In a recent showdown between Liverpool and Manchester City, tensions flared up as Trent Alexander-Arnold stirred the pot by stating that Liverpool’s trophies hold more significance than City’s successes. The Liverpool vice-captain suggested that the financial might of City makes their achievements different.
The comments didn’t sit well with the City squad, with players like Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias publicly responding. Manuel Akanji, the latest to address the issue, expressed his frustration after a 1-1 draw at Anfield. Akanji, who played in a Liverpool team missing key players, including Alexander-Arnold, questioned the defender’s right to speak, emphasizing that he didn’t even play in the game.
Akanji defended City’s winning record, highlighting the team’s remarkable achievement of winning three titles in a year and five titles overall last year. He challenged Alexander-Arnold to speak again when he achieves similar success.
Despite the verbal exchange, Akanji insisted that Alexander-Arnold’s comments didn’t affect City’s mindset before the game. He dismissed the idea that the Liverpool defender’s words had any impact on their performance on the pitch.
Alexander-Arnold’s original remarks were made in an interview with FourFourTwo, where he described City as a “winning machine” built for success. He compared the two clubs’ approaches to team-building and highlighted the financial differences between them.
The ongoing banter between the players adds an extra layer of excitement to the intense rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City. As the teams continue to vie for supremacy on the pitch, the off-field exchanges only serve to fuel the competitive spirit between the two football powerhouses.