Joleon Lescott has fired back at Trent Alexander-Arnold following his controversial comments about the meaning of trophies for Liverpool and Manchester City supporters.
The two Premier League sides meet at Anfield on Sunday in a match being billed as a potential title-decider – despite the involvement of a third team, Arsenal, in the title race this season.
Liverpool are currently one point clear of City at the top of the table, with Arsenal a point further back.
A win for either Liverpool or City this weekend will make them strong favourites to win the league, while a draw would seemingly put Arsenal in pole position for the title.
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Alexander-Arnold has stoked tensions ahead of the match by claiming that trophies mean more to Liverpool fans than Man City in recent years.
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."
Former City defender Lescott has now responded to those claims, taking issue with the suggestion that trophies mean more to Liverpool supporters.
"In regards to the comments, you would have to hear it or see the context in which it was said, because it's easy to read that and think the worst," Lescott said on TNT Sports.
"The thing I would question is the fans. I don't think you can say any game, any trophy means more to your fans than another set of fans because it's equally as important to anyone."
His co-host Rio Ferdinand then said: "Wow. Shots fired. He's lucky it's at Anfield," referring to this weekend's game.
To which Lescott replied: "Yeah, that's obviously a factor."
Topics: Liverpool, Manchester City, Premier League, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Football
Rory O'Callaghan