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Trent Alexander-Arnold is a star in the making. Since being tipped by one Steven Gerrard for greatness at the club while still at the academy, the born Scouser has truly come into his own in the latter half of the current season. After a string of recent performances that have seen the 19-year-old not just hold his own, but actually deliver man-of-the-match performances against top opposition on the grandest stages, the young full back has earned himself a well-deserved salary bump.
The pay rise—actually triggered back in March—was attached to clauses in the contract extension signed by the teenager last summer rewarding a season of 30-plus appearances. The actual details of the increase have not been publicized as of yet, but the Reds’ no. 66’s salary is estimated to have gone up to £40,000-a-week, a sum happily paid for such a talent.
With 39 appearances that, so far this term, have seen him expound on his strengths and noticeably improve on his weaknesses, some in the Liverpool fanbase view young Trent as arguably having displaced the two players in the squad who began the campaign ahead of him in Nathaniel Clyne and Joe Gomez.
A long injury layoff for the first team staple in Clyne at the start of the season led to a rotation between young Trent and converted center back Joe Gomez, the former seen as better going forward while the latter deemed more solid at the back. However, a combination of even more injuries and an extended run of games has allowed Alexander-Arnold to overcome his naiveté in the defensive part of his game, culminating in an emphatic two leg performance that saw the right back completely neutralize one of the best wingers in the world in Leroy Sané over the course of 180 minutes.
More such opportunities for glory await the Trent in this term. There remains a semi-final of the Champions League for one, as well as a case to make to be on the plane to Russia for the World Cup. Whatever the remainder of the campaign may hold, Liverpool fans will know that they have a special talent on their hands, one not just for the future but also very much for the now.