Pep Guardiola Confirms he ‘Asked for Permission’ from Jurgen Klopp Over Liverpool Move | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola’s Surprise Move for Lijnders Raises Eyebrows Among Liverpool Faithful

Manchester City are once again preparing to make headlines on the global stage, this time representing the Premier League at the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. While Liverpool and Arsenal enjoy a rare full summer off after finishing first and second in the Premier League, City find themselves navigating a gruelling fixture list that could stretch to seven matches.

Pep Guardiola, never one to rest on his laurels, is using this tournament as a clean slate, a springboard rather than a burden. Not only has he added depth to the playing squad, but he’s also made a significant move behind the scenes — and it involves a familiar name to Liverpool fans.

Lijnders’ Switch Sparks Reaction at Anfield

The appointment of Pep Lijnders as Guardiola’s new assistant has turned heads and triggered mixed emotions at Anfield. Lijnders, once Jurgen Klopp’s trusted right-hand man, is now in the blue corner of Manchester.

What has softened the blow somewhat is Guardiola’s openness about the process. “I suggested I was thinking about Pep [Lijnders] and [Klopp] gave me his high opinion,” he told the media.

Guardiola went a step further in an unusually candid moment. “I asked permission from Jurgen, of course. I didn’t want to interfere. I asked if it would be a problem and he said absolutely not.”

Photo: IMAGO

It’s not every day two of modern football’s fiercest rivals share such professional courtesy. Still, that’s unlikely to make it any easier for supporters to stomach the sight of Lijnders in a City tracksuit, especially given the historic tension between the two clubs during Klopp’s reign.

Tuchel Warns of Competitive Disadvantage for City

England boss Thomas Tuchel has already voiced concern over City’s congested summer schedule, arguing that Liverpool and Arsenal hold a clear advantage heading into the 2025–26 season.

Avoiding the Club World Cup, Tuchel suggests, will allow both clubs to return to training more refreshed and less vulnerable to fatigue-related injuries. Given that Arne Slot will be looking to build on last season’s title triumph, the timing may favour the Reds.

However, Guardiola appears undeterred, clearly believing that adding a figure like Lijnders will aid City’s pursuit of global dominance. Whether this gamble pays off or backfires in the domestic campaign remains to be seen.

Liverpool’s Identity and Coaching Influence Under Spotlight

While the move may seem minor on the surface, Lijnders’ departure and arrival at a rival club is deeply symbolic. He wasn’t just an assistant — he was seen as a tactical architect behind the high-intensity, high-pressing identity that defined Liverpool under Klopp.

City acquiring Lijnders isn’t just about staff reinforcement, it’s a psychological play. It is Guardiola’s way of absorbing insights from the very team that stood as his greatest obstacle.

Whether Lijnders’ knowledge will make a tangible impact remains up for debate. What is certain is that it adds another subplot to the increasingly nuanced rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

There’s no sugar-coating it — seeing Pep Lijnders join City hurts.

Not because he didn’t have the right to move on, but because of what he represented. Lijnders was part of the DNA that restored Liverpool to the summit of English and European football. His fingerprints were on the tactics, the player development, the very culture that made us proud again.

While Klopp’s blessing may offer some closure, the timing stings. Liverpool are trying to forge a new era under Arne Slot, who has already delivered a Premier League title in his first season. Yet, the thought of one of Klopp’s inner circle now assisting Guardiola — the very man we battled for honours season after season — feels like betrayal.

There’s also fear. Lijnders knows how Liverpool tick. If Guardiola is wise enough to use that insight, it could close the gap that widened last season. It’s the latest sign that City aren’t just coming for trophies, they’re coming for footballing minds too.

We can only hope that Slot, with his own ideas and staff, keeps us a step ahead. But this one will sting for a while.