Liverpool sent Pep Guardiola exit message after Man City boss' end-of-season remarks

With Jurgen Klopp having left Liverpool in search of a quieter life and a break this summer, it might not be long before there is change taking place at the biggest sporting rival of his Anfield tenure.

Pep Guardiola would have been even more dominant in the Premier League were it not for Klopp and while the economic advantage that Manchester City has is a big part of that, Klopp was also quick to point to his Catalan counterpart as being a hugely influential figure regardless. That meant so much to Guardiola that he cried — but there have been hints that he too could depart soon.

"The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying," Guardiola said at the end of the season. "It's eight years, will be nine. Right now, my feeling is I am staying next season."

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By the end of the upcoming campaign, it is hoped that there will be clarity over the 115 Premier League charges hanging over Manchester City. But regardless, the feeling is that this might be Guardiola's final year, even if contract talks will take place.

"I would be more surprised if Pep stayed another five years than if he decided that the upcoming season would be his last," former Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce said this week, via the MEN.

"He's arguably the best manager the Premier League's ever seen and I for one, would be disappointed if he left. When I've been at City on the odd occasion, he's shown me a level of football that I've never seen before."

In terms of the knock-on impact for Liverpool, it is reasonable to think that Manchester City might not be as good without Guardiola even though the financial advantage that the Etihad side has will remain. And Pearce has a clear message about what the Reds and Arsenal might think if Guardiola did depart in 2025.

"He's been absolutely incredible, but I think his rivals will be absolutely delighted," Pearce added. "They'll drive him to the airport to get him out of Manchester City, in the hope that they drop off slightly."

"Pep has always been fully committed to this club and fully committed to every contract that he has signed with us," Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak told the club's official media channels earlier this week. "This decision on his future is always a decision that we will take together, and I have no doubt that we will find, as always, we have done, the right solution that works for Pep and works for us."

Liverpool.com says: Guardiola leaving would certainly be interesting from a Liverpool point of view, though we don't quite know the extent to which Manchester City would drop off and we don't know what the Reds and Arsenal will look like in the next few seasons. Firstly, an outcome being reached over the 115 charges would be useful.