STEVIE’S THE ONE
He can bend it like Beckham, deliver like De Bruyne but to TAA..
TRENT ALEXANDER ARNOLD has been compared to Kevin De Bruyne and David Beckham this season.
But it was Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard who the 21-year-old grew up admiring and modelling his game on.
Jamie Carragher claimed Alexander-Arnold could one day play in a role like Manchester City’s De Bruyne as he has “more quality than Liverpool’s midfield players”.
Another former Red, Danny Murphy, claimed the England right-back is “as good a crosser of the ball as David Beckham”.
Alexander-Arnold is staying grounded despite the lofty comparisons as he enjoyed watching a player closer to home growing up in Liverpool’s academy.
When asked who he modelled himself on, he said: “Gerrard, really. Everything about his game I really admired. I always studied him and wanted to be like him.
“I never thought, ‘I want to cross a ball like that,’ it happened naturally. It is my best asset going forward so I try to use that.”
Alexander-Arnold has become Liverpool’s assist king with his ability to cross and that gives England a great asset going forward.
He has already provided three for the leaders this season and got a staggering 15 in the league last season.
Alexander-Arnold has worked on his free-kicks too after studying Rangers boss Gerrard down the years but insists any idea of switching into midfield to be the next De Bruyne is a long way from his thoughts.
He said: “I remember Gerrard always took them [ free-kicks] for Liverpool.
“I feel confident stepping up and putting a decent ball into the box. I’m not fussed where I play. I just want to play football.”
Alexander-Arnold can help England clinch Euro 2020 qualification in the double-header with the Czech Republic and Bulgaria having learned from a 5-3 win over Kosovo.
He said: “We will analyse what went wrong and try to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We’ll make sure we get it right.”