Jurgen Klopp vs Pep Guardiola: Comparing their best signings at Liverpool and Manchester City as title race nears epic conclusion

Jurgen Klopp vs Pep Guardiola: Comparing their best signings at Liverpool and Manchester City as title race nears epic conclusion
The Premier League title race is almost over and it promises to be dramatic as both Liverpool and Manchester City vie for the prestigious crown.Neither side is relenting in their quest for top spot.Separating the two rivals is proving almost impossible, as City attempt to defend their title from Liverpool, a team that last celebrated being the best in England 29 years ago.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola will be desperate to lift the Premier League trophy

As it stands, Liverpool are top and clear by two points.However, they have played a game more. So if City were able to beat bitter rivals Manchester United next Wednesday, they would be one point clear.With Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax leading the way in the Champions League, the policy of spending big to win big seems a touch outdated.And in the Premier League, City and Liverpool are two of the biggest. So how have the respective mangers spent their money since taking charge?

Here’s how the top of the Premier League table looks currently

Here at talkSPORT.com, we wanted to examine how both managers have used the considerable transfer funds at their disposal to propel their sides into the reckoning for the top prize in the English game.With Klopp taking over in 2015 and Guardiola arriving just a year later, the time frame for comparison is almost identical.

JURGEN KLOPP STATS

The German is not afraid to splash the cash...

Date joined: 7/10/15
Players signed: 13
Total amount spent on transfers: 398,475,000
Average transfer fee per player: 30,651,923

*stats courtesy of transfermarkt.co.ukTo describe Brendan Rodgers’ transfer policy at Liverpool as erratic would be fair and his sacking saw the Fenway Sports Group search overseas for his successor.Klopp’s self-imposed sabbatical from Borussia Dortmund was soon over and the German was tasked with getting the Reds back to the pinnacle of world football.With a second successive Champions League Final almost delivered and a first ever Premier League title within his grasp, it’s fair to say the 51-year-old has succeeded.

TRANSFER MISSES

Ragnar Klavan has struggled at Liverpool

Since his first transfer window in January 2016, Klopp has altered his transfer policy somewhat. At Dortmund, he brought through a team of academy graduates and bargain buys to Bundelisga glory. Signing Robert Lewandowski for just 4.5million was a particularly shrewd move.His attempt to be as frugal on Merseyside was not a complete success, to put it politely, as the likes of Ragnar Klavan, Marko Grujic and Loris Karius proved to all be poor signings.While it is perhaps too early to judge him, Naby Keita has not had the impact many had hoped, nor that his early form promised.

TRANSFER HITS

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are two of the most in-form players in world football

In all honesty, the German has worked wonders with his business dealings since taking over at Anfield.By changing from his bargain hunting style to an all-out charm offensive, Klopp has welcomed some of the biggest names to the red half of Merseyside.Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Fabinho have all proved invaluable to Liverpool’s title challenge and Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker are arguably the best in the world in their respective positions.

PEP GUARDIOLA STATS

The Spaniard has inspired a revolution with City's riches...

Date joined: 30/6/16
Players signed: 22
Total amount spent on transfers: 539,721,000
Average transfer fee per player: 24,532,773

*stats courtesy of transfermarkt.comAfter performing football miracles at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, the Manchester City board finally convinced Pep Guardiola to try his hand in the Premier League.An indifferent debut season saw the Spaniard show his ruthless side as he completely revamped City’s defence by cutting out the likes of Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart – all firm fan favourites.However, his methods clearly deliver results and last season’s record-breaking Premier League title success is proof of that. But the lack of Champions League success will irk the former Barca captain.

TRANSFER MISSES

Claudio Bravo was wildly inconsistent in between the sticks

Guardiola has spent big during his time at the Etihad, but you cannot fault his efficiency.After deciding the aforementioned Hart was not technically gifted enough, he immediately shipped the England intentional out tin place of Claudio Bravo. However, the arrival from La Liga proved to be a flop and Guardiola was forced to delve into the transfer market 12 months later.Another player from that first window who could not cut it was Nolito, a player who promised a lot but delivered little. And the jury is out on RiyadMahrez still – a player lacking consistency and the pedigree in big games.

TRANSFER HITS

Signing Sane, Jesus and Silva have proved to be fantastic pieces of business

Like Klopp, when Guardiola gets it right in the transfer window, he gets it very right.Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Gabriel Jesus can form the spine of this City team for years and the mix of decorated players from across the continent yet to hit their prime like Ilkay Gundogan and Benjamin Mendy also makes for a great squad.The Spaniard has also spent well when bargain hunting. Oleksandr Zinchenko has developed into a Premier League standard defender while Jack Harrison (on loan at Leeds United) could well become a regular in years to come.

CONCLUSION

Jurgen Klopp’s revolution at Liverpool may have cost a pretty penny, but the German takes the biscuit in this contest.While Guardiola has added to an already star-studded City team, his title adversary has literally taken a side struggling to qualify from the Europa League to the brink of a European and domestic double.Should Klopp win the Premier League title this season, the signings he has brought in during the past 12 months alone will be crucial to a potentially historic season for the Reds.

Even moderate amounts of bacon and red meat linked to bowel cancer We have shown the world what we can do, says Ajax´s Matthijs de Ligt Former Kop star Dean Saunders can't believe neutral
Full text of "The Times , 1996, UK, English" - archive.org

Andy Roberton has also proved to be an outstanding acquisition

Nottingham Forest are delighted to confirm the appointment of Martin O'Neill as the club's new manager. The Northern Irishman enjoyed a hugely successful playing career which included 371 appearances and 62 goals during a 10-year-spell at The City Ground, a time in which he helped The Reds to
Buy Martin O'neill at Amazon | Martin O'neill, Low Prices
AD

Lucas Moura is just 10th player ever to get perfect 10/10

Chalmers’ death follows former Celtic captain Billy McNeill’s passing last week. Above, Bertie Auld, a fellow Lisbon Lion looks at the tributes left by the statue outside Celtic Park

Watford striker Troy Deeney has been fined £20,000 by the Football Association for his post-match comments after his side's game at Bournemouth. De Gea made an incredible 11 saves in the
Sean Dyche eager for VAR introduction after referee error

Liverpool star Sadio Mane celebrates his goal against Bayern Munich

Jun 01, 2019 · MADRID (AP) — The Latest on the Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool (all times local): 10:57 p.m. Liverpool has defeated Tottenham 2-0 in the Champions League final to win its
Liverpool beat Spurs 2-0 to win Champions League final in

Glenn Whelan is trying to win promotion to the Premier League with Aston Villa

Everton's Andre Gomes has been charged with violent conduct after his tackle on Aleksandar Mitrovic during Saturday's Premier League defeat at Fulham, the Football Association has announced. Portuguese midfielder Gomes appeared to stamp on Mitrovic in stoppage time in an incident which was not seen by referee Lee Probert.
Andre Gomes to serve three match suspension for stamp on

Liverpool spent 90,000 on Hoever, who joined the club in September

Premier League Table: 2018 Final Standings and Reaction After Week 38 Results Liverpool would have finished fourth regardless, thanks to Chelsea being swept aside by Newcastle United
List of Premier League seasons - Wikipedia

There was plenty of promise at the start but Wolves’ transfer window appears to have tailed off

Raheem Sterling was so impressive as a 14-year-old he was given a round of applause by the QPR first-team after training with them, talkSPORT has been told. Sterling was developed by the Hoops
Raheem Sterling was applauded by QPR first-team after

Neymar left the pitch in tears after sustaining the injury against Strasbourg

UEFA release statement on Mauricio Pochettino's Champions League final request. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has been granted his wish by UEFA ahead of the Champions League final

No opposition player has completed a dribble past Virgil van Dijk in any of his last 64 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool

Tottenham news: Alan Sugar says he'll be 'VERY ANNOYED' if Arsenal and Manchester United finish above Spurs this season and for his running feud with Arsenal fan Morgan - if they
Tottenham news live: Alan Sugar's bold claims, Gazzaniga's

PSG look all set to reach the quarter finals

England fans on Twitter want Wayne Rooney to stay in the squad ahead of Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson or Tottenham Hotspur enforcer Eric Dier.
Wayne Rooney to captain England in farewell - ProSoccerTalk

Manchester City have won the Premier League three times in the last decade

Atletico Madrid eased into the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over beleaguered Monaco, who saw Radamel Falcao miss a late penalty against his former club. Diego Simeone's men were
UEFA Champions League: Atletico Madrid 2 Monaco 0 - Sportstar

Sarri takes another look at the penalty incident

Michael Keane empathises with Declan Rice after he too left the Republic of Ireland set-up for England. International eligibility has been a hot topic after the West Ham man's decision.
Republic of Ireland boss reveals when West Ham ace Declan