The Liverpool Academy is famous for producing exceptional talents through the years, players rich in quality and skill while also showcasing commitment to help Liverpool return to the glory days. The latest one out of the production line is the teenager who goes by the name of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The 18-year-old made the headlines this past season and impressed even the likes of Jamie Carragher and Greame Souness, with the latter even opining he has “all the attributes of a top player.”
But who exactly is Alexander-Arnold?
A modern day right-back who can put in great crosses, while also someone who can play in midfield, Alexander-Arnold’s versatility is what sets him apart from others. He made his first team debut in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, starting in the 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and was quick to earn the adulation of the Anfield faithful. He hasn’t looked back since.
His second start against Leeds in the same competition saw him claim the Man of the Match award at Anfield after he helped his side keep to a clean sheet while also registering his first assist for the club. With a promising career in front of him, Alexander-Arnold has a burning passion to succeed at his hometown club. Meanwhile, here are some of the things you probably didn’t know about TAA.
#1 He was poached from Everton when he was young
There are actually two sides to this story. Liverpool would have never even gotten a glimpse of Alexander-Arnold’s potential had it not been for luck. “The Academy sent a few summer school invitations down to my school and there weren’t enough for every lad in the class so names got pulled out of a hat. Luckily, mine was pulled out,” he said in an interview with Echo.
Well, he was destined to play for Liverpool wasn’t he? Once he was at Liverpool and they were aware of his potential, they had to battle their bitter rivals Everton among others. Former Academy Coach Karl Robinson told the 5Times Podcast,”He had the choice between Liverpool and Everton, and we literally kidnapped him! We wouldn’t let him anywhere because he was so good.”
So much for signing 6-year olds. However, those efforts did bear fruit as it’s safe to say that Alexander-Arnold is on course to be a star turn for Liverpool in the coming years.
#2 Steven Gerrard praised him in his autobiography two years ago
It’s quite something when you receive praise from the club captain while you’re part of the under-16 squad and it’s even more special when the it’s coming from Steven Gerrard. In his updated autobiography which was published two years ago, Gerrard wrote,” Trent Arnold has a terrific chance of making it as a top professional. He’s quite leggy but he’s got a lovely frame and seems to have all the attributes you need. Having just turned sixteen, he’s still not strong enough at the moment, but that will come.
“He has the right attitude and comes from West Derby, home to Melwood. So Trent is another Scouser and apparently, just as I tried to be John Barnes and Steve McMahon, he grew up pretending to be me while playing in the Merseyside parks. He can play as a number 6, a holding midfielder, but he’s versatile and I’ve seen him fill various positions. I know England are all over him. He looks capable of developing the physicality that will need to match his technique in the Premier League one day.”
That is some praise from the former Liverpool captain and is sure to motivate him in the exciting times that lie ahead of the youngster.
#3 His first Premier League start came at Old Trafford away to Manchester United
It is by no means an easy task to play away at Old Trafford, especially when you come from the red half of Merseyside. Essentially the biggest rivalry in English football and one of the biggest in the world, matches between the two clubs produced some exhilarating performances both from the players and the crowd in the past. The clash January was no different.
With Liverpool’s first choice right-back Nathaniel Clyne out with a rib injury prior to the match, Klopp had to bank on boy wonder Trent Alexander-Arnold to bail him out. And boy did he do well.
A solid performance by the teenager in a hostile atmosphere lit up the away stand as Alexander-Arnold numbed the threat of Anthony Martial on the left flank. On being asked to pick a game in his debut season, Trent told the Echo,”I’ll have to say Old Trafford in January. I didn’t expect it to go how it did. I though I might struggle a lot more against such a high quality winger such as Martial. I think I handled it quite well.” Yes you did Trent.
#4 He has been a regular for the England youth teams
Representing your club is something but playing for your country is quiet another. Quite brilliantly, Alexander-Arnold has managed to do both at the tender age of 18. A regular in the England youth set-up, he has risen up the ranks and is currently part of the u-19s. He scored twice last year when England beat Croatia, and followed it up with another two goals in the 3-2 loss to Wales.
His knack for scoring braces was further showcased when he scored two against Spain from the right-back position in March earlier this year, thus helping England seal a spot in the u-19 Championship. An integral member of Keith Downing’s side, Alexander-Arnold is sure to push for a place in the England senior team in the near future.
#5 He was named Liverpool’s Young Player Of The Season for 2016/17
TAA’s exemplary performances this season have led him to this award and a majority of the Liverpool fanbase will agree with me when I say that it is one which is well deserved. The youngster has finished the season with 12 appearances for the first team which include five starts. Not bad for someone who wasn’t even part of the u-23s this time last year.
“I can never really explain. I never expected this season to go as it did. I always wanted to break into the first team and to do it this season has been a real privilege for me. I’m just thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given and the faith and the trust that the manager has given me. It really means a lot,” Alexander-Arnold told liverpoolfc.com.
A promising start to life at Merseyside has given him the confidence he needs. However, with Liverpool expected to be busy in the transfer window and new arrivals assured at Anfield, it’s now up to Alexander-Arnold himself to rise up to the challenge and cement his place in the first team. Good luck young man!
