A look at Trent Alexander-Arnold's meteoric rise as Liverpool's number 1 right-back

When Trent Alexander-Arnold was running around in Liverpool's academy, he was tipped for big things.

The Scouser was performing well as a midfielder when he was a youngster.

When Alexander-Arnold was just 16 years of age, Reds legend Steven Gerrard said that he had a terrific chance of making it as a professional footballer.

“Trent Arnold has a terrific chance of making it as a top professional," the 41-year-old wrote in his most recent autobiography, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.

“He’s quite leggy but he’s got a lovely frame and seems to have all the attributes you need.

“He has the right attitude and comes from West Derby, home to Melwood. So Trent is another Scouser and apparently, just as I tried to be John Barnes and Steve McMahon, he grew up pretending to be me while playing in the Merseyside parks.

“He can play as a number six, a holding midfielder, but he’s versatile and I’ve seen him fill various positions. I know England are all over him.”

But, until a youngster transitions from the academy to the first-team, you just never know whether they will make it or not.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp handed Alexander-Arnold his Liverpool senior debut against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield back in 2016. The Reds won the aforementioned fourth round League Cup clash 2-1.

Since then, Alexander-Arnold has not looked back. However, rather than playing in midfield, the 23-year-old has made himself a regular at right-back in Klopp's side.

First and foremost, Alexander-Arnold is a defender. But, there is no denying that playing in midfield as a youngster has made him quite a unique right-back.

Alexander-Arnold has a far greater skillset than most full-backs in the game simply because he originally played in a position where he had to get on the ball and make things happen.

With that being the case, the Scouser is such a weapon from out wide. Alexander-Arnold has scored 12 goals and registered 59 assists in 208 appearances for the club's first-team.

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane implied that the 23-year-old has revolutionised the full-back position

As quoted by Sports Joe, Keane told Sky Sports the following back in January: "Absolutely brilliant, what a player.

"He's fantastic, the stats you showed, absolutely brilliant, brilliant player. A local lad, I bet he can't believe his luck. The chances he creates, the assists, unbelievable.

"He looks like a good athlete, looks like a decent lad. Brilliant player.

"We all get excited about attacking players. But to get excited by him, the full-back, it's how the game has changed in the past few years, the full-backs are so important to the team now.

"The assists, the positions he gets himself in, he's got a lot of courage. What a brilliant player."

Some people involved in the game, such as former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon, have questioned the defensive side of Alexander-Arnold's game in recent years.

But, we believe his ability without the ball has been totally blown out of proportion.

Footage of Alexander-Arnold highlights that he can defend. The scary thing about full-back is that he can only get better from an attacking and defending point of view.

As we have already pointed out, the right-back is only 23 years of age. Therefore, it would be fair to assume that Alexander-Arnold is far from the finished article.

The Scouser grew up supporting Liverpool. We would not be shocked to see him go on and become the captain of the club one day.

Alexander-Arnold has won four major trophies with Liverpool. Hopefully the youngster can add some more silverware to his collection before his time at Anfield comes to an end.

As things stand, Alexander-Arnold's career has been a success and it's only going to get better.