Mum Dianne is in close contact with her lad, texting him every day through the World Cup, but lets him get away with not doing the dishes
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD has emerged as a world-class defender — but admits he’s reluctant to be a sweeper.
The Liverpool and England star still lives at home and has to do his share of the chores. The 19-year-old said: “I do some jobs around the house, yeah.
“The hoovering, which is not the best, but it’s better than the dishes.”
Mum Dianne did her best to keep tabs on her middle son during the World Cup, with TAA revealing she texted him every day to remind him to put on sun block.
And there is no doubt in his mind about the highlight of his incredible year.
He said: “Seeing my family smile at the World Cup. Not many people can say their family has seen them play at a World Cup.
“When I was growing up I was focused on football and school. I passed all my GCSEs.
“My family were supportive in making sure I did the best that I could at school.
“My mum and dad always knew that my dream was to be a footballer, but they also warned me that it doesn’t always work out.
“The odds are stacked against you so my family made sure I always had a back-up plan. I feel lucky.”
It was a year ago today that Alexander-Arnold was part of the Liverpool team that lost 5-0 to Manchester City.
Now, still four weeks short of his 20th birthday, he is the first-choice right-back for a club which sits top of the Premier League, with a Champions League final and a World Cup already under his belt.
It was only when Alexander-Arnold went on summer holiday with his family to Los Angeles that he was able to reflect on his meteoric rise.
He said: “I tried not to think about it too much because during the season you have to focus week in and week out, not think about the past.
“There came a time when we were away and I was able to sit down and think about how everything has changed in the last 12 months.
“How much progress I have made and how much more I can give and how much more I can improve, how I can get better.”
In that game at City 12 months ago where Sadio Mane was sent off after 37 minutes for Jurgen Klopp’s side, Alexander-Arnold was given a torrid time by Leroy Sane.
Six months later, he produced two superb performances against the German winger in the Champions League quarter-final that truly announced his arrival in football’s big time.
Alexander-Arnold said: “You are brought up to realise that there will always be tough times in football and that nothing is ever straight-forward at the top level.
“If you look back at last season, before the two City games in the Champions League, there was Man United away and Crystal Palace away where Marcus Rashford and Wilfried Zaha gave me a tough time.
“A lot of people might have doubted whether I was ready for the Champions League, but I went out there with a point to prove. Hopefully I showed everyone that I was capable of playing in those types of big matches and why the manager had trust in me.
“The season wasn’t always smooth. There were ups and downs. But thankfully there were more ups than downs.”
Alexander-Arnold had another “pinch me” moment between the end of the league season and the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
He said: “I was at the under-nines signing ceremony at Anfield in May.
“I saw the pre-Academy turn into the Academy. I remember when I did it, Jamie Carragher was there. I got my picture taken with him and it was a dream come true.
“Seeing the smiles on all the young faces was incredible.
“It’s hard to believe. The likes of Gerrard and Carragher were there for me, they were what I wanted to become and they gave me that bit more inspiration to work hard in the Academy.
“Hopefully I’m doing the same for them, and I’m a decent role model for them to look up to, to work hard and to aspire to become.” It is hard to think of a better example for a young footballer than Reds star Alexander-Arnold.
He gained a clutch of GCSEs while also passing the examinations that the game threw at him, and there is no sign of his achievements going to his well-educated head.
The teenager speaks quietly, but confidently and articulately, giving honest and thoughtful answers to every question.
But the suggestion that he might have been disappointed to play only one game at the World Cup, against Belgium in the group stage, prompts a quick response.
Alexander-Arnold said: “I enjoyed every minute of it.
“If you had told me a year ago that I would be where I am now, I would have took it and ran.
“I am grateful for every opportunity, whether that’s playing or just being around the England team — being able to experience and be part of the special journey that meant so much to the country.”
Alexander-Arnold has a good chance of being involved in Tuesday’s friendly when Gareth Southgate’s side take on Switzerland at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.
And having won his first senior cap at Elland Road against Costa Rica in June, he believes another game “on the road” will help cement the close bond with Three Lions supporters that was created by the summer in Russia.
Alexander-Arnold said: “My debut was at Leeds. I felt the love and support from being on the road.
“It’s a bit more natural than every game being at Wembley and it’s good for the fans to see the team coming to their ground.
“That’s important. Since Gareth’s come in he’s wanted to connect fans back again with the players.
“Make everyone fall in love with the game again, and that’s part of it.”
Liverpool-born Alexander-Arnold’s story is surely enough to make even the biggest cynic rediscover some joy in football.
Here is a teenager, playing for the club he has supported since he was six and for his country — and loving and appreciating every minute.
Alexander-Arnold said: “It’s a privilege to play for the team I have always loved and always wanted to play for.
“I have never felt pressure. I have always felt it’s a blessing and I am happy to be part of the team and walk out at Anfield with the Liverpool badge on my chest.
“When you’re growing up you have dreams — and I am living that dream.
“You want to be playing for one of the best teams in the world, you want to play for your country, you want to be experiencing special occasions.
“So far, I have been lucky. I have been given the opportunity to perform on the biggest stages and I am grateful for that.”
SOURCE: thesun.co.uk
