Who is Liverpool teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold?

Trent Alexander-Arnold - Who is Liverpool teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold?
Trent Alexander-Arnold says he is determined to one day become Liverpool captain 

After scoring a spectacular free-kick in his side's Champions League first leg qualifier against Hoffenheim on Tuesday night, Trent Alexander-Arnold's is a name that has got Liverpool supporters excited, but what do we know about the teenager?

Born on Oct 7, 1998 – the month before Steven Gerrard made his debut for the club – Alexander-Arnold grew up in West Derby, the Liverpool suburb where the club's Melwood training ground is based.

After being picked out of a lucky dip while at primary school to earn a spot at summer football camp, Alexander-Arnold impressed coach Ian Barrigan before joining Liverpool in 2004, aged just six.

Despite training briefly with Everton, Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool shortly after that summer camp. In an interview with Telegraph Sport earlier this year, Alexander-Arnold said he "always knew" he wanted to play for Liverpool.

Growing up idolising Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres – "I really looked up to them" – Alexander-Arnold got his first taste of being close to the first-team when he led the team out as a ballboy in Liverpool's League Cup tie against Leeds United at Elland Road in Sept 2009.

Alexander-Arnold, who can operate as a full-back or central midfield, captained the under-16 team during their 2014-15 campaign before stepping up to the under-18 side in the same season.

Despite his tender years, Alexander-Arnold has his sights set on the Liverpool captaincy saying he will not be satisfied until he has achieved his dream.

“It goes back to Steven Gerrard," Alexander-Arnold told Telegraph Sport in May. "He was my idol – seeing him wearing that armband week in, week out. I always wanted to be like him so wearing that armband would mean a lot to me.

“Until I am playing every game all season for a couple of seasons I am always going to be striving for better."

Alexander-Arnold made his first-team debut in the League Cup defeat of Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Oct 25, 2016, though after being booked was subsitituted in the 68th minute. 

Later that season Alexander-Arnold made his first Premier League start – his debut came in the 89th minute against Middlesbrough the previous month – in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Jan 15, 2017.

In the 2-1 defeat on Hoffenheim on Tuesday night Alexander-Arnold became the third youngest Liverpool player (18 years 10 months 8 days) to score on his European debut behind Michael Owen (17 years 9 months 2 days) and David Fairclough (18 years 9 months 30 days).

  • Trent Alexander-Arnold is valued at £2.5m in Telegraph Fantasy Football but is he good enough to make your team? - pick a team today >>
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