Liverpool great Dietmar Hamann questioned the hype surrounding Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as he insisted Reds' boss Jurgen Klopp ranks above the Spaniard.
City welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in a match widely billed as a title decider, with Klopp's side cutting the leaders' gap to just one point following a 10-game winning run.
Whether it's Trent Alexander-Arnold against Joao Cancelo, Alisson versus Ederson or the influence of Mohamed Salah compared to Kevin De Bruyne, there are battles to be won across the pitch in Manchester.
But there will also be a focus on the touchline, with Guardiola facing old foe Klopp, who has defeated the former Bayern Munich boss more than any other manager in all competitions (eight).
The German tactician has only lost as many matches against Felix Magath (8) in his coaching career as he has against Guardiola, but Hamann placed his backing firmly on the Liverpool manager.
"When Klopp arrived at Anfield in 2015 and Guardiola at City a year later, the Premier League was hugely competitive and hard to win," he wrote in his Daily Mail column.
"In just a few years they have turned it into a two-horse race. I simply wouldn't have thought it was possible for two teams to dominate the Premier League in the way they have.
"But there are three current managers who I regard as more successful than Guardiola and I still don't really get the hype that surrounds him.
"Jose Mourinho has won league titles in four different countries and the Champions League with two clubs, while Carlo Ancelotti's record is second to none and about to get better if Real Madrid can win La Liga.
"And the third manager? For me, it's Jurgen Klopp. What he has achieved on the budgets he has at Liverpool is remarkable. He is a truly exceptional manager. His great skill is in integrating players which is a talent Guardiola doesn't possess in quite the same way."
Since Guardiola's arrival in England at the start of the 2016-17 season, City have taken a league-high 516 points and Liverpool are close behind with 488 points. Chelsea are a distant third on that list with 427 points.
But Hamann, who played for both Liverpool and City during his playing career, still believes Klopp holds the edge over Guardiola, due to how he adapts to his new signings, such as Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.
"When Klopp signed Diogo Jota last season everyone questioned whether he would get anywhere near the team, but he was immediately involved," he continued. "It's been exactly the same with Luis Diaz.
"In fact, compare the case of Diaz to Jack Grealish and it goes some way to showing the difference between the managers.
"We've seen players come into the Premier League and you often need six to eight weeks to adjust because it's a unique game. Diaz came in and he fired immediately because the style suits him.
"Look on the other side, you've got Grealish, who cost three times as much yet is struggling to make any sort of an impact. He's a £100million player yet he still isn't fully integrated.
"The way Liverpool players speak about their manager, they would run through brick walls for him. I'm not sure City's players would do the same.
"You look at all the teams around Europe and I think Liverpool are the pick of the lot. And I wouldn't swap this manager for any other. Including Guardiola."
Ancelotti salutes Madrid's 'commitment and desire' following Sociedad victory
Carlo Ancelotti hailed Real Madrid's commitment and desire as they edged closer to securing the LaLiga title with a 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad.
Arda Guler scored the only goal as Los Blancos extended their lead to 14 points over second-placed Barcelona, who host Valencia in their game in hand on Monday.
The 19-year-old was making his first start since arriving from Fenerbahce, as Ancelotti rotated his squad ahead of Madrid's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
And the Italian was pleased by the character demonstrated by his players, who stretched their winning streak to six league matches.
"It was clear that everyone thought we were coming here for a walk," he told reporters. "The only ones who didn't think so were the players. They had commitment and attitude. They had the desire and enthusiasm to keep winning.
"We have a spectacular squad. They have this attitude that they feel like they have to win every game. There are four points left to clinch the LaLiga title, and we are very close."
Guler added on Realmadrid TV: "This is the best club in the world and scoring is one of the best feelings.
"This is Real Madrid, the quality of the players is incredible. We're all always ready to play, and I think we've shown that here. I'm waiting patiently, and I'm still working hard every day."
Ancelotti's rotation meant a first start in eight months for Eder Militao, who marked his return from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee with a clean sheet.
"I've come back to play 90 minutes and I feel like a player again after many months out," the defender said.
"We have to keep winning, we know that nothing is won yet. We have a big advantage, but we have to keep doing a serious job until the end."
Women's Champions League semi-finals finely poised
As domestic seasons draw to a close, the giants of Women's European football are due to battle it out this weekend and secure a spot in the Champions League final.
With both fixtures finely poised, Chelsea will welcome current champions Barcelona to Stamford Bridge and try to end their reign.
Lyon will travel to the Parc des Princes to face Paris Saint-Germain looking to secure their 11th appearance in the final.
They have played in the showpiece match more times than any other team in the competition and are also the most successful side in the tournament's history with eight titles overall and five consecutive crowns from 2016 to 2020, so PSG will have their work cut out.
PSG v Lyon
Lyon showed their pedigree in the first leg as they came back from 2-0 down at home to win 3-2.
Les Parisiennes spent much of the first half soaking up early pressure from their French counterparts, but in the 44th minute Marie Katoto was deadly accurate and struck from just outside the six-yard box.
Sandy Baltimore's cross found Katoto as she peeled away from Ellie Carpenter who was unaware of the danger that lurked behind her an off-balance Katoto tucked it into the bottom left-hand corner.
Paris Saint Germain started the second half as they ended the first, Katoto pouncing on a deflected shot doubled her team's lead and took her tally to seven goals in eight matches in the competition this term.
Lyon, however, were patient in their pursuit of goals, and in the 79th minute, Ellie Carpenter cut the ball back from out wide to Kadidiatou Diani, who toe-poked it into the bottom corner.
The comeback was on with ten minutes of the 90 to go.
A foul on Lindsey Horan led to a free-kick that Selma Bacha delivered to the edge of the box, where Wendy Renard took it down and passed to Melchie Dumornay who dropped her shoulder to lose her defender and fired a magnificent shot into the right-hand corner of the goal.
The comeback was on and in the 85th minute, Les Parisiennes could not halt wave after wave of Lyon attacks. A long throw resulted in Dumornay finding space outside the 18-yard box and finding Amel Majri, who dummied the ball to let it run past her before burying it into the bottom corner.
What to expect
PSG will need every voice in the Parc des Princes to roar them on if they are going to knock out the former champions.
They have scored in their last seven games in the Champions League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 13 from April 2021 to April 2022.
PSG will look to Marie Katoto, who has scored seven goals in eight matches, and is averaging 0.88 per game. The French forward has had 27 total attempts this term, getting off 3.38 shots per match on average.
All seven of her goals have been from inside the box, where her deadly accuracy means she is by far PSG's biggest threat in this match-up. She is also one goal behind the Golden Boot leader, Kadidiatou Diani, who has netted eight goals in nine matches.
Attack for Paris could be the best form of defence, as the intensity of Lyon's continued attacking pressure is what led to them losing their two-goal advantage. PSG have scored in each of their last seven games in the Champions League, netting 17 goals in that run.
Lyon showed what all great champions have is the muscle memory to win, turning that result around was up there with one of their best-ever performances in a semi-final.
They have scored in their last 10 games in the Champions League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 12 games from December 2021 to December 2022.
Lyon have quality across the pitch. Diani, who made 114 appearances for PSG, will return to her former club looking to be the protagonist of this game after she clawed her new side back into the tie.
Chelsea v Barcelona
Emma Hayes and her Chelsea side travelled to Barcelona knowing only the very best performance would give them a chance of taking a positive result back to Stamford Bridge.
Barca, four-time finalists in the last five seasons, have proven they are a giant of women's football.
The pair have history in the tournament. Chelsea were humbled in the 2021 final, losing 4-0.
Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen were key to putting the game beyond the Blues before they even reached half-time. Last season, the two sides met again - this time it was a much closer affair in which Hayes's side were narrowly defeated 2-1 over the two legs.
Recap of the first leg
After what was an evenly matched first half, Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert curled an effort into the top right-hand corner. The build-up play had been patient, with the Blues winning the ball back from a throw-in near the byline; some quick feet and one-touch passing reminiscent of their Catalan opposition was enough to break the deadlock.
Chelsea have scored in their last six games in the Champions League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of eight matches between October 2022 and March 2023.
Barcelona (four) and Chelsea (three) sat top of the table for clean sheets in the competition, and the Blues went into half-time aiming to match Barca's tally.
It looked as though Barca would have a chance to dent Chelsea's hopes of a clean sheet when a shot bounced off the arm of Chelsea's Kadeisha Buchanan as she battled for the ball with Salma Paralluelo.
However, referee Stephanie Frappart was called to the VAR screen, and the call was made that the Barcelona player had been offside and the decision to award a penalty was reversed.
Chelsea really should have made it 2-0, with Lauren James and Mayra Ramirez both squandering big chances.
Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas might have snatched an equaliser in the dying seconds, yet sliced wide from the best opportunity Barca produced.
Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in four of their nine Champions League games, more than any other team, and are showing the form of potential champions.
What to expect in the next tie
The Blues have sold 35,00 tickets for Stamford Bridge with still a few more hours to pack the place out. Hayes has made it clear to her side that this is only half-time, and they will need another tremendous performance to see them into their second final. Hayes is bowing out at the end of the season, to manage the US women's national team this summer.
Chelsea have not given her the glorious farewell campaign she would have dreamed of so far after failing to win either of the two domestic cups.
The WSL title is still within their grasp, though Manchester City are a fierce rival, but the Champions League is the trophy that has illuded this magnificent era for Chelsea and would crown off the Hayes dynasty.
The Blues will need to take their chances when they come and the likes of James and Ramirez will need to show the form they have in the league.
James has scored 13 goals and provided two assists this season in the WSL.
Jess Carter, who ran the Blues defence in the first leg, will be key. Millie Bright is fit and available, a boost for the squad as she has been missing for most of the season.
Hannah Hampton might need to have the performance of her career in the Chelsea goal.
Barca attempted 11 shots in the first leg, but that was their lowest total in a single match in the Champions League this term, but with two Ballon d'Or winners in their squad, the European champions certainly possess the mentality and quality to turn this tie around.
Both ties are evenly matched and without a doubt are two of the most exciting ties we have seen in the competition's history.
Leicester City seal automatic Premier League return
Leicester City are once more a Premier League team, having bounced straight back after relegation last season.
The Foxes secured automatic promotion without kicking a ball, as title rivals Leeds United lost 4-0 away to Queens Park Rangers on Friday.
Marti Cifuentes' Hoops side gave their fans a reason to cheer in their final home game of the season, and the emphatic win means they are now seven points clear of the relegation zone.
The Hoops boss told BBC Sport: "I came here, perhaps I was crazy thinking we could manage the great escape.
"The atmosphere has been unbelievable since I came here. Everybody thought tonight could be a special night to achieve our target.
"Big players deliver big performances and our players all did that tonight."
Defeat ensured only Ipswich Town can now finish above Leicester, meaning the Foxes will be back in the big time.
Ipswich, who have three games left to play, face play-off hopefuls Hull City on Saturday.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: "It's not in our hands any more [automatic promotion], we need to be honest.
"The race is not over. If Ipswich win the next two games then I will say congratulations, but if they don’t win them then we will have a lot to play for.
"As long as we have a chance, I’m far away from giving up."
Leicester could be crowned champions if they beat Preston North End on Monday and if Hull beat Ipswich.
The Foxes are looking to break the 100-point barrier, despite a wobble from Enzo Maresca's side in recent months.
After they had been so far ahead and top for all but two of the 176 days between 23 September and 17 March, an untimely dip in form handed Leeds and Ipswich hope.
However, while Leicester celebrate their promotion, they face the daunting prospect of starting next season with a points deduction, after they were charged by the Premier League with alleged breaches of the competition's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
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