Trent: Bring on the big guns – it’s time for fun
TRENT ALEXANDER-Arnold is confident Liverpool can beat anyone in the Champions League this season and is looking forward to the knockout stages as that is when ‘the fun begins’.
Having already qualified as group winners, Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Midtjylland was academic, but it did present the opportunity for the 22-year-old to captain his boyhood club for the first time.
The results that mattered were elsewhere as the club’s potential last-16 opponents were finalised.
In Monday’s draw, Jurgen Klopp’s side could be pitted against Atletico Madrid, who knocked them out last season, Barcelona,
It felt special, it was a really proud night for me on a personal note
Borussia Monchengladbach, Porto, Sevilla, Lazio or RB Leipzig.
Despite the apparent strength of that selection, Alexander-Arnold insists it holds no fears.
‘Now the fun begins really,’ he said. ‘The knockout stages, this is where the best teams perform and get through. I think on our day we’ll be able to beat anyone.’
Alexander-Arnold became the third-youngest Liverpool player to wear the armband, younger even than Steven Gerrard – although he assumed the responsibility on a permanent basis whereas the England full-back handed it over when regular skipper Jordan Henderson came on in the second half.
Having come through the Liverpool academy it was a night to remember for Alexander-Arnold, who added: ‘Obviously it’s always been a dream, it’s always special to play on Champions League nights. To lead the team out was incredibly proud, it was something that was different, new to me.
‘It felt special. It was a really proud night for me on a personal note. I think I’ll look back (with) fond memories of being captain for the first time.’ With fellow academy graduate Leighton Clarkson, 19, making his Champions League debut and 18-year-old Billy Koumetio becoming the club’s youngest player in the European Cup as a substitute, AlexanderArnold was one of the senior men.
‘We see it every day in training (from) the lads that are there, we have so many young players now. It’s refreshing to see,’ he said.
‘I think what they need to do is just focus on themselves, keep working, keep learning from players that they’re looking up to. I think they performed really well.’