Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has paid tribute to the "exceptional" job done by Jurgen Klopp and expressed sympathy for his Liverpool counterpart.
Klopp is in a difficult period both professionally and personally, with the German unable to attend the funeral of his mother Elisabeth last week due to travel restrictions.
That has put in to perspective Liverpool's on-pitch woes, with a third successive defeat against Leicester leading Klopp to admit his side's title defence was over as they slipped out of the top four.
But Guardiola, who lost his own mother to coronavirus last April, said he had "a lot" of sympathy for Klopp.
"What he produces in world football is exceptional," Guardiola said.
"I say many times now, last season and in previous seasons in Germany.
"His philosophy makes football attractive for all spectators. He always produces joy to the fans, to world football, to attack, there's no doubts about this."
Klopp said on Monday that "nobody has to worry about me" as he dismissed suggestions he might take a break or quit, and Guardiola expects him to bounce back.
"We all have good moments and bad moments, no manager or club can sustain seasons and seasons and seasons to win and win," Guardiola said. "It would be boring.
"Sometimes you have to lose to realise. I speak from my own point of view and not my colleagues', but sometimes it's good to lose to realise how difficult everything is.
"When you try to come back and win games you get more credit and you are more satisfied in what you are doing."
