What did Trent Alexander-Arnold say? Erling Haaland fired up ahead of Liverpool vs Man City
As if Sunday’s clash between Liverpool and Manchester City wasn’t hot enough already, the fires have been well and truly stoked by star players Trent Alexander-Arnold and Erling Haaland.
The two sides have been the dominant forces in English and European football over the past six-and-a-half years, regularly sharing the top two spots in the Premier League, while each has won a Champions League title, suffered final heartbreak in that competition and mopped up multiple domestic cups.
Of course, Man City still manage to dwarf even Liverpool’s recent return, winning five league titles and six major domestic cups compared to just one and three, respectively, for the Reds since the start of the 2017/18 campaign.
However, Alexander-Arnold has stuck the boot in by saying the trophies Liverpool have won ‘mean more’ than those lifted by City due to the financial nature of the two clubs and the ‘manner’ in which the trophies have been won.
“It’s difficult,” he said in an interview with FourFourTwo. “You’re up against a machine that’s built to win – that’s the simplest way to describe City and their organisation.
“Looking back on this era, although they’ve won more titles than us and have probably been more successful, our trophies will mean more to us and our fanbase because of the situations at both clubs, financially. How both clubs have built their teams and the manner in which we’ve done it probably means more to our fans.”
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With just 11 games to go, the two sides are separated by just a single point ahead of Sunday’s Anfield clash. Haaland — who looks set to lift a second straight Premier League Golden Boot since joining Man City — has hit back at Alexander-Arnold’s assessment, drawing on his own experience of winning the treble to dismiss the England international’s claim.
“If he wants to say that, then OK. I’ve been here one year and won the Treble and it was quite a nice feeling, I do not think he knows exactly this feeling. So yeah, that is what I felt last season and it was quite nice,” Haaland told Sky Sports.
“They can talk as much as they want, or he can talk as much as he wants, I do not know why he does that, but I do not mind.”
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Of course, despite all the boasting and posturing, Haaland is in no doubt over just how simultaneously difficult and important Sunday’s showdown will be.
“It is going to be a great game, Liverpool are top of the league, so they have been the best team so far, so we have to try and play at our best,” Haaland added.
“City v Liverpool is a really special game in general, so it is going to be a special game and it is going to be a really important game.”
Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, is wary of City’s famous strong form at the business end of seasons, with Pep Guardiola’s men already enjoying a run of 17 wins and two draws from their last 19 games across all competitions.
“From the turn of the year, City switch it on and it’s a difficult machine to stop. But we’ve shown in the past that we’ve been able to do it and there’s no reason why we can’t go and match them this season,” he said.
“We’re excited to be involved with City and know we’re in a good position. I’m sure they’ll be motivated, as are we. It’s going to be an exciting end.”
