07 March 2024 , 16:58
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Erling Haaland has taken a swipe at Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, after the latter claimed that winning trophies "means more" to Liverpool than it does to Manchester City.
The two teams are set to clash at Anfield on Sunday in a match that will have big implications for the Premier League title race. Alexander-Arnold stirred up the rivalry between the two clubs with his comments comparing their recent successes.
"It's tough. We're up against a machine that's built to win - that's the simplest way to describe City and their organisation," Alexander-Arnold told Four Four Two. "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."
Haaland, who won the treble with City last year, responded directly to these comments in an interview with Sky Sports. He made it clear that he thinks Liverpool is in no position to compare themselves to City.
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"If he wants to say that, OK," Haaland said. "I've been here one year and I won the treble and it was quite a nice feeling."
"I don't think he knows this feeling. That's what I felt last season, it was quite nice."
Asked if the pre-game talk adds to the game, he added: "No, they can talk as much as they want or he can talk as much as he wants. I don't know why he does that, but I don't mind."
Alexander-Arnold suggested winning trophies "means more" to Liverpool than Man City (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Haaland is looking forward to a "great game" and feels it will be something special at Anfield. The two teams are separated by just one point at the top of the table with Liverpool having a slender advantage.
Haaland shared his excitement, saying: "It's going to be a great game. Liverpool are top of the league, so they've been the best this season so far, so we have to try and play our best.
"I think City-Liverpool is a really special game in general, so it's going to be a special game and it's going to be a really important game."
Manchester City has worries about Jeremy Doku being able to play. He couldn't feature in their Champions League match because of "muscular problems", manager Pep Guardiola revealed. Liverpool, on the other hand, have been dealt a timely boost with Mohamed Salah returning to the matchday squad for their Europa League game.