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Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has delivered his verdict on whether Liverpool or Arsenal represent tougher opposition.

The rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool has become one of the defining narratives of English football over the past decade, and it essentially replaced the El Clasico as the single fixture in global football with the highest quality present.

While historically Liverpool’s main rivalry was with Manchester United, the rise of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp’s resurgence of Liverpool created a new and thrilling rivalry.

In the 2018/19 season, the two clubs engaged in one of the closest title races ever.

Manchester City ultimately triumphed, securing the title on the final day with 98 points, narrowly beating Liverpool, who finished with 97 points.

It was a heart-wrenching loss for the Reds after such a dominant campaign?

However, Liverpool had their revenge in the 2019/20 season, blowing City away by opening a massive 25-point gap before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended football.

When the season resumed, Liverpool stormed to the Premier League title, finishing 18 points clear of City and claiming their first top-flight title in 30 years?

The rivalry continued in the 2021/22 season, with yet another tense title race.

City edged Liverpool once more, winning the league with 93 points to Liverpool’s 92 after a dramatic comeback on the final day?

In recent seasons, Arsenal has emerged as City’s main challenger, with the Gunners pushing Guardiola’s side for Premier League supremacy?.

However, Mikel Arteta’s men are yet to claim a Premier Leage title and have not yet breached the 90-point mark- something that Liverpool have routinely done in past seasons.

What did Bernardo Silva say about Liverpool & Arsenal?

Bernardo Silva often flys under the radar at City due to all the other stars in the team, but he has been a crucial pillar of the side’s successes.

Speaking to Pro Direct Soccer, the Portuguese star revealed that he considered Liverpool as his toughest opponents, and the feeling trumps beating local rivals Manchester United due to how close the title races have been in the past:

“Who would you say your toughest opponent is in the Premier League?” Silva was quizzed.

“I always tend to go to Liverpool because I respect them a lot because of how good they are and how tough it was for us over the years to beat them?

So Liverpool players are always the toughest I would say,” Silva said.

“Who do you prefer to beat, Man United or Liverpool?” Silva was asked.

“As I said, Liverpool were our biggest rivals, I’ve been at Man City for seven years and a few months, and Liverpool were always the toughest, but I like beating Man United as well,” Silva said.

It goes to show how much respect he has for Liverpool, as he knows that a few different things could have meant the Reds having the lionshare of the titles in recent years.

Speaking after the entertaining 2-2 draw with Arsenal, Silva also made it clear how much he respected the Anfield club, saying:

“The difference.

Maybe that Liverpool have already won a Premier League, Arsenal haven’t?
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