Micah Richards believes Trent Alexander-Arnold would be dreaming about emulating Ryan Giggs’ Premier League trophy haul were it not for Manchester City.
Manchester United legend Giggs won 34 career trophies, 13 of them being Premier League titles, during his Old Trafford career.
Giggs is one of the most decorated players in football history, having also won the Champions League twice with United.
Alexander-Arnold was part of the Liverpool team that won the Champions League back in 2019, before the Reds claimed their first league title for 30 years just over a year later.
However, Richards believes that were it not for Pep Guardiola's side, then the right-back, who looks destined to be a one club man like Giggs, would be dreaming of a career in which his championship medals could go into double figures.
“City should have more trophies than the eight they gathered so far under Guardiola — and they would have done if Liverpool had not been so brilliant under Klopp,” Richards wrote in his Daily Mail column.
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“Mind you, Liverpool could say the same thing — what would they have done without City? Imagine getting 97 points — as they did in 2019 — and it not being enough to be champions?
“If I was a player in Liverpool's dressing room, I'd have been absolutely distraught. They could get more than 90 points again this year and it still might not be enough.
“ Trent Alexander-Arnold would be dreaming about emulating Ryan Giggs and having a career in which his championship medals could go into double figures.
“Trent, it seems, is going to stay at Anfield for life. He's 23 and has one title. Without City, he would be on his way to his fourth.”
Liverpool are currently second in the Premier League table, six points behind City, although Jurgen Klopp's side do have a game in hand on their rivals.
The Reds are currently in fantastic form, unbeaten in 14 games across all competitions since their shock 1-0 defeat by Leicester City on December 28.
And Richards believes football supporters across the world are currently witnessing the best two sides the Premier League has ever seen.
“Historically, it has always been about Liverpool and Manchester United but what is extraordinary is how this new rivalry has developed,” he added.
“Nobody would have seen it happening seven years ago, given where Liverpool were when Klopp was appointed.
“It's why we have to acknowledge that what we are seeing now is different to anything that has gone before. I hear people criticise City's style for it being too boring but to keep the ball the way they do for 90 minutes, barely giving the opposition a kick, is one of the hardest things to do in football.
“There are days when City are absolutely immaculate yet we have to come think it as normal. Guardiola is constantly pursuing football perfection and, perhaps, the way Liverpool are breathing down his neck means he is constantly having to refine and improve City's style. It means the quality of play is consistently increasing.
“I appreciate people will argue differently. We all have our favourite teams and players, as well as eras that are special to us. We look back fondly to reminisce and the natural instinct is to think that things were better in the past.
“But I am in no doubt we are witnessing the top two teams the Premier League has seen. There are three trophies up for grabs from here — I believe City and Liverpool will win them all.”
