It seems like Manuel Akanji is encouraging Trent Alexander-Arnold to focus on achieving success with Liverpool before making any bold statements.
Winning the treble would certainly be a significant achievement for the club.
Alexander-Arnold’s statement certainly adds fuel to the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City. Claiming that Liverpool’s trophies hold more significance than Manchester City’s success is likely to stir up emotions among both sets of fans and intensify the competition between the two clubs.
The remarks from Alexander-Arnold have heightened the stakes in the three-way title race, with Akanji evidently displeased by Alexander-Arnold’s implication that Manchester City’s spending power has transformed them into a “winning machine.”
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has amassed an impressive tally of 14 trophies during his tenure at the Etihad Stadium. This includes securing the Treble last season, as well as clinching a total of five trophies, including the European Super Cup and Club World Cup.
Under Jurgen Klopp’s leadership, Liverpool has secured seven trophies. Now, as they go head-to-head with Arsenal, Alexander-Arnold’s remarks seem to have ignited a new level of determination in Manchester City, adding further intensity to the competition.
Manuel Akanji fires back at Trent
According to the Mirror, City defender Akanji 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. 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.”
Alexander-Arnold, who is currently sidelined due to injury, made the remarks during a magazine interview. The response from various figures like Erling Haaland, Guardiola, and now Akanji indicates the significance of his comments.
This season marks the first time in a decade that there’s been a three-horse title race, with less than a win separating the top three teams and with only ten or fewer games remaining.
Kyle Walker‘s statement about the discussion in the dressing room before the match at Anfield underscores the intensity and anticipation surrounding clashes between top Premier League teams like Manchester City and Liverpool. It highlights the significance these encounters hold for players and clubs alike.
Akanji’s suggestion that the remarks were intended to provoke Manchester City, particularly with the accusation of buying the title, indicates the strategic mind games often present in high-stakes matches.
However, he believes that these attempts to unsettle City ultimately did not succeed.
Akanji insisted it did not affect their preparations and added: “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.”
