Reds teenager unfazed by Ronaldo
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-arnold admits he has a difficult balancing act in showing Cristiano Ronaldo respect, but not so much that he is taken advantage of.
The 19-year-old has been on an upward curve since making his first-team debut in a League Cup tie October 2016 which has ultimately led him to a senior England call up for this summer’s World Cup.
First he has a Champions League final against Real Madrid in Kiev on Saturday and a meeting with the competition’s leading scorer both this season and of all-time.
Alexander-arnold excelled against the PFA’S Young Player of the Year Leroy Sane, three years his senior, in their quarter-final clash with Manchester City but Liverpool’s academy graduate knows the 33-year-old Ronaldo poses a greater threat.
“Most opponents aren’t Ronaldo! You have to show him respect but not too much, because that’s when you get taken advantage of,” said the right-back.
“You have a job to do and whoever I am up against I will try to come out on top like I always try.
“The right preparation for these kind of tests is training against world-class players like Mo [double Player of the Year and Premier League Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah].
“All the team push each oth- er every single day, and every day we see an improvement in all of us.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp’s influence has been a huge part of Alexander-arnold’s development, which the youngster acknowledges.
“I said thank you to the boss [when Klopp gave him the World Cup news] because without him I wouldn’t be where I am now,” Alexanderarnold added.
“The faith and trust he has in me is why I’ve played so much and been able to develop.
“The way he treats me in training and the way he goes about it with the young players is unbelievable.
“He really is a father figure to us all. We try to do what he says and hopefully I can make him proud on Saturday.”