Jurgen Klopp must be sick at the sight of Pep Guardiola. Now he needs to follow his boldness if he’s going to haul back the Premier League title race for Liverpool, writes JOE BERNSTEIN

Javelin thrower Steve Backley won two Olympic silver medals in which he was beaten to gold by perennial rival Jan Zelezny. The same thing happened in the athletics world championships.

Backley became used to being teased about it. On TV panel show They Think It’s All Over it was suggested the UK should declare war on the Czech Republic as the only way to stop Zelezny finishing first.

Jurgen Klopp would understand the frustration over having a sporting nemesis. You could see him departing Anfield this summer muttering darkly about Pep Guardiola. One hopes it doesn’t spoil his sabbatical when he’s meant to relax and recharge.

Klopp is undoubtedly one of the great managers of his generation and has more silverware than most, including one Premier League title and one Champions League.

He’s adored on Merseyside yet there is still the nagging issue over what he would have won without being unfortunate enough to manage in the same era as Manchester City’s King Pep.

Guardiola’s City are on track for the title, with Liverpool having lost against Crystal Palace

With Liverpool slipping up at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, this season’s title race threatens to follow the same pattern as the rest of the Pep v Jurgen box office rivalry.

No matter how brilliant Klopp is, Guardiola always seem to finish that one point or one position ahead.

Klopp’s points tallies at Liverpool in 2019, 2020 and 2022 was never bettered by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United or Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. Yet Fergie won 13 leagues to Klopp’s current tally of one.

In 2019, Liverpool finished on 97 points and City got 98. In 2022, Liverpool finished on 92 points and City got 93.

Klopp won the league in 2020 with an incredible 99 points. It was the second-highest points tally in English league history but, of course, Pep holds the record with one hundred.

This season, Klopp has brilliantly kept Liverpool in the title race and won the Carabao Cup despite being without a dozen key players for significant periods due to injury.

Liverpool had lost only two league games in 31 before Sunday. 

But that very rare slip-up against Palace might still be enough to be fatal with City unbeaten in 27 in all competitions and now two points ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool.

Liverpool’s rare slip-up against Palace could prove to be hugely costly in the title race

Klopp will have to be brave about how he rotates his team in the remainder of the season

You wouldn’t blame Klopp for being sick at the sight of his rival even though there is clearly great respect between them. 

Liverpool might have bigger squad numbers than City particularly with the progress of Klopp’s Kids this season.

But Guardiola can make the braver calls to rotate between elite players in order to keep everyone fresh. 

Erling Haaland was rested for the win against Aston Villa. Phil Foden scored a hat-trick in that game but left out of the next at Crystal Palace. Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t used against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu.

It’s a boldness Klopp may have to follow if he’s going to overhaul Guardiola now with City also having a superior goal difference.

The Merseysiders can’t afford to drop points in any of their six remaining games. 

Those players Klopp wants for the Premier League double-header at Fulham (Sunday) and Everton (Wednesday) should be spared the midweek trip to Atalanta with Liverpool 3-0 down from the first leg.

‘We have a string of away games. It was going to be tough anyway,’ surmises the Liverpool manager as he plots what to do next.

‘We’ve got players who have had to play a lot and others who have been interrupted by injury. We just have to find a way of beating the specific opponents in front of us.’

Klopp’s farewell tour at Liverpool is in danger of being overshadowed by Guardiola

Klopp’s farewell tour is entering its final few weeks. He has given so much to the city of Liverpool and English football. If he can summon up enough energy to become a league champion again from here, it’ll be his finest achievement.

Otherwise he’ll have to accept another silver or bronze, while Guardiola collects gold once again.