What would the response have been if Liverpool had tried to sign a couple of Manchester City’s fringe players last summer? The smart money is on City refusing to sell. They surely would have regarded Liverpool as the likeliest threat to their hopes of retaining the Premier League title and seen no value in making it that easy for them to strengthen their squad.
But it was different when Arsenal came calling for Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Liverpool had pushed City to the limit, taking the title race to the final day. Arsenal had relinquished fourth place to Tottenham, finished 24 points below City and for all their youthful promise done little to suggest that they were ready to challenge at the top.
