Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s moments of genius and maturity beyond his years has earned him the admiration of Jurgen Klopp after a stunning campaign.
The 2018/19 season saw Alexander-Arnold come on leaps and bounds in what was only his second full season as a fully-fledged member of Klopp’s first team.
He was in and around the squad in 2016 and made his debut in the October against Tottenham in the fourth round of the League Cup, wherein the space of a little over two years he would become a Champions League winner and an integral component of Liverpool’s team.
It has been a meteoric rise for the England international who has grown in stature both on and off the field as a member of the Reds’ defensive line and creative hub alongside fellow full-back Andy Robertson, and in a literal sense as a mural close to Anfield.
The mural, commissioned by the Anfield Wrap, is on the corner of Sybil Street and Anfield Road and was specifically chosen to not only commemorate the incredible season gone by, but to also serve as inspiration for youngsters looking to follow in his footsteps.
From age six to number six ? pic.twitter.com/7m54FsQJuO
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) July 25, 2019
And when speaking to ESPN‘s Melissa Reddy, Klopp was full of admiration for both the artwork and the artistry of the player it depicts – with that corner against Barcelona serving as the perfect example.
“It’s great, absolutely great. I hope it’s big enough, that he likes it and he has enough friends and family in Liverpool, who will be so happy with it,” Klopp said. “I hope they all take their pictures in front of it.
“When I tell people the story about Barcelona, you cannot not mention the corner. His mural should be around the corner,” he joked.
“It’s the smartest thing I ever saw football-wise. Then I tell people that the best thing is Trent is only 20.
“And even better, he’s grown up like 200 yards from Melwood so he is Scouser from head to toe and I know how desperate the people are waiting constantly for these specific local figures.
“It could be sometimes too much pressure for specific people, but it’s not for Trent.”
While Alexander-Arnold – who set a new Premier League assist record with 12, and 16 total across last season – has impressed his manager by handling external the pressure, the 20-year-old’s maturity and ability to handle himself in front of the press also caught Klopp’s attention:
“I saw after the final, as I said I saw all the videos and I watched the pre-match press conference with Trent and Robbo and I couldn’t have been more impressed.
“I normally don’t watch that, but I watched everything. I was really impressed. 20 years old, so smart, so clear. Everything.”
After a stunning campaign last season, the future continues to look bright for both Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool, and his teammates in attack will no doubt be savouring the opportunity to again latch onto his exceptional deliveries into the box next season.
And they will not be in short supply as the in-house assist competition between himself and Robertson is set to for round two in 2019/20.
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