Pep Guardiola responds to Trent Alexander-Arnold “means more” jibe ahead of Manchester City clash with Liverpool

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hit back at comments by Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of Sunday’s showdown meeting at Anfield.

The treble-winners travel to Merseyside this weekend bidding to move above Liverpool and to the top of the Premier League table with a victory over Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Manchester City, who are unbeaten since early December and came from behind to beat Manchester United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, are looking to beat both Liverpool and Arsenal to the Premier League trophy.

Pep Guardiola’s side are looking to become the first side to win four successive Premier League titles, but just two points currently separate the three teams ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.

City’s next two league games are against both Liverpool and Arsenal, with the Gunners travelling to the Etihad Stadium after the upcoming international break.

The Sky Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in the reverse fixture against Arsenal, and were also held to a 1-1 draw in November at the Etihad against Liverpool, as Trent Alexander-Arnold cancelled out Erling Haaland’s first-half goal.

Alexander-Arnold, who will miss Sunday’s clash at Anfield, has stoked tensions between the two clubs ahead of the match after bizarrely playing down Manchester City’s recent achievements.

Speaking in an interview with magazine FourFourTwo, the full-back said: “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.”

Both Haaland and Ruben Dias have issued responses to the claims, with Manchester City having won 16 trophies under the management Guardiola, including five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.

The Blues also completed the treble last season, becoming the first side since Manchester United in 1999 to win the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup and Champions League.

Guardiola has himself responded to Alexander-Arnold’s claim, saying: “I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he comes back to the pitch as soon as possible.

“Do you think they want to fight because Erling (Haaland) and Ruben (Dias) talk? Without these talks we will not fight? We are there and after what happened in the last years we are going to try to do a good game.”

City have won just two of the last seven meetings between the two rivals, and haven’t won at Anfield since a 1-4 win in 2021.