Manuel Akanji has brutally mocked Trent Alexander-Arnold after his comment that Liverpool’s trophies mean more to them than Manchester City’s.
Alexander-Arnold had a jab at City ahead of their match last Sunday, implying that City’s financial superiority means their successes are worth less.
It was an incendiary blow aimed at the heart of the City administration and it left fans on both sides stunned – Liverpool supporters with pride and City fans with a point to prove.
Now Akanji has issued a mocking put-down – and told him what he has to do to chirp up again.
He said: ‘I don’t know why he [Trent] said it. He didn’t even play. He can’t tell because he didn’t win it.
Manuel Akanji (right) has brutally dismissed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s comments about trophies
Alexander-Arnold had claimed that Liverpool’s trophies mean more than them to Manchester City because of the club’s financial situations
‘That’s all I have to say. If you win three titles in one year, or five [titles] which we did last year, then he can speak again.’
Akanji has had an almost perfect start at the Etihad after joining in the summer of 2022 from Borussia Dortmund. A Champions League treble last season was followed up by UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs this campaign.
Alexander-Arnold has won all of those trophies but is still waiting for an elusive Treble.
Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Man City at the weekend was a rollercoaster of a game, encapsulating all the best of Jurgen Klopp’s rivalry with Pep Guardiola.
Frenetic and high-quality in equal measure, it was a classic of the Liverpool-City genre, with the Reds coming back in the second half, Alexis Mac Allister’s penalty cancelling out John Stones’ opener.
Akanji insisted that Alexander-Arnold’s insults did not affect their preparations: ‘No. I don’t think so. Probably he [Trent] tried [to make it so] but it didn’t matter to us. I don’t think it affected us. In the end, we tried to go on the pitch and try to show our performance. I mean, it didn’t affect me.’
The Liverpool defender had told FourFourTwo: ‘We’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.
Akanji, who won a Treble last year with City, said their rival’s comments did not affect them
Alexander-Arnold has won the greatest club prizes in football but has not achieved a Treble
‘How both clubs have built their teams and the manner in which we’ve done it, probably means more to our fans.’
Liverpool have also tasted success already in 2023-24, winning the Carabao Cup in February by beating Chelsea in extra-time.
City were knocked out earlier in the competition by Newcastle, but remain in the running for the FA Cup and Champions League.
The Reds can win a quadruple this term as they are still in the Europa League.
