Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given his verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s comments regarding the difference between his side’s success and Manchester City.
Alexander-Arnold has hit the headlines this week after claiming winning trophies ‘means more’ to the Liverpool fans than their City counterparts, given Manchester City’s greater financial resources.
The 25-year-old’s comments have received a prickly response from Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias, igniting tensions between the teams ahead of this weekend’s huge Premier League clash at Anfield.
Klopp was asked for his take on the jibes between the players and was quick to praise Manchester City in the build-up to the game. However, the German doubled down on Alexander-Arnold’s comments insisting ‘this means more to us’ is a Liverpool mantra.
“A few people spoke to me and said what I should say,” Klopp joked at his pre-match press conference.
“I know how in this club that you have to say you respect the opponent, Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world and I have a really good life with not being close to that!
“They are incredible players they have the best number nine [Erling Haaland] who scores when he wants. Kevin De Bruyne will go down in history and be compared to Steven Gerrard.
“Phil Foden, best English player at this moment and Trent respects that. But, he was born in Liverpool and he has played for all the youth teams – one of our slogans is ‘this means more’ and it means more to us – what happens here means more to us.
“When we are feeling like that why shouldn’t we be allowed to say it, I am not interested it is just how he feels and I have no problem with that and I am pretty sure he showed respect as well.”
