TRENT: NEW KID FOR THE KLOPP

Talented teen like fuelled-up Ferrari . . and on the road to becoming an Anfield legend

HE is the poster boy for Liverpool’s future and offers hope to all those teenagers trapped under the Premier League’s glass ceiling.

Pep Lijnders – the coach tasked with bridging that seemingly impossible gap between youth team and first XI – is certain Trent Alexander-Arnold can do it.

“Talent without fire is like a Ferrari without fuel . . and fire is something Trent has,” replied the Dutchman when asked why he is so sure.

“First always comes love for the ball, the game and love for training. Passion and ambition is the starting point of everything that counts. Every talent inside our club must unfold itself by showing that desire and fighting. Trent does this in every single session.

“He has that Scouse mentality to go to and over the limits on the pitch.”

Those words will be music to the ears of Reds supporters yearning for a local hero they can truly believe in.

And according to Steven Gerrard, the icon who last fulfilled that role at Anfield, the 18-year-old really does have the star quality to not only handle the pressure of fans’ hopes and dreams, but to thrive on it.

Gerrard suggested months ago he felt Alexander-Arnold was destined for the top, but after the teenager’s brilliant goal in Hoffenheim which announced his talent to a world-wide audience, he went further.

“Performances like that let Jurgen Klopp know he’s ready for the big time,” said Gerrard in his role as a BT pundit. “To step up and have the character to take a free-kick ahead of the likes of Henderson and Mane, it does say a lot – he’s going to be a top, top player.”

Gerrard is well placed to judge, because like AlexanderArnold, he was a natural midfielder whose first opportunity for Liverpool came at right-back, where he showed the natural ease of a true athlete.

And according to Lijnders,

Alexander-Arnold could follow a similar path and eventually save Liverpool tens of millions by claiming a pivotal central midfield role.

“He was a right-sided defender who could create and dominate the complete right channel, but also had the ability to play passes to the front players where everything became interesting,” said Lijnders.

“He had the gift to speed up the tempo of the positional play. He has pace but more importantly he’s quick in his mind. I was convinced his future was inside, but now I don’t know any more. As long as it is for LFC, it’s OK.”

Perhaps what is most impressive about the youngster is his ability to focus purely on making a permanent step into the first team despite being in the spotlight recently.

If there is one thing that perhaps makes his eyes widen a little, it is the news Gerrard rates him so highly.

As a small child, his greatest moment was when pictured with the then Liverpool captain. He said: “It’s always good to get compliments from your idol. I’m hoping to live up to his words.

“It’s always good to have his backing and support. It’s special in so many different ways and I’ve definitely ticked the box off . . it is indescribable to be honest, to get my first goal.”

And what a first goal it was, curled in superbly from 25 yards, on his European debut too.

He said: “I’ve been practising free-kicks but I didn’t think the senior players would let me take it.

“In the end they did and I stepped up and scored.”