besides, it is hard enough winning just the one!

I am really looking forward to this game. I am probably going to curse it now but this isn’t going to end as a 0-0, is it? It just cannot be boring.

Sometimes with these big Super Sundays it gets hyped up and then it’s goalless or a cagey 1-0 win. That won’t be the case.

It is two attacking teams trying to break each other down. City aren’t going to man-mark Mo Salah like Jose Mourinho used to do in games.

Luckily for us, Pep and Klopp set up to attack and excite.

EITHER WOULD DO ME

SO, TROY, IF YOU COULD BE PLONKED INTO EITHER SIDE RIGHT NOW — IN YOUR PRIME — WHO WOULD IT BE?

TD: Either — because I would get about 40 chances per game.

A personal preference would have to be Liverpool because they cross it a bit more, with Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

That would do for me, for my style.

Klopp may show me some love but I wouldn’t mind being shouted at by Pep.

So, all in all, drop me in either and I think I would do all right, because they’re a joke. They could play with eight players and still win!

It would be any player’s dream to play for either — that’s why people rush to these clubs.

It is not all based on finances.