'I will sleep better!' - Pep Guardiola reacts to Jurgen Klopp's shock Liverpool departure as he praises German for being his toughest opponent and promises 'he'll be back'

Klopp's announcement on Friday that he would be calling time on his trophy-laden nine-year spell with Liverpool in May stunned world football and Guardiola paid tribute to his old adversary, who has brought out the very best in the Catalan coach, first with Bayern Munich and then with City.

"I will sleep better. The days before playing against Liverpool were almost a nightmare," Guardiola told a press conference ahead City beat Spurs 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round. "Of course he will be missed. I was shocked, like everyone, by the news. I felt a part of Man City would be lost. We cannot define our period here together without him and Liverpool - it is impossible."

"They have been our biggest rival and personally he has been my biggest rival from when he was at Borussia Dortmund and I was at Bayern Munich," Klopp added. "I think the Premier League is going to miss his charisma, personality and the way his teams play. They have always been a pleasure to watch how positive they are in their approach. They try to win every game. I wish him all the best. Liverpool is always tough."

'Maybe it is an opinion that he will not admit but he will be back. I know it. Maybe in 10 years time, he may need to recharge his energy. With his personality and his energy, he will be back," Guardiola added. "National team, another team, I don't know but football needs personalities like him. It was a dream when we were together and hopefully next season we can have time to go to dinner together or a drink that we deserve to take."

Klopp has the best record against Guardiola of any manager and Liverpool are the only team to have interrupted Manchester City's era of dominance between 2018 and 2023, winning the Premier League title in 2020 and ending the Merseyside club's 30-year wait for an English league crown. Liverpool also pushed City all the way to the title in 2018-19 and 2021-22 and Klopp's side look like being Guardiola's biggest rivals for the crown this season.

Guardiola has faced Klopp more than any other manager (28 times), and also lost to him more than he has against any other coach (12 times). It is no surprise he is celebrating his departure, even if he is joking!

City have booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup and are next in action against Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday. Klopp will face the Anfield crowd for the first time since making his bombshell announcement when Liverpool host Norwich in the FA Cup.