Shaka Hislop believes Manchester City would be the favourites to defeat every team in Europe apart from Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are the only managers to have a winning record over Pep Guardiola.
But considering City have done the double over United this season while having won just once in their last four outings against Liverpool, it is clear to see that they struggle against them more.
Especially when it comes to the recent history of the showdown.
Shaka Hislop says Manchester City are the favourites to beat every team in Europe except Liverpool
One reason why that may be the case is because the Reds are the only team in European football who have the capability to tear the Sky Blues apart in recent years and vice versa.
The two teams have been the best in Europe, as Jamie Carragher recently claimed, which is perhaps why both sides can be lethal on their best day when facing the other in recent seasons.
When quizzed about whether Manchester City are the favourites to win the FA Cup after Liverpool crashed out of the competition in the quarter-finals, thanks to Manchester United, Shaka Hislop said, “Of course.”
“Let’s be honest, whoever City play, other than Liverpool, head and shoulders, favourites. You can make that argument across Europe in all honesty”, he said on ESPN UK.
Manchester City would be favourites to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side at the Etihad Stadium
While Shaka Hislop makes a fair point due to how tightly-contested the battles between Manchester City and Liverpool have been over the years, which team has the edge over the other depends on where the game is played.
If it is at Anfield, the Merseyside-based club tend to have a hold over City but the same applies to the Etihad Stadium, where they have won only once under Jurgen Klopp during the Pep Guardiola era.
The contest between Manchester City and Liverpool has been the biggest game in world football in the last few years and often, which team should be the odds-on favourite depends on which of both sides are in the mood to capitalise on playing at their patch.
For instance, last season, a City side that lacked Erling Haaland destroyed the visitors 4-1, despite conceding first at the hands of Mohamed Salah, which showcased how much home advantage plays a role in this fixture.