- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Trent Alexander-Arnold Well Placed to Be Next to Make the Grade at Liverpool
- Updated: September 28, 2016
When Liverpool played their final pre-season game of summer 2015, the friendly against Swindon Town was memorable for the non-competitive debuts of big-money signings Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke—the latter who scored a stunning overhead goal.
But then-manager Brendan Rodgers also handed a first appearance for another, less familiar name: 16-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The local lad, who has been at the Reds’ academy since the age of six, lined up at right-back for Rodgers’ side, playing 57 minutes before fellow academy player Daniel Cleary replaced him.
Although naturally a centre midfielder, Alexander-Arnold has gone on to become an impressive option for Liverpool’s under-23s at right-back, which is also where he appeared this pre-season under Jurgen Klopp. The now-17-year-old was named on the bench for the Reds’ first game of the season at Arsenal last month.
While he is yet to make his competitive bow for the first team, Alexander-Arnold is buoyed by his own personal progress and by seeing players like Ovie Ejaria make their first-team debut. “I am really happy for him because I know he deserves it with his performances and the way he trains,” Alexander-Arnold told Bleacher Report. “It’s thoroughly deserved. Hopefully if I keep training well and playing well I can get into the manager’s good books.”
With Liverpool lacking natural cover at right-back behind Nathaniel Clyne, his chance could well arrive this season and is perhaps why Reds’ U23s boss Michael Beale has been playing the England under-19 international at right-back.
In his most recent outing for the U23s, a 3-0 thrashing of Sunderland at Prenton Park, Alexander-Arnold was the standout performer, almost running the game from right-back and adding a superb solo effort that was not too dissimilar to a goal scored by Clyne against Liverpool for Southampton two seasons ago.
“I am trying to watch him [Clyne] and learn how good he is,” said Alexander-Arnold. “I think he is probably the best right-back in the league for me, defensively and going forward.
“He is so consistent in everything he does. I want to play the way I play, but if I can learn things from him, then Ill …
