Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FRIEND TO FOE
No love lost when Alexander-arnold goes to ‘war’ with pal Rashford in bitter showdown
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD says there will be no love lost as he goes into battle with Liverpool’s greatest enemy.
The talented Reds youngster has struck up a great friendship with Manchester United’s rising stars Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, after the trio became close during England’s heroic run to the
World Cup semifinal.
Alexander-arnold’s brother Tyler, and
Dane – brother of
Rashford – are also pals and they all frequently socialise together... but not in the days leading up to the game that is the greatest rivalry in
English football.
Asked if he will be texting his England mates ahead of Sunday, the Anfield star said emphatically: “Definitely not.
“You focus on your job and on the day there will be no smiles. We will be going to war with them and hopefully come out on top.”
Alexander-arnold has spoken generously in the past about the United pair, and he regards them as close, even though he insists there is still a “bitter rivalry” when they return to their clubs.
The 20-year-old says England boss Gareth Southgate has fostered a close relationship between the players (inset below, Rashford and Alexander-arnold at England training), but explained that goes out of the window in a domestic season. “I think probably the England set-up has helped everyone overcome the bitter rivalries. That has probably helped us do so well internationally,” he said. “But when you are not on international duty then it is normal business as usual.” Rashford showed how business as usual can be brutal and ruthless when he took Alexanderarnold apart at Old Trafford last season (left) in scoring the two goals that won United the game. That was used as evidence that the young full-back still had a long way to go to reach the summit of the game, but he responded brilliantly on Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final, and also at the World Cup. And Alexander-arnold says that he has worked hard at his game since that disappointment last
March... and also insisted it is no shame to concede goals to a talent as huge as Rashford.
“I would probably say it was the hardest point of my career up to then, and it is something that has helped me learn, progress and move forward. I still use it as a learning point. Rather than let it get me down, put me down and think maybe I am not good enough at this level, it was important to use it as a positive and see it as a learning step.
“I needed to use it as motivation to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again and you prove that you are better than you showed on that day. The coaching staff guided me through the tough time around that game.”
And on Rashford he added: “The talent he has got is obvious. If he is not a world-class player now, then he is someone who can definitely reach that level.”