CAMPAIGNERS: Erling Braut Haaland and Liverpool back Trent-Alexander Arnold are profiles for each of their major teams. Photo: JASON CAIRNDUFF / Reuters / NTB
Manchester City striker Erling Braut Haaland (23) does not understand statements from Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold (25) ahead of Sunday’s big game.
Thursday 7 March at 17:28
The short version
- Manchester City player Erling Braut Haaland reacts to statements from Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of Sunday’s big game.
- Alexander-Arnold calls City a machine and claims Liverpool’s trophies mean more because of financial differences between the clubs.
- Haaland, who won the treble with City last year, says he doesn’t care about the comments and is looking forward to the match and the title fight.
- Liverpool lead by one point at City ahead of this weekend’s round.
Sea view
Football supporters around the world will sit down in front of the TV screens for kick-off between the teams on Sunday at 4.45pm. In England, the media build up to the match between the two top teams with interviews of the biggest profiles.
To the magazine FourFourTwo, Alexander-Arnold refers to City as a machine that is built to win games.
The Liverpool player believes that their biggest rival for the last eight years has a different starting point because of the club’s financial muscle.
– Looking back at this era, even though they have won more titles than us and have probably been more successful, our trophies mean more to us and our supporters because of the financial situation in the clubs, claims Alexander-Arnold.
In a meeting with Sky Sports, Haaland had the comments read out to him. The Norwegian is stunned by what he hears. Jærbuen points to the fact that he won the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup with City last year, and that it meant a lot.
– If he wants to say it, OK. I’ve been here a year, and won the triple. It was quite a nice feeling. I don’t think he knows that feeling, says Haaland, referring to the fact that Alexander-Arnold has never won three titles in one season.
– Such comments from opposing players … Does it make matches like this more “spicy”?
– He can talk as much as he wants. I don’t know why he does it, but I don’t care.
JUBLED: This is how Erling Braut Haaland celebrated scoring in the 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen in Wednesday’s Champions League match. Photo: PAUL ELLIS / AFP / NTB
City have won the Premier League five of the last six years. Only in the 2019/2020 season has Liverpool managed to break the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s crew.
Alexander-Arnold still believes that the squad manager Jürgen Klopp has put together is valued more highly by their supporters than is the case in the light blue part of Manchester.
– The way we have built our team probably means more to our fans, claims the 25-year-old.
Haaland appears unchallenged in the interview with Sky Sports. The Norwegian is looking forward to the match and the rest of the title fight. Ahead of this weekend’s round, Liverpool lead City by one point and Martin Ødegaard’s Arsenal by two.
– Like last year, I think we are in a rather interesting title fight. That’s what’s so great about the Premier League. There are so many who can win. In recent years it has been Manchester City and we will try to do it again. It won’t be easy, but we are good, Haaland reminds.
FIGHTING FOR THE TITLE: Erling Braut Haaland and his teammates are going to Anfield on Sunday afternoon. Photo: Bo Amstrup / Ritzau Scanpix / NTB
Pål Christian Møller is chairman of the Norwegian supporters’ club for Liverpool. He reacts like this to what is said from Alexander-Arnold:
– We have incredibly much longer traditions in Liverpool than City. I don’t want to talk down the City supporters. They must be very happy about the titles they have won. But what was needed for them to win were huge bags of money, unlimited funds, says Møller to VG.
– So I think what Liverpool has achieved is more impressive, as one club has had unlimited resources. Klopp and his people have developed players such as Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Sadio Mané to become world class, Møller believes.
If you look at stated transfer fees, however, Liverpool have also spent a lot of money on types such as Alisson (65 million pounds), van Dijk (75 million pounds), Darwin Nunez (85 million pounds) and Dominik Szoboszlai (60 million pounds).
– How do you see Sunday’s match with regard to the title match?
– It can be absolutely decisive. It is an extremely important match. If Liverpool lose, it will be a challenge to catch up with City – and vice versa. Of course it could be a draw, but I have a lot of faith in Liverpool winning.