Pep Guardiola under more pressure than Jurgen Klopp as he ‘can’t lose’ Premier League clash, says Sam Allardyce

Sam Allardyce believes Pep Guardiola goes into Sunday’s big conflict between Liverpool and Man Metropolis beneath extra strain than his Anfield counterpart Jurgen Klopp.

Guardiola, who has led Metropolis to back-to-back titles, is already battling to maintain tempo with Klopp’s Liverpool, who’re six factors clear on the high of the desk after 11 matches.

Man Metropolis have already misplaced twice this time period, whereas Liverpool stay undefeated with 10 wins and one draw to their title.

However the Reds’ glorious report may come to an finish on Sunday when Metropolis rock up at Anfield aiming to deal Klopp’s facet a primary house defeat since Might 2017.

Many consider Guardiola’s males should win the conflict to make sure they continue to be in a title problem with Liverpool, however Sam Allardyce – co-hosting Tuesday’s Alan Brazil Sports activities Breakfast on talkSPORT – says victory is just not important.

Shedding, nonetheless, is totally out of the query, the previous England supervisor insists.

Sunday’s match is a big one with a lot driving on it, and Large Sam was requested who’s beneath most strain going into the sport.

“Pep, as a result of he can’t lose,” Allardyce replied. “He doesn’t must win it in any respect, he’s received to verify he doesn’t lose it for a certainty.

“And if he can pinch the win it turns the strain again on Liverpool.

“But certainly the pressure is all on Pep and the [Man City] players.

“It’s a very difficult place with the fact Liverpool haven’t lost there [Anfield] in over two years, but if any team can go and win there it would be Manchester City.”

The mind games between Guardiola and Klopp started with more than a week to go until the game, with the former calling Sadio Mane, the Liverpool forward, a ‘diver’ after the Reds’ last-gasp defeat of Aston Villa on Saturday.

Klopp was quizzed on the remarks during a press conference earlier this week and he hit again at Guardiola, defending Mane and aiming a dig over ‘tactical fouls’ made by City.

Guardiola’s feedback had been made within the wake of Mane being cautioned for simulation throughout the first-half of Liverpool’s fixture at Villa Park, however Large Sam defended the Senegal ahead over his actions – saying most strikers would do the identical within the penalty space.

And he really accused Mohamed Salah of diving greater than Mane, whose actions on Saturday weren’t within the norm for a sometimes clear and sincere participant.

“I feel Mo Salah is extra inclined to do this than Mane,” added Allardyce. “Definitely within the final yr folks had been mentioning that Salah was happening too simply and received an enormous quantity of penalties that maybe he didn’t fairly deserve.

“However if you happen to get the contact you’ve got to make the referee’s thoughts up, and also you’ve received VAR to find out now whether or not it’s a dive.

“The issue you’ve received right here is they aren’t judging if the contact is unintended. The ruling of ‘intentional’ appears to have gone out the window – it’s simply if there’s contact.

“Happening within the field, definitely most strikers in the event that they really feel contact and usually are not going to attain, will go down.”

Hearken to Large Sam co-hosting the Alan Brazil Sports activities Breakfast, above…