Trent Alexander-Arnold: “What A Season,” Says Klopp

They are talking about this kid as the future Liverpool and England captain. Trent Alexander-Arnold is nineteen-years-old. A beyond spectacular season under Jürgen Klopp he may have had, but it would be nice if every young player who excels isn’t touted by media bubs as the next hero for the chopping block.

But since you’re all here and we’re family, we can talk about how ‘yes he’s absolutely going to be the future Liverpool captain’ all we want.

Alexander-Arnold certainly looks apt for the part at the moment. And I love a good local boy success story. We may be seeing it all happen before our very eyes. His early career under Jürgen Klopp, episode three of the twelve part miniseries won’t have the fireworks of his prime years but it will be the one everyone’s seen a hundred times. That’s when we knew. We were there.

From his rise through Nathaniel Clyne’s understudy program with Joe Gomez to the man who has taken on the heavy-hitters of the Champions League and been the one to come away with a smile, Trent has had a tremendously impressive season while becoming a professional football player. He’s had the type of season that shows he’s got the stuff. Or the thing or whatever. Whatever is it, he’s got it. And he knows how to use it.

Alexander-Arnold has been impressive enough to earn a call up to the England team for the World Cup. What a ride Trent is on right now. He’s going to play in the Champions League final and then he’s going to the World Cup. Do all the big stuff, Trent.

It was Klopp that heard from the England manager of Trent’s inclusion in the national team squad and he was eager to be the first to bestow the good news to the young full back.

“It is nice, a nice story,” said Klopp

“Gareth Southgate gave me a call this morning and told me that I am allowed to tell him, but then I had some press work to do and didn’t have time.

“So, in the bus to the plane, I saw Trent for the first time. I thought maybe he knew already and someone else had called him.

“I had the honour of telling him and it was nice to see his eyes. It’s fantastic, it’s well deserved, what a season. What a season!

”Can you be too young? No. You can be not good enough — but he is good enough.

“It’s just a wonderful little piece more which makes this season special, even before the last game [against Real Madrid].”

More seasons with Klopp, working as hard as he’s been working, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ceiling looks to be up there. Klopp is proving be to an excellent manager of young players in his squad and part of that is his support and genuine care for them. He clears a path to confidence at a crucial stage of their development. And Trent’s ambition and ability have run him straight through it this season. Next thing you know he’ll be facing up to Cristiano Ronaldo.