Trent Alexander-Arnold Well-Placed to Be Next to Make the Grade at Liverpool

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 to 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.

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Although naturally a central 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 that Clyne scored 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. 

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"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 I'll try to do that every day."

Alexander-Arnold's performance earned high praise from Coach Beale, who admitted he thought being up against Sunderland winger George Honeyman—who has made his professional debut—would be a test for the West Derby-born youngster.

"He won that battle convincingly really, and when he went forward he was threatening every time," praised Beale. "Speed, aggression, strength ... he had it all. But I just want him to knock out 10 performances. He’s had two or three; let’s see if he can knock out 10 and go from there."

Beale points to the improvements in Alexander-Arnold's game being due in part to being around the first-team squad at the club's training base: "The confidence of training with the first team on a regular basis, you can see the development he has made. Training at Melwood every day with top players, you can iron out mistakes and go to another level."

The player describes it as an "unbelievable" experience: "Every day going in and being around top-quality players and being around top-quality management as well. Every day I am learning something new, hopefully if I keep learning I will push further on and try and start fighting for places."

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Having been the captain of both the Reds' under-16 and under-18 teams, Alexander-Arnold has a level head on his shoulders and knows that the hard work must continue—advice that Klopp has offered him, too. "Just keep working hard," he explained when asked what the boss has told him. "Keep trying to learn and do the right things and try and do the things in training he wants me to do.

"With time I’ll mature, and then I should be fighting for places."

Having been seen as a creative, powerful central midfielder up until the recent change to right-back, Alexander-Arnold has inevitably had to field comparisons to former captain Steven Gerrard.

“I always used to pretend to be Stevie G when I was playing as a kid as he is a Scouser," he told the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce last summer. "Everyone looks up to him."

So where does he see his future going forward?

 "I like playing both positions, and I can play both positions, so I will keep doing what I am doing, and whenever the manager wants me to play, then I’ll play. 

"Whichever he sees will get the best out of me, that’s what I’ll play, and I won’t argue with him or question him because I know the decision will be the right one in the future."

It's worth remembering Gerrard's first chances in the Liverpool first-team under Gerard Houllier in 1998 were also from right-back, so the comparisons will continue should Alexander-Arnold get his debut similarly.

With his performances for the U23s this season showing maturity and understanding of the role—and adding eye-catching goals against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland—Klopp will be confident about offering him his debut.

So far, Klopp has handed debuts to 10 players from the Reds' academy, and Alexander-Arnold looks a strong bet to be the one to make it a full XI.

"Great faith is being shown in all the young players by Jurgen and his staff," praises Beale. "They have shown that if a player has the ability and personality to play for our first team that opportunities will come for them."

Those opportunities, especially for Alexander-Arnold, could arrive this season should Klopp seek to utilise his squad in League or FA Cup matches as the campaign progresses.

"It’s just about timing and positions really," said Alexander-Arnold. "Everyone has a big amount of quality, and we all want to push forward as a team."

One thing is for sure, supporters would love to see a Scouser establish himself in Klopp's squad, and Alexander-Arnold is showing all the right signs to be able to do that if he continues to progress the way he has in the last 16 months since that surprise start against Swindon.

* Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.