Liverpool
‘Shots fired’ – Rio Ferdinand’s seven-word verdict after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Man City jibe
‘Shots fired’ – Rio Ferdinand’s seven-word verdict after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Man City jibe
Rio Ferdinand and former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott have reacted to recent quotes from Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand thinks Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘is lucky’ Sunday’s potential Premier League title race showdown against Manchester City is at Anfield following his comments about the significance of Liverpool trophy wins.
A point separates the two sides at the top of the table ahead of their potentially pivotal meeting on Sunday. Before turning their attention to the Premier League, Jurgen Klopp’s side will begin their Europa League tie with Sparta Prague on Thursday, though Alexander-Arnold has already shared his thoughts on the modern rivalry between City and Liverpool.
“It’s difficult. You’re up against a machine that’s built to win – that’s the simplest way to describe City and their organisation,” the England defender 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.”
City will be in a confident mood heading into the weekend after securing their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, courtesy of a 6-2 aggregate win over Copenhagen. Speaking after the club’s 3-1 second-leg victory on Wednesday, ex-City defender Joleon Lescott responded to the quotes from Alexander-Arnold.
“In regard to the comments, you would have to hear it in the context it was said because it’s easy to see that and think the worst. The thing I would question is the [comment about] the fans,” Lescott told TNT Sports.
“I don’t think you can say any trophy, any game means more to your fans than another set of fans because it’s equally important to anyone.”
Lescott was joined on punditry duty by Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand, who initially gave a short and sweet seven-word response. After the quotes were shared on the live broadcast, Ferdinand said: “Shots fired. He’s lucky it’s at Anfield.”
The 45-year-old also cautioned against the context of the Liverpool right-back’s response but doubted whether Alexander-Arnold’s intention would have been to raise emotions within the City squad. “These games don’t need any hyping I think he’s experienced enough to know that,” Ferdinand said. “I think he’s an honest kid, Trent Alexander-Arnold. I don’t think he’s sitting there trying to play a game and get anyone’s back up.
Liverpool come face-to-face with Manchester City this Sunday for the final instalment of the Jurgen Klopp vs Pep Guardiola rivalry.
The two managers have marked an era in the Premier League. Although Guardiola has far more titles than Klopp, the German and his Liverpool side have proven to be a real thorn in City’s paw over the last eight years. The last battle promises to be even bigger than those that have gone before it. It’s first vs second at Anfield with 10 games of the season left to play.
In the build up to the match, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has been speaking about Man City to FourFourTwo. And it’s fair to say that his comments have ruffled a few feathers.
“Looking back on this era, although City have won more titles than us and have been more successful, our trophies mean more to our fanbase because of the situations of both clubs financially,” says Trent. “How both teams have built their teams and the manner in which we’ve done it probably means more to our fans.”
Never one to shy away from a comment or two, Chris Sutton was asked on the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast for his views on the Liverpool defender’s claim.
“I think that’s a little bit unnecessary really, a bit of a dig about City’s spending,” said the pundit. “It’s not like Liverpool have been paupers and not spent anything over the years. I understand that the trophy’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has won mean more to him in the Liverpool team but that’s a pretty obvious thing to say, of course they do. But the Manchester City players will flip that and say the complete opposite. Just unnecessary as much as anything. It’s been a great rivalry, let’s just leave it at that can’t we.”
Trent ruffles City feathers
It’s pretty clear what Alexander-Arnold was meaning by these comments here.
Neither Sutton nor his co-host on the podcast seem keen to mention it, but City do have some allegations hanging over them from the Premier League right now. Liverpool, they’ll be interested to note, do not.
Perhaps Trent is barking up the wrong tree bringing the fans into it. Success means as much to almost every fanbase, regardless of who they are.
But the thrust of his comment is clearly aimed at the allegedly rule-breaking way in which City have come about their trophy wins.
Seen through that lens, we’re not sure how anybody could really argue that Alexander-Arnold is wrong, here..
‘Unnecessary’ would also simply suggest what we already largely know; City and their alleged rule-breaking is not a top priority for a lot of people.
Many would rather simply ignore the fact that the greatest team of a generation have been accused of getting there by illicit means. People don’t want to know.
For Liverpool, it certainly does mean more to go up against a team like that and still come out on top, as they have done plenty of times.
If they can get a win one more time for Jurgen on Sunday, they could yet do so again, and in the most glorious way possible.
There’s a lot of debates and discussions about who Liverpool’s next manager should be. Xabi Alonso is the firm favourite right now. But he isn’t the only candidate on Liverpool’s radar.
Sure, Alonso has done a superb job. His Leverkusen side are playing brilliant football. And not only that, but they are also getting results. Currently, Leverkusen are the only unbeaten side in Europe’s top five leagues.
However, Liverpool shouldn’t have tunnel vision on Alonso just yet. There is no guarantee the 42-year-old Spaniard would be willing to take the Liverpool job. He will also have other suitors. There are also other potential candidates for Liverpool to explore as well.
One of those is someone whose style of play Trent Alexander-Arnold has also praised recently.
-
Manchester City9 months agoCongratulations Phil Foden side chick just gave birth to a baby boy,open to hear Phil Foden speech from conference
-
Manchester City8 months agoGood New: Erling Haaland UK side chick just delivered a baby boy today, Haaland named the child after Pep Guardiola 🙄
-
Manchester City8 months agoReport: Manchester City attacking midfielder De Bruyne ‘desperate’ to join English football giants
-
Manchester City9 months agoCongratulations: Erling Haaland become a father as side chick delivered baby boy earlier today by BBC..
-
Manchester City7 months agoFootage of Ederson’s Angry Reaction to Pep Guardiola made Phil Foden to send him a warning massage,Pep was shocked when he saw what Phil wrote.
-
Manchester City6 months ago“Everyone at Man City wants me out, even the fans want me out
-
Uncategorized6 months agoSky Sport Confirmed Tottenham has signed Manchester City best player€66m rated,Ange Postecoglou smile
-
Manchester City8 months agoCongratulations to Phil Foden as he bought a new private jet.