Liverpool and Manchester City have enjoyed some fantastic battles over the years in the Premier League as the fixture became one of the most anticipated games of football in the calendar.
The rivalry between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola was also an intriguing subplot, with the two legendary managers giving each other a run for their money.
In terms of Premier League titles, Man City have the upper hand, having won six of the last seven titles domestically.
The only time they lost out in that period was to Liverpool when the Reds got their hands on the trophy for the first time in 30 years.
And Rodri has showered high praise on that Liverpool side, signaling out a player as one of the best he ever faced.
Rodri says Mohamed Salah was Liverpool’s best player during title-winning season
After coming ever so close in the 2018-19 season – losing the title by a point to Man City – Liverpool finally won the Premier League title during the 2019-20 campaign.
While the season is remembered for all the wrong reasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Reds led the way by 25 points at one point and essentially had the title wrapped up by February.
2019-20 was also Rodri’s first season in England as he joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid and endured a difficult first season at the Etihad Stadium.
Looking back on that season, he described that Liverpool team as the best he’s faced in his career, also singling out Mohamed Salah for special praise.
“My first year was the worst because because we faced that Liverpool side that was unbelievable,” said Rodri on Rest is Football.
“It’s the best team I’ve ever faced in my career. Prime Salah, I haven’t seen any player that way. He was like a knife – not that skillful like Neymar or Vinicius Jr – but he was a knife. Scoring and assisting, yeah.”
Salah’s stats for Liverpool in 2019-20
Liverpool secured 99 points and won the league by 18 points as second-placed Manchester City finished on 81.
Salah scored 19 Premier League goals that season as Jamie Vardy won the Golden Boot.
Several other Liverpool men bagged individual awards and they are as follows:
- Jurgen Klopp – Premier League Manager of the Season
- Sadio Mane – PFA Fans’ Player of the Year
- Jordan Henderson – FWA Footballer of the Year
- PFA Young Player of the Year – Trent Alexander-Arnold
- Premier League Young Player of the Season – Trent Alexander-Arnold.
What a season, eh? A special place in Premier League folklore and a team that helped Liverpool fans across the world get through a global pandemic.
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