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Whether or not Alexander-Arnold wins PFA Young Player of the Year, he’s had an outstanding season

Gareth Roberts |

April 24, 2019

THE last time The PFA’s Young Player Of The Year award ended up in the hands of a Liverpool player, it was a crew-cut sporting Steven Gerrard clutching the gong in 2001.

The Reds were on their way to a treble of League, FA and UEFA Cups under Gerard Houllier that year and Gerrard was central to it, clocking up 50 appearances during the campaign and scoring a goal in the 5-4 UEFA Cup final victory over Alaves for good measure.

A month before he nervously received the honour – jokingly adding, “I can’t say I’m going abroad here can I?” – he had scored a screamer against Manchester United at Anfield that will live forever more.

A report in The Guardian on that game summed it all up nicely: “Not for the first time, and probably not the last, Gerrard was the driving influence of this Liverpool triumph, an indomitable presence on the right of midfield. His 16th-minute haymaker, a sure-fire contender for goal of the season, was an object lesson on how to strike a long shot and watching him dominate Roy Keane et al just confirmed that Liverpool have a future England captain on their payroll. Possibly, even, this season's player of the year.”

A 20-year-old lad from Liverpool with all the talent in the world living the dream. Fast forward 18 years, and another 20-year-old Red is in the running for the award: Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Up against David Brooks (Bournemouth), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Declan Rice (West Ham United) and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling, the Scouser will find out on Sunday if he has been successful in the vote.

Given that he is up against two 24-year-olds with a combined transfer fee of close to £100million, one in Sterling capped 49 times by England, the other in Silva with 36 caps for Portugal, he is way down the betting odds.

But award in hand or not come Sunday night, it should not detract from recognising the midfielder-turned-defender’s brilliant progress.

A local lad come good story always adds much-needed romance to a game that can often feel poisoned by the pound – but it brings extra pressure with it, too. 

Alexander-Arnold made his first-team debut for Liverpool against Tottenham in the fourth round of the League Cup at Anfield on October 25, 2016 – just two weeks after his eighteenth birthday. His first Premier League start came just a few months later – away to Manchester United.

That Jurgen Klopp opted to select a teenager in such a big match might have raised a few eyebrows. But it didn’t in Liverpool. This was a player that had been spoken of for years on Merseyside before he became known nationwide. The same was true of Gerrard.

Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool’s academy at six years old and went on to captain the Under-16s and the Under-18s. His displays in midfield drew the obvious Gerrard comparison – and were praised by the man himself in his autobiography.

That now, in a short space of time, Alexander-Arnold has established himself in a new position as Liverpool’s first-choice right back, clocked up five caps for England, and played in a World Cup says all you need to know about his talent, his will and his dedication.

It’s 10 assists and one goal this season for a player now rated in the £50million bracket and what’s even more exciting is that he will only get better. Already we have heard of how Alexander-Arnold has worked on his set-pieces, free-kicks and cross delivery to add value to his performances.

His first goal for Liverpool, against Hoffenheim in a Champions League qualifier, remains a classic of its genre – a perfectly executed free kick that left the goalkeeper gobsmacked. He did something similar against Watford this season. And this, remember, while senior players rated the world over stand all around him. 

Klopp said of the goal in Germany, when Trent was still a fresh-faced 18-year-old: “[The free kick] was actually because I told him he had to do it. He was the only one who can… he can shoot free kicks better than I ever could.

“I told him because I watched him many times for Under-23s last season and he took the free kicks, and by the way the goal is the same size.”

It’s clear the manager has been key to his progress, not hammering him for the inevitable mistakes that happen to any young player, and continuing to nurture his obvious talent.

Interviewed by The Times recently, the youngest player to represent Liverpool in a Champions League final was asked about the manager’s key messages to him.

“To be confident on the pitch,” he replied. “To go out there and feel I am valued within the squad. Probably not to think of myself as that young player still coming through.”

That message is more than words. It’s backed up by the facts and figures.  Of Alexander-Arnold’s 80 appearances for Liverpool, 70 have been in the starting 11. Fifty two of those games have been in the Premier League and 21 in the Champions League.

At 20 years old, he is one of the cornerstones of a side challenging for a league and European Cup double and has been open about his personal goals – to captain club and country. Few would bet against him achieving them.

All of that may not be enough to win the PFA award this time, particularly with its odd ways and strange rules, but Liverpool will make sure he is loved regardless.

The Scouser in our team has been a credit to city and club – on and off the pitch – from the moment he first took to it less than three years ago.He gets us, and we get him. If the rest of football wants to catch up, that’s just an added bonus.

A £10 bet on Alexander-Arnold to win PFA Young Player of the Year returns £340

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