Liverpool and England star Trent Alexander-Arnold eager to live up to lofty comparisons

Last week he was being compared to Kevin De Bruyne. Last month, it was David Beckham.

Previously in his life, Steven Gerrard had always been the benchmark.

Trent Alexander-Arnold should feel crushed by the weight of such lofty comparisons, but he claims to enjoy them.

It was Jamie Carragher who said that the 21-year-old could become the same sort of influential player for Liverpool that De Bruyne is for Manchester City.

Danny Murphy had previously likened his crossing to former England captain Beckham, while Gerrard was the player Alexander-Arnold wanted to be as he was growing up.

“If you want to be the best in the world, you have to have an open mind about such comparisons,” Alexander-Arnold said.

“Of course, we have not achieved what those players managed so it is difficult to say whether we will or won’t. Who knows?

“But you have to have an open mind and achieve the levels of those players and be regarded in the same bracket as them.

“It is nice to be thought of in that way but for me, it is about trying to reach their levels and try to reach higher and be one of the best in the world.

“In the meantime, it’s all just people’s opinions and they can think what they think.”

Certainly, Alexander-Arnold is not getting carried away with all this praise.

He is aware of Carragher’s comments regarding De Bruyne and a more influential attacking role but Alexander-Arnold’s view is, “all in good time”.

“That’s his point of view and maybe one day it will happen,” Alexander-Arnold said. “Who knows? But for the time being, the manager has obviously decided I am a right-back and that is where I will play.

“I am not fussed where I play. I just want to play football. If the manager decides that he wants to use me as a midfielder, centre-back or striker, that is where I will play.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp may have his own views, but England manager Gareth Southgate is definitely in need of his defensive qualities right now.

For all the exhilarating play at the other end of the field, England shipped goals far too easily against Kosovo and with the disappointment of losing to Holland in the UEFA Nations League semi-final in June also down to defensive frailties, the back line remains an area of concern heading towards next summer’s final stages of Euro 2020.

“If we want to be regarded as one of the best teams in Europe and go far in the Euros and try and win the competition, our clean sheets and goals conceded must be fewer,” Alexander-Arnold said. “We have to concede fewer goals.

“As defenders as a team and as a unit, we know where to improve and where to work on. Some games, though, things just happen.

“As players, we will analyse things, but we know what is going right and what is not. We have not had the meeting yet but we will do over the next few days and I will make sure it does not happen again.”

Making that name for himself can come in the long-term. Nevertheless, it is impressive that such lofty ambitions are already part of Alexander-Arnold’s motivation.

“What drives me on?” he said. “The main thing is winning trophies. Wanting to leave a legacy behind and feeling you had an impact on club and country and to be remembered.

“I won the Champions League in the summer but it is the same as if you have not won a trophy. You want to do it more often.

“That determination and hunger to win never really dies out.

“The aim is always to win and that is the mentality I have got at the minute.”

source: express.co.uk