Manchester City vs Liverpool: It was very important for us not to lose this game, says Trent Alexander-Arnold

The blockbuster clash on Sunday did nothing to separate the two Premier League giants, as Liverpool and Manchester City played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium. The draw means City still continue to top the table with 74 points from 31 games and Liverpool are a point behind at 73 from the same number of matches. With only seven more games remaining in the league this season, anything can still happen, believes Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. He reckons the title race could go till the final day but he wants his side to be in a good position on that day.

Alexander-Arnold also played an important role in the match on Sunday. He set-up Diogo Jota for the first equaliser on the night. The full-back asserted that it was important not to lose the match against their title rivals. After the match, he told beIN Sports, “We want to win every game that we’re in, no matter the opposition.”

“We came up against one of, if not the best team in the world at the minute, but it says a lot about us that we’ve got that slight disappointment to not come here and win. I think it was very important for us not to lose this game. We’re still in a decent position but it is in their hands. 

“I think a few years ago this is what happened, they went on a really good run and we weren’t able to capitalise on that. Hopefully this time around they’ll drop a few points for us.”  

READ MORE – Manchester City vs Liverpool: Talking points from the action-packed draw

It’s seven games, a lot can happen: Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold believes there is still a long way to go and anything can yet happen in the title race. “Look, seven games, I think every week there’s a surprising result in the Premier League,” he added.

“So we’re just hoping we’re not on the end of any of those surprising results, and hopefully City are. It’s seven games, a lot can happen. Who knows what will happen? Hopefully we make it exciting and stay in. Who knows? It might go down to the last day again but hopefully we’re in a good position on that day.” 

Jurgen Klopp: I know how intense it is

Meanwhile, the Liverpool manager was happy with his team’s display during certain portions of the action-packed draw. Jurgen Klopp was asked whether he was unhappy at half-time with Liverpool’s first-half performance. “Not unhappy, but I knew we could improve. It is not that I went in and said, ‘How can we do that?’ I know how intense it is,” he said in the post-match press conference, as per their club’s website. “The concentration level in these games is incredible, to be honest. I have said now a couple of times, it is like two boxers, two heavyweights, and in the moment you put your arms down you get such a knock in the middle of your face and then you have to get up again, to try to get control again, and that’s what happened. 

READ MORE – Liverpool peg back Manchester City twice in entertaining draw

“What we said at half-time – and what we said before the game already – was [about] the way we have to defend because we had to be there [and] more braver in these moments. Hendo did exceptionally well stepping up in these situations. When we didn’t have that and we couldn’t put pressure on the ball then we were too high, but not too high like staying too high, [it was] the timing of their runs was outstanding and that’s why it was really tricky. But I liked a lot and that was actually the main message at half-time that when we controlled the game we caused them more problems than ever before in games. 

“That’s really good; we improved in this department and it is good, good news for us, but of course I would have loved it if we would have done it more often. The football situation around the first goal and when we scored the second goal, both were just top awareness, go there, top finish and all these kind of things. Then we had 15 minutes where we were clear, kind of in control but then they got momentum back. You could see both teams wanted for a minute or two [to] take a deep breath and then go again. A massive game.”