'Our trophies mean more' - Trent Alexander-Arnold aims jab at Man City

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has hit Manchester City with a jab ahead of Sunday's huge clash at Anfield, insisting his side's success and trophies "mean more to us and our fanbase".

The Cityzens enter the weekend as England's most dominant team in recent years, having won five of the last six Premier League titles as well as picking up their first Champions League crown last year.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds are the only side to pip Pep Guardiola's outfit to the title of late, coming first in the Covid-19 affected 2019/20 campaign, and both are part of a three-horse race alongside Arsenal ahead of this year's run-in.

Liverpool are historically one of the biggest teams in the world while Man City's success has arrived in the modern age after Abu Dhabi United Group's investment in 2008. Alexander-Arnold says the difference in approaches means the achievements on Merseyside are more valuable for the players and wider community.

He told FourFourTwo: "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."

Alexander-Arnold, who scored the equaliser against City in November's reverse fixture, is one of a number of Liverpool stars who won't be fit to feature in Sunday's duel.

He is expected to be available for matchday selection after the March international break, while Klopp is hopeful fellow absentees Alisson, Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones among others will return from their knocks soon.

The mass absences are yet to derail Liverpool's run at the title. They sit a point clear of Man City at the top, though both the treble winners (18) and Arsenal (16) have taken more points from their last six games than the Reds' 15.

On City's traditional charge at the start of the year, the England international added: "From the turn of the year, City switch it on and it's a difficult machine to stop. But we've shown in the past that we've been able to do it and there's no reason why we can't go and match them this season.

"We're excited to be involved with City and know we're in a good position. I'm sure they'll be motivated, as are we. It's going to be an exciting end."

READ ALL THE NEWS AND BUILDUP TO SUNDAYS'S HUGE CLASH BETWEEN LIVERPOOL AND MAN CITY