Manuel Akanji fires brutal dig at Trent Alexander-Arnold over Man City comments

Manuel Akanji has taken aim at Trent Alexander-Arnold over his Manchester City comments.

Prior to Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Anfield, Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold spoke about the recent success of Pep Guardiola’s team.

The Englishman said: “It's tough. We're up against a machine that's built to win - that's the simplest way to describe City and their organisation.

“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.”

Since then, the likes of Erling Haaland and Kyle Walker have responded to Alexander-Arnold’s words.

Now, City defender Akanji has now become the third player to react, when asked if it was a way of getting into their players’ head, the Swiss said: “Probably he tried it to [be that way] but it didn’t matter to us. I don’t think it affected us. In the end we tried to go on the pitch and show our performance. I mean, it didn’t affect me.

“I don’t know why he said it. He didn’t even play. He can’t tell because he didn’t win it. That’s all I have to say. If you win three titles in one year, or five which we did last year, then he can speak again.”

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Speaking about Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool, Akanji said: “It was a different game for us to what we normally have. We normally have more control. We knew how it is to play here … that at some point the crowd is always going to be there and support them … and we stood together and fought until the end.

“We have to take the draw and it’s also good that we showed this side of us. That we can do this as well and not just be the dominant team.”

As a result of the draw, Arsenal now lead Liverpool in the Premier League table on goal difference, with City one point behind in third place.