Jurgen Klopp has weighed in on the war of words between Erling Haaland and Trent Alexander-Arnold claiming that he has no issue with his full-back’s inflammatory comments, before lauding Pep Guardiola as the ‘best manager in the world’.
Liverpool and Man City will go head-to-head in a crunch match that could have massive ramifications in the title race on Sunday, with Klopp’s side just one point ahead of the Cityzens in the league table.
But tempers have been flaring off the pitch in the run up to the match, after Alexander-Arnold lit the touch paper this week, implying that Guardiola’s side had bought their way to 14 major trophies and the Treble under the Spaniard. He claimed Liverpool winning the title this season ‘means more’, while also stating that his side were ‘up against a machine that’s built to win’.
His comments were not met well by Haaland, who brutally bit back at the Liverpool full-back yesterday, stating in an interview with Sky Sports: ‘I’ve won the Treble and it was quite a nice feeling. I don’t think he knows exactly this feeling. I don’t think he knows exactly this feeling.’
Despite that, Klopp rallied around his full-back, claiming that he thought that there was nothing wrong with what Alexander-Arnold had said, noting in particular Liverpool’s mantra which reads ‘this means more’.
Jurgen Klopp has risen to the defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold amid his war of words with Erling Haaland
Alexander-Arnold had lit the touch paper after he had said winning the title would ‘mean more’ to Liverpool
Erling Haaland (left) hit back at the Liverpool defender claiming that Alexander-Arnold (right) ‘does not know what winning the Treble is like’
‘I had a few people telling me what I should say,’ he said laughing, when asked for his opinion on their war of words. ‘I am not sure how often in this club that we have to say how often we respect City. Pep is the best manager in the world.
‘They have incredible players. At the moment they have the best No 9, Haaland, scores when he wants. Kevin De Bruyne will go down in history with players like Steven Gerrard! Phil Foden, the best English player at the moment. We all respect that.
‘Trent respects that, but he is born in Liverpool, he stood on the bins before the club. What would you think in that situation? One of our slogans, that I love, is “This Means More” means it means more to us. Two years ago, we had a parade after winning the League Cup and the FA Cup, losing Champions League night before and losing the Premier League by a point.
‘Tell me a city where you would have a parade and it looks like you’ve won all these trophies without having them. This club is special to us. So if we feel it, why shouldn’t be allowed to say it?’
‘I am not really interested [in outside opinions]. It’s just how he feels. How we feel and I have absolutely no problem about that. I just got told about it. I am pretty sure he showed total respect as well. In the last decade, Man City is the most successful team in English football and maybe Europe. It’s ridiculous record they have. It means a lot for their people I am sure.
‘But for us, perhaps because we didn’t win that many [titles]. You love these interviews when someone says what they think and the whole world tells you “it’s not right what you think.” It’s still allowed to think what we want. But nothing wrong with what Trent said in my view.’
Klopp was then pressed on whether Sunday’s match is a title decider, but brushed off those claims, despite adding that his side were not underestimating the importance of the match.
‘Always big games, probably always will be. Title race decider? Not sure who brought that up. Pretty early huh? I don’t think anyone will open the champagne after the result but it’s three points and it’s massive. An incredibly strong opponent, so we don’t hide we want to win but knowing how difficult it is, that is it. It’s a big game, I understand that and I am excited.
The German manager delivered some bad news over the fitness of Ibrahima Konate during his press conference, after the Reds were left sweating on the fitness of the defender after he left the field with an injury during their Europa League match against Sparta Prague on Thursday.
‘Joe Gomez is fine. Ibou [Konate] I don’t know. He was rather positive last night, thought he made the right decision at the moment but it doesn’t mean a lot unfortunately.
‘He will have a scan definitely and I don’t have the results yet. Others are fine.’
More to follow…
