Trent Alexander-Arnold – Just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has come true

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Trent Alexander-Arnold was seven years old when he attended his first-ever Liverpool game as a supporter. He was looking at the Kop end from his seat, dreaming of playing in front of them one day. Eleven years later, Trent’s dream came true when he made his first senior appearance for Liverpool in the League Cup game against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.

Trent has been a Liverpool fan his whole life, having joined the Reds’ academy at the age of six. There, he spent 12 years captaining Liverpool’s U16 and U18 teams before given a chance to join the first team on a pre-season tour in the United States.

His versatility caught the eye of youth coaches who would usually deploy the Liverpool youngster in three or four different positions in training.

Agile, quick in his feet and mind, and able to play sharp, penetrating passes to the forward line from different angles – these were the main characteristics that made Trent stand out from the rest.

By joshjdss - Arsenal U18s Vs Liverpool, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60750670

After making a couple of appearances in the League Cup's early rounds, Trent’s real breakthrough moment came in his first Premier League start against Liverpool’s fiercest rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The news of him starting such a massive game came as a shock to everyone, including Trent himself. The rising Liverpool star received the news only four hours before the kick-off.

From that moment, Trent knew he was destined for greatness. Aged only 22, the England right-back has already played in two Champions League finals and was also one of the key figures helping Liverpool to clinch their first Premier League title in 30 years.

Likewise, his famous corner assist in the Champions League semi-final second-leg against Barcelona at Anfield was a decisive moment in Liverpool winning their sixth European Cup.

By Eric The Fish from UK - DSC_4798, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79471878

To add to his achievements, in June 2018, Trent became only the fourth teenager in English football history to start a World Cup match. The England right-back is part of a pool of young English players coming through the ranks at senior teams.

The newest generation has already been talked up for greatness and has been regarded as the best group of English talents since the era of Lampard, Gerrard, and Beckham.

Trent is one of the most unique and rare examples these days how a local lad can make his dream come true. Long gone are those days when soccer clubs were primarily assembled of local players.

Winning at all costs is a go-to-strategy in soccer these days which makes it incredibly difficult for academy talents to breakthrough.

The Liverpool right-back is one of those rare exceptions who made it possible.

At the end of the day, he is just a normal lad from Liverpool whose boyhood dream has come true.