I never went to house parties. I made sacrifices and it was worth it.. but I’m one of the very few
– TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
I was 17 or 18. But it didn’t bother me.”
Trent took his GCSEs earlier than his classmates – in Bulgaria, because it coincided with the Under-17 European Championships.
He adds: “Luckily, my parents were on at me about school work and education. So I was always very disciplined and I had to get it right. “The school board sent out the invigilators and it all was done properly.”
Outside school, the rising star would never once go to a house party, hang out or even walk home with his mates after school.
He says: “Looking back, everyone I knew was doing those things. But everyone who wanted to be a footballer had to make sacrifices. I wasn’t the only one. I just wanted to give myself the best chance. I thought, if it’s what I really want and I believe I can go and do it, then I’m not going to cut corners, I’m not going to cheat myself out of it. I’m going to try my absolute best.
“And I would do it all a million times over just to get a sniff of what I’ve achieved.”
Thriving under manager Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, Trent could end this season winning an unprecedented Quadruple – the Premier League, the Europa League, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
With Klopp leaving at the end of the season, it could make for an emotional climax to a compelling campaign. But Trent is just as committed to leaving a lasting legacy in the city where he has become a superstar.
The launch of his After Academy Jobs Board will give those teenagers released by clubs opportunities to find rewarding work. Backed by Liverpool FC and a string of sponsors including Red Bull, Hugo Boss, Adidas, Versus, Therabody and Under Armour, it aims to open up a new life outside football.
Trent says: “There are so many different avenues within football. But brands are also starting to realise that the experiences and the skills that we are taught within academies are very valuable.
“If I’m 16 and I’ve been at an academy for 10 years, I’ve learned 10 years of team bonding, communication, team skills, hard work, dedication, sacrifice, discipline, routine, following instruction and working as a team.
“But I’ve also learned about the setbacks that come with it. All that compared to somebody else my age is very, very valuable to a company.”
He isn’t just lending his name to a campaign. Trent is giving hope to a generation that had it snatched from them.
It is a legacy in the city just as important as anything left by Jurgen Klopp.
PHIL FODEN fired a hat-trick against Brentford as Man City proved they have the bottle for a three-way title fight.
His treble gave City a fourth consecutive away win in the Premier League after going behind.
Neal Maupay slotted home early but Foden’s magic touch – once before the break and twice shortly after – broke the resistance.
City keep the Premier League title battle with Liverpool and Arsenal in their own hands.
THE ominous shadow of the champions chasing history is looming large over this season’s title race.
Manchester City moved up to second, just two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand and, even more frighteningly, are beginning to find their groove.
And even more impressively, it was Phil Foden who stepped forward with a magnificent hat-trick to underline his brilliant run of form.
Foden was electric, he lit up the game and is now firmly established as a prolific supply line of goals from midfield to go with all his dazzling skill, dribbling and close control.
Surely now Foden (top left) is also becoming a must-pick for England ahead of this summer’s Euros, because he is one of the main driving forces behind City’s push for yet more silverware and records.
It is now nine straight wins in all competitions – including five on the bounce in the Premier League – and their sights are firmly set on rewriting the history books by becoming the first team to win four titles in a row.
The obvious question is: who on earth can stop them? They have the know-how, experience and they have Kevin De Bruyne back, fit-again Erling Haaland started his first game in more than a month and Foden is shaping up to be this season’s key man.
City’s three-goal haul also helped set a new Premier League record for the most goals in a single match round.
The four goals at the Brentford Community Stadium took this weekend’s tally up to 45 goals across the 10 matches over the weekend – which beats the previous best of 44.
And it felt fitting that it was City to push the Premier League record over the line because they have been the great entertainers under Pep Guardiola.
It would have been even more but for the heroics of Brentford keeper Mark Flekken, who made an incredible string of first-half saves and provided the assist for the opening goal.
For so long, it looked like Brentford could do something remarkable as Flekken almost took on City single-handed until Guardiola’s men took charge.
Twice, Flekken denied Julian Alvarez with long-range efforts and then somehow kept out Kyle Walker’s 30-yard piledriver.
Flekken then became goal maker as he provided the first assist by a keeper this season.
His long punt forward was straight down the middle, Ivan Toney cleverly backed into Nathan Ake and the ball carried all the way through the middle.
Neal Maupay found himself clean through, he looked up and could hardly believe it but he kept his composure and calmly slotted it past City keeper Ederson. That is now five in five for Maupay.
Flekken kept defying City until finally the visitors scored with their 17th shot on goal in the third minute of first-half injury time.
De Bruyne’s cross was going nowhere, but Ethan Pinnock made a horrible mistake as he headed straight into the path of Foden who lashed home.
Once the seal was broken, other goals were certain to follow.
Sure enough, eight minutes into the second half De Bruyne’s floated cross found Foden who then glanced a perfect header into the bottom corner.
Brentford did not give up as Christian Norgaard saw an effort heroically blocked by Ruben Dias while Toney slashed another big chance horribly wide.
Then came the decisive third City goal after 70 minutes. Foden swapped passes with Haaland on the edge of the box, the Norway striker provided the assist and Foden was on hand to slot the ball home.
It was a lovely way to complete a much-deserved City win and you can bet that Liverpool, Arsenal and the rest will be fearing the worst.