Double A star for Trent!
KOP KID LIVES DREAM
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD knew exactly what he wanted in life when, aged seven, he stood on his garden wall to cheer home Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League winners.
His dream was to be on board that red open-topped bus carrying the conquerers of AC Milan in Istanbul.
He wanted to follow in the glorious footsteps of his heroes Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso.
Young Alexander-Arnold would walk the 10 minutes from his West Derby home to sneak a peek at Liverpool’s superstars through cracks in the training ground wall.
Now, Alexander-Arnold has achieved his lifelong ambition of becoming a Liverpool player – and is hoping to take another step towards cementing his spot against Southampton today.
But after starting 17 games under manager Jurgen Klopp and being acclaimed by Gerrard, he cannot help turning his mind’s eye back to those early days of worship.
He vividly recalls the 2005 final when Rafa Benitez’s men were 3-0 down at half-time – only to win in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
He said: “I remember at the house, we had flags hanging outside the windows and everything. I think most houses in Liverpool did because it was such a big occasion.
“At half-time, I just remember the room being silent. No one could quite believe what had happened. Everyone was so gutted.
“We were just sat there, watching the replays back of the goals. We were heartbroken but then there was that magical second-half comeback – I’ve probably watched that game about 10 to 15 times.
“I remember they came right past my house for the homecoming. We were all just standing on the wall outside my house. Me and my mates, playing footy in the front garden just waiting for them to come.
“Then you hear the commotion and see all the players on the open-top bus going right past your house with the Champions League trophy. It was just unbelievable.
“I thought, ‘That’s the place I want to be’. You see your idols standing up there and you see the reaction of a whole city. Sitting in my mum’s car driving around seeing everywhere red, I was thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do one day’.”
And just like Gerro and Carra, Alexander-Arnold wants to spend the best years of his career at Liverpool.
He added: “If everything goes to plan then I don’t see me leaving the club.”
Southampton v
Liverpool, Today,
4.30pm, Sky
Sports Main
Event STAYING POWER: Alexander-Arnold wants to stay a Red Nov 2017: Liverpool 3 Soton 0 May 2017: Liverpool 0 Soton 0 Jan 2017: Liverpool 0 Soton 1 Jan 2017: Soton 1 Liverpool 0 Nov 2016: Soton 0 Liverpool 0
Soton – 30 wins Liverpool – 51 wins Draws – 24