“The best we’ve ever had in English football,” is how Jamie Carragher described the rivalry.

“We’ve never had the two best teams and managers in the world fighting it out before.”

That was when Manchester City and Liverpool were going toe-to-toe for the English Premier League (EPL) title between 2017 and 2020.

If the Reds have slipped a little since then, the good news is that Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are still slugging it out.

Still building, still manic on the touchline, still believing they have the best team in the world.

So, when their clubs meet on Saturday, another belter could be on the cards.

And, maybe more than any other game we’ve seen so far, it could tell us how this season may pan out.

There is a view that the title race could be a bit more open this time with Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle joining the Reds and the Blues in the mix.

An alternative view is that these two could revert to their pre-Covid duopoly and make it a two-horse race.

That was what Carragher was talking about. Since 2017, no other club has won the title with City claiming five to Liverpool’s one.

Between them, they have won three out of six FA Cups, and five out of six League Cups.

Each has won the Champions League and they’ve been in five finals between them.

It was pre-Covid when the BBC said: “The Manchester City-Liverpool rivalry has taken English football to another level.”

Sport is at its coruscating best when two heavyweights are duking it out.

And I don’t just mean Ali-Frazier: Federer-Nadal, Prost-Senna, Woods-Mickelson took their respective sports to another stratosphere.

In football, teams have to do it, but when they do, it has an all-encompassing drama that endures for the ages.

Who can forget the Manchester United-Arsenal rivalry around the millennium?

But City and Liverpool probably have the edge in quality, certainly in Europe.

Arsenal have never won Old Big Ears and United didn’t win it as often as they should.

Neither reached the levels that Liverpool and City have in Europe.

Not the consistency of Liverpool in reaching three finals in five years, nor the consummate brilliance of City’s win over Real Madrid in last year’s semi-final.

This is where Guardiola and Klopp come in.

They really have driven them on with a blend of tactical acumen and man-management that is as good as the game has ever seen.

Their record points tallies – City twice reaching a century – and Liverpool once finishing second on 99 – put them in a class of their own.

If 5-1 (titles) is a convincing margin on paper in that period, City know how close Liverpool came.

It was only by 11mm that Sadio Mane’s shot didn’t cross the line in 2019 and it would have made the difference.

Both teams have undergone some refurbishment since that era and a few familiar pieces of furniture have gone.

Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez from City while Mane, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Bobby Firmino from Liverpool.

But several exciting new arrivals should ensure a contest to savour.

Erling Haaland is the most consistent goalscorer in Europe and Liverpool will be glad Virgil van Dijk seems back to something like his best.

But Jeremy Doku’s dazzling feet might cause a problem or two – on either flank.

Trent Alexander-Arnold could have his work cut out as will Kostas Tsimikas whose previous game was a bit of a disaster.

Similarly, City’s traditional left-back weakness could be exposed by Mo Salah.

With just 12 games gone – that’s what international breaks do – both clubs have shown vulnerabilities.

But their new attackers suggest they could be the two to dominate once again.

Darwin Nunez could be a handful for whoever plays in City’s central defence while Luis Diaz has also been scoring in South America.

A lunchtime kick-off in the UK means after dinner (8.30pm) in Malaysia and there will be plenty to chew over.

Chelsea showed how City can be got at by being brave and playing through the press. It put them on the back foot.

Reece James played the Trent role – right-back into midfield.

Chelsea outnumbered City on occasions but didn’t have the firepower to take advantage. Liverpool do.

There are Kopites fans who think the fixture planners have an agenda against Liverpool with yet another early start.

But this game was originally planned for the peak Sunday night viewing slot until City were given a Tuesday Champions League tie against RB Leipzig.

And the late Saturday slot was out because of a swap between broadcasters.

Nor should anyone get carried away that City could be relegated this season after what happened to Everton.

The punishment of the Toffees does suggest a toughening up but the City case is so complicated that it may not be resolved until next season – or even the one after that.

Just enjoy what’s served up on Saturday. Let’s hope it’s a return to the titanic contests of their recent rivalry.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.