When Liverpool entered the season with 17-year-old converted midfielder Trent Alexander-Arnold as backup to Nathaniel Clyne on the right, it left some fans scratching their heads. Instead of being a liability, the youngster, now 18, has flourished this season, and increasingly looks one of the club’s brightest prospects.
He may not be a threat to Clyne for the starting position just yet, but if he continues to improve it might not take that long for him to become one, and the more senior right back was full of praise for the young understudy who has made such an impact this season on fans and manager Jürgen Klopp.
“I think he’s come in and done really well,” Clyne told the club’s official website when asked about the young right back. “He’s such a young lad and he’s full of confidence, you can see on the pitch that nothing fazes him. You can see he’s definitely talented and he’s got a real bright future ahead of him.”
Alexander-Arnold has made nine first team appearances and earned a little over 500 minutes of playing time, notching an assist in the EFL Cup. He has also been first choice for the reserves when one of their matches follows a senior game, and has registered two goals and three assists in nine U23 appearances.
Rather than a weakness, right back now looks amongst the club’s strongest and most settled positions at the club, and the expectation will be for Alexander-Arnold to see significant minutes next season as Clyne’s backup should the Reds be successful in their attempts to return to Europe.
“He’s doing really well,” Clyne added. “On the ball he’s technically gifted, he can put in a good cross and he’s good defensively as well. He’s a quality player. You can see he’s improving. He’s more confident and he’s fitted right in. He doesn’t look out of place.”