City and Liverpool are not natural rivals but the relationship between the clubs has been festering for almost a decade. On Merseyside, the resentment towards the Etihad’s spending power is palpable. From the moment John W Henry, the principal owner, took charge at Anfield nine years ago there has been a fear that City have the financial power to dominate the domestic game for the foreseeable future.

Last year’s unprecedented domestic clean sweep of trophies by City should be regarded as one of the greatest achievements in English football history but it was overshadowed by Liverpool’s Champions League final victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid. Inside the Etihad there is disbelief at how frequently key moments in continental competition have gone Klopp’s way. City attribute much of the success of the European champions to luck. The run of the ball and refereeing decisions have favoured Liverpool, the theory goes. Events at Anfield on Sunday only reinforced the sense of grievance. City are still appalled that no penalty was awarded when the ball hit Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arm moments before the home side went up the other end and scored their second goal.

Klopp smiles a lot but is much tougher than he appears. Underneath the jolly facade there is a core of steel with a seam of anger running through it. He is up for a fight. In press conferences he reacts combatively to awkward questions.

Guardiola is fanatical in his intensity but handles things differently. The City manager can project an air of superiority. Catalans and the Dutch sometimes act like they invented football – they have Johan Cruyff in common – especially when dealing with the British media. Klopp is a much more engaging figure.

No one should doubt Guardiola’s genius but all managers have flaws and blind spots. The 48-year-old has a reputation for wearing himself out with his fanatical approach. His players become exhausted by his methods too. The job is an obsession for the former Barcelona boss. It is the key to his greatness but may also be a weakness.

The pressure is on. After the defeat at Anfield, the champions are nine points adrift of Liverpool. Guardiola’s sarcastic comments to the officials after the match, thanking them for their performance, could be considered a spur-of-the-moment outburst of anger but the club’s subsequent official complaint about Michael Oliver’s refereeing suggest a deeper neurosis.

City have arguably been the best team in Europe for the past two years but have struggled to assert themselves in front of the Kop. On their latest visit to Merseyside they created chances and dominated possession in the early stages of the game but succumbed to Liverpool’s greater incisiveness and tactical flexibility.

The way Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have changed the nature of Liverpool’s attack is seen as another example of Klopp’s good fortune by some at the Etihad. City have spent more than £200 million (US$257.5 million) on full-backs during Guardiola’s tenure to disappointing effect. Anfield’s game-changing duo cost next to nothing. Alexander-Arnold came through the youth system and Robertson cost just £8 million from Hull City. In Manchester, some feel Liverpool’s tactics developed by accident. There is some truth in this but Klopp’s ability to adapt has made his team so effective. Guardiola has clear ideas about how he wants his side to play and would never talk like the German, whose “heavy metal football” sound bite will stay with him forever. Yet there is an element of self-parody in some of Klopp’s statements and behaviour.

Guardiola’s rivalry with Jose Mourinho when the Portuguese was Real Madrid manager was largely one-sided. Barcelona were on top and Mourinho tried to provoke Guardiola. It is different with Klopp. It is not in the nature of the Liverpool manager to conduct a concerted campaign to undermine another manager. This makes it much more irritating to the City boss. Liverpool, in terms of results if not trophies, are equal to City at the moment and improving.

There is still a long way to go in the Premier League. City will claw back points and it will be closer in May. Liverpool cannot afford injuries. For now, though, the Catalan needs to shake off the feeling of injustice and rally his misfiring team.

If Klopp stays in Guardiola’s head, Liverpool will stay ahead and win the title. It is that simple.