Footage of Trent Alexander-Arnold dominating games in midfield whilst in the Liverpool academy has emerged.
The 21-year-old joined the Reds’ academy in 2004 and captained the club at various different age levels before making his first team debut in 2015.
Alexander-Arnold was tipped for greatness by former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard in his autobiography for his excellent displays at youth level at right-back.
But, while playing for the Under-16 and Under-18 teams, coach Pepijin Landers handed the youngster the captain’s armband and played him on the wing and in midfield – long before switching him to defence.
Popular YouTube channel Scout Nation HD has delved into the archives to find footage from the 2015/16 season to find the talented teen playing in a much more advanced position for the youth teams and wreaking havoc.
Alexander-Arnold has been long tipped to move further forward as his career progresses. So far he has recorded 23 assists as a right-back from just 80 Premier League games.
Speaking to talkSPORT after Alexander-Arnold again impressed at right-back in England’s 7-0 win over Montenegro, Martin Keown said: “He is an absolute a joy to watch play.
“It was as if he was wandering around Wembley with a golf bag, picking up a pitching wedge or a seven iron.
“The capability he has with his left foot, right foot…. I was sat with Sol Campbell last night trying to argue that he should play centre midfield for England.
“Traditionally you give the ball to a midfield player and he is a better player than you and a midfield player gives it to a front player who is also perhaps better than that player. When [Harry] Winks gets the ball, is he better than Alexander-Arnold?
“I take nothing away from Winks because he had another decent night last night but I think Alexander-Arnold could go in there and pull the strings for England.
“We have a catalogue of other full-backs that can be used in that right-back position. Kyle Walker wasn’t even in the squad, Kieran Trippier didn’t play last night, we have Reece James coming through at Chelsea.
“He is more than capable Alexander-Arnold of playing in the England midfield.”
Fellow academy graduate Jamie Carragher is so impressed with Alexander-Arnold’s creative qualities, he even compared him to Manchester City maestro Kevin De Bruyne.
Click Here: liverpool mens jersey
Danny Murphy says Trent Alexander-Arnold as good a crosser as David Beckham
“People talk about the future and could he come into midfield and be a Kevin De Bruyne type player and he has more quality now that Liverpool’s midfield players,” said Carragher before the Champions League win over Red Bull Salzburg at Anfield.
“You think about the crosses that De Bruyne puts in from the right midfield position and maybe that’s a position where Trent could play.
“But at the moment you wouldn’t think about moving position because he is playing so well.”