TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD INTENDS to stay at Liverpool for the rest of his career in the hope of becoming a club legend.
The England international has become an integral part of the Reds’ first team over the past two seasons and finished 19th in this month’s Ballon d’Or voting.
He further highlighted his importance with a goal and two assists in the 4-0 win over Leicester City on Boxing Day, a result that left Liverpool 13 points clear at the top of the table and well on course for a maiden Premier League trophy.
And the Liverpool-native, who came through the club’s academy ranks, has his sights set on writing his name in Anfield folklore.
“I’ve always wanted to be a club legend,” he told Swedish newspaper Sportbladet.
“Winning titles, playing as many matches as possible, winning matches, becoming captain.
“Of course, I can’t become a legend if I leave Liverpool to play elsewhere. So, my focus is there and on making the club as successful as possible.”
Alexander-Arnold is already in possession of a Champions League winner’s medal after playing 11 times in Liverpool’s successful European campaign last season.
Jurgen Klopp handed the right-back his first-team debut in October 2016 and he is grateful to have been given an extended run in the side by the German.
“He always talks about how we can improve, what we can do to get into the team, what we have to do to make it happen,” Alexander-Arnold said of his manager.
“It’s obviously something you have to hear as a young player. You have to feel that the manager may give you a chance.
“You never begin to doubt yourself if the manager tells you what you need to do or what you need to improve in order to play.”
The England full-back was instrumental in Liverpool’s victory at the Club World Cup in Doha, Qatar earlier in December.
Alexander-Arnold provided a pin-point cross for Roberto Firmino to scored the Reds’ winning goal against the Mexican side Monterrey to book their place in the final against Flamengo of Brazil.
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He is already.
Doing a fairly decent impression of one at the minute
You already are mate
@HonDeDeise: you are inaccurate. You do a disservice to all true great Liverpool legends if you consider someone with 18 months (allbeit fantastic) under their belt. Hold your standards FFS. It’s this malaise that put your club in this position.
@Jonathon Carroll: There is one thing to be said for doing it on the big stage over a number of years in your prime ala the true Liverpool greats. A true rest passed by a select few.
TAA has exploded onto the scene over an now sustained period as a marauding assist machine who passes and strikes the ball like a dream, collecting medals along the way. Influening huge European ties with his quick thinking. All under the age of 20. A legend in my book.
Keep it going
still has a long way to go to emulate Hughes thompson hansen clemence carragher hamman rush dalgleish etc but he is heading in the right direction
@PW: Hamman was decent, not in the same bracket as the others tjough imo. Throw Gerrard in there and you’re laughing.
Learn to defend! Great going forward but been lucky that lapses have not been punished. I have no dog in this fight but if you want to be a “legend” similar to fullbacks like Maldini, Cafu, Thuram, who define what a legend is, learn to defend. As it stands you have 18 great months under your belt, but a long road to being a legend.
@Jonathon Carroll: love all the players you list. Trent does not have to defend in the same way. He has been part of a complete redefinition of the role. Trent is an attacking wide player who has a covering midfielder when he goes forward. None of the names listed have had 10% of the attacking effect (Cafu maybe?). It’s not easy become a “Legend” but his last season with highlights including the imperious Barca show and his performance so far this season (where he likely will be assist leader in a team that wins the league for the first time in 30 years) put him in a pretty special place. Neither you nor I define Legend status. Some legends are great for short periods and have short careers, some (like Ryan Giggs) are great for short periods but have long careers.