Jurgen Klopp backs Trent Alexander-Arnold in Erling Haaland war of words

Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, came out fighting on behalf of Trent Alexander-Arnold in his squabble with Erling Haaland, saying trophy winners will always consider their achievements ‘mean more’.

Klopp was in jovial mood ahead of Sunday’s meeting with the champions as he entered the debate regarding the merits of Liverpool’s success compared to Manchester City’s.

Alexander-Arnold irked City by claiming Liverpool’s trophies carry greater value to his club’s fans because Klopp has not had the same financial advantage.

That prompted Haaland to hit back that Liverpool’s vice-captain does not know how it feels to win a treble.

Klopp said there was ‘nothing wrong’ with Alexander-Arnold’s comments. “I had a few people speak to me about it and tell me what I should say and what I’m not saying. I said, ‘Come on, you have to wait until I answer!’” said Klopp.

‘City have the best No 9 and De Bruyne will go down in history’

“I am not sure how often in this club we have to say that you know how much we respect the opponent – in this case City – and mean it. Pep [Guardiola] is the best manager in the world. They have incredible players. They have probably the best No 9, Haaland, scores when he wants. Kevin De Bruyne will go down in history, in the end there will be a discussion: was it Steven Gerrard or is it Kevin De Bruyne? Imagine getting in this conversation.

“They have Phil Foden, probably the best English player at the moment. We all respect that, Trent respects that, but he was born in Liverpool, he stood on the bins [watching training at Melwood] before he played for the club and he played through all youth teams. What would you think in that situation?”

Klopp insisted Alexander-Arnold was referencing his personal experiences in the remarks given to FourFourTwo magazine.

“One of our slogans, which I love, is ‘This Means More’, and it means more – to us,” Klopp said. “We have no clue 100 per cent what it means to other people, but what happens here means more to us. We had, two years ago, a parade after winning the League Cup and FA Cup, losing a Champions League final the night before, losing the league by a point. Tell me a city where you have a parade and it looks like we won all these trophies without having them.

“The club is special to us. If it is not special to other people, we can’t change that. But if we feel it so why shouldn’t we be allowed to say it? It is just how he feels and we feel and I have absolutely no problem with that. I am pretty sure – I didn’t read it, I just got told you would ask me – he showed his respect as well. In the last decade Man City is the most successful club in England definitely, and maybe in Europe as well.

“They could have won the Champions League more often, but in England it is ridiculous the record they have. It means a lot to their people, I’m sure. But, for us, maybe just for the fact we didn’t win that many, it feels good as well. We are not in the situation of winning five league titles in a row and then realising after number six, number five was better.

“You love these kinds of interviews where somebody says what he thinks and then the whole world tells you it’s not right what you think. It is still allowed that we think what we want, other people out there think much worse things and we should talk more about that probably. There is nothing wrong with what Trent said from my point of view.”

In a nod to the response to the interview, Klopp then suggested City should prepare for another feisty Anfield atmosphere. “Am I allowed to say the Anfield atmosphere is second to none, or is anyone offended by that?” he said.