Trent Alexander-Arnold believes Liverpool’s success in recent years “means more” than the trophies accumulated by Manchester City due to the contrasting financial approaches taken by each club.
City remain at the centre of a monumental financial investigation by the Premier League, with 115 charges hanging over their name for alleged offences committed between 2009 and 2018. Should the side be found guilty of breaching such rules, many have highlighted the tainted legacy this would create of Pep Guardiola’s winning machine.
Liverpool have gone toe-to-toe with the reigning Premier League champions since 2018 and were involved in two title races of obscene quality in 2018/19 and 2021/22 – both of which ended in the Reds missing out on top spot by a single point on the final day of the season.
The 2019/20 campaign was the year Jurgen Klopp’s side became the first side to stop Guardiola’s men from storming to another title, and the Reds are looking to do the same again this term. While City may have won double the major honours compared to Liverpool during the Klopp and Guardiola era (14 vs 7), Alexander-Arnold has questioned whether the prizes claimed by City hold the same sentimental value.
“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 Reds’ right-back 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.”
There is little to separate the two clubs once again as they head into the final weeks of 2023/24. City, who looked way off their usual standards over the festive period, have battled back in style as they go in search of a fourth consecutive English top-flight crown – a feat never achieved before in this country.
“From the turn of the year, City switch it on and it’s a difficult machine to stop,” admitted Alexander-Arnold “But we’ve shown in the past that we’ve been able to do it and there’s no reason why we can’t go and match them this season. We’re excited to be involved with City and know we’re in a good position. I’m sure they’ll be motivated, as are we. It’s going to be an exciting end.”
