Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a stone cold goal celebration after scoring for Liverpool against Manchester City (Picture: Getty)
Trent Alexander-Arnold admitted he delighted in the reaction of Manchester City fans to his stone cold goal celebration in Liverpool’s draw with the Premier League champions.
Erling Haaland’s first half goal, the result of poor goalkeeping and generous defending, appeared to have put City on course for a 24th consecutive home win in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola’s side missed a succession of chances to extend their lead and were unfortunate not to have put the contest to bed when Ruben Dias saw a goal ruled out for a foul by Manuel Akanji on Alisson Becker.
Having been let off the hook, Liverpool took advantage and secure a morale boosting point when Alexander-Arnold strode infield, collected Mohamad Salah’s pass in one motion and in the next pinged a low right-footed shot across Ederson from the edge of the penalty area.
The England international celebrated a crucial strike by standing in front of the home fans and producing a shushing gesture that riled those supporters massed in front of him.
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored Liverpool’s equaliser against Manchester City (Picture: Reuters)
‘I got the ball from Darwin,’ recalled Alexander-Arnold. ‘I could sense that there were bodies and I tried to get it across goal. Thankfully it found the bottom corner and it’s one we needed. It was about getting over the line and getting that point.
‘It’s always good to celebrate in front of away fans you get to see different faces and it’s funny.’
On the significance of ending City’s long winning run on their own turft despite Liverpool not being at their best, Alexander-Arnold added: ‘It’s definitely better than last year. We haven’t had too many good results here in general. It’s a point gained. It wasn’t an amazing performance from us at all, but we take the point. There were positives – we had chances to win the game.
‘I don’t think we played particularly well. Their formation and the way they set up really challenged us. We regrouped at half-time and came out with a bit more of a game plan to press them. It’s difficult subconsciously when you play against Man City – you can’t really get tight to them or stand off them.
‘There was potentially a game plan to stop me from getting the ball in midfield. I think Bernardo [Silva] was very close to me when I was pulling inside. It was about getting on the ball in different ways and getting us up the pitch. We did that especially well in the second half.”
‘There’s been many times when we’ve played a lot better against Man City and lost the game. The point was something that we needed and instils that belief that even if we don’t play well, if you get a point it means you’re doing something right.’
MORE : Pep Guardiola and Darwin Nunez involved in heated row after Liverpool’s draw with Manchester City
MORE : Trent Alexander-Arnold rescues point for Liverpool in draw against Man City
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