Why Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold Is Destined For Greatness
Jurgen Klopp is making serious progress at Anfield and in just over a year, he has helped the Liverpool side to the Champions League, for the first time in more than three years. The Reds are now desperate to add some quality to the first team for the challenges next season but Klopp is keeping a serious eye on the players from the academy and one player who is not too far away from jumping into the first team under the German is young Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Born and brought up in Liverpool, Arnold is a genuine Scouser who lives and fights for the club. He has been with the club’s academy since 2004 and took 12 long years to make it to the first team, when Klopp used him last season as a backup. He also has 8 appearances for the England U19 side.
The Reds were sent into a frenzy after it was announced that the 18-year old signed a new five-year deal with the club. It was received well by everyone associated with the club. So what is the fuzz all about? Will Trent Alexander-Arnold live up to the expectations?
Exceptionally strong and smart for an 18-year old, Arnold is a genuine superstar in the making, who has always been the best in his lot. Having played for the English U16s, U17s, U18s and the U19s in his career, Arnold is a versatile defender who was used mainly as a right-back by Liverpool last season.
The Reds used Nathaniel Clyne as the first choice in that role but the former Southampton man had no real backup in the first team, making Trent Alexander-Arnold the only player Klopp could call upon last season. But Arnold took no time to repay the faith as he put in some astonishing performances all throughout the season.
He made his first full debut in the Premier League against Manchester United away from home, and hardly put a foot wrong all game. The likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney on the flank and Marouane Fellaini in the air were no match to his skill as he quietly went about his work and helped his side to a draw at Old Trafford.
Even at 18, he regularly made it to the bench late last season as a backup for Clyne and it is genuinely believed around the Liverpool community that he can handle the first team pressure if they lose Clyne to any injury next season.
The Reds are not even looking at a backup for the right-back slot next season as Klopp is convinced that Arnold can do the job for him. This shows the amount of potential that Klopp sees in him and if he can continue to impress the German tactician, he is sure to become one of the many youngsters that the former Borussia Dortmund manager has turned into superstars.
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