According to Alexander-Arnold, “going on a parade is obviously the last thing you want to do after you lose the Champions League final.” However, he experienced something unexpecteԀ that morning as the bus rolled slowly through the city: delight. The air was filled with crimson flare smoke. There was bееr. “One Kiss” by Dua Lipa was blasting from the speakers atop the bus. The fans of the city were filled with pride rather than disappointment. None of us have ever experienced anything like it, he claims. “It makes sense that everyone surfaces following a Champions League final victory. However, to maintain the same attendance even after losing. As players, it meant so much more to have everyone’s support because it now demonstrates their appreciation for us regardless of our performance.
His defense skills were not always natural. In 2016, an ιnjury crisis forced Alexander-Arnold into the Liverpool first team at right-back after playing in midfield at the junior system. “Going forward, having the ball, always just felt natural to me—I didn’t have to think about it,” he adds. “When defending, I always had to consider where and what to do. It was unnatural. I was fresh to the role and learning.” Liverpool’s coaches helped him concentrate on holding the team’s renowned high line and one-on-one tackling in training. Slowly, methodically making the unnatural normal.
Today, criticism doesn’t disturb him. He continues, “I think, on the whole defensively, I’ve improved.” However, defensively and offensively, I can still improve. Football is incomplete, and I will never be flawless. Try to be perfect.”
Alexander-Arnold lives outside Liverpool and is chatting over Zoom. He relaxes in a Palm Angels T-shirt in front of two beautiful abstract paintings (“They were gifted to me”) in the late afternoon after training. He has recently become interested in art and fashion (“Bottega, Prada, Dior, LV”) but maintains a low profile. He still lives with his parents, but in a large, peaceful house outside the city, not in his childhood home. “I think I’ve always found comfort in having people close to me around me,” he adds of living with his parents. “Strange, since I’m very introverted. Like my own time and space. I suppose it’s simply knowing your family is home that calms you.”
Alexander-Arnold has essentially never known anything else. He joined the Liverpool academy at six and spent his boyhood between school and the club’s competitive youth tiers. The family prioritized Trent’s profession once his early otherworldly ability—long, gasp-inducing throws, tireless running—showed. His brothers Marcel and Tyler (now his agent) also played football.
Alexander-Arnold is competitive even in Jürgen Klopp’s hardworking Liverpool team. I have two brothers and we always competed. Everything was competitive. They are undoubtedly competitive, he argues. This drive was not always helpful. Even little mistakes plagued Alexander-Arnold at the school. “It literally had to be trained out of me,” he adds. I was emotional. My game suffered from my frequent anger. Not thinking rationally.” He has come to recognize that errors are part of the game and that taking risks is necessary to generate opportunities at the top levels with support throughout the years. “It’s not that I don’t care about making mistakes, it’s just that they don’t bother me,” he adds. I’m satisfied if I’ve done the correct thing and assisted the team.
It is strange that “Should Trent Alexander-Arnold start for England?” would not be a question at practically any other point in England football history. It would be absurd. Most teams in the competition would start Alexander-Arnold, a world-class right-back for years. He emerged amid a strange historical period when England had more great right-backs than fair. Gareth Southgate occasionally has too many right-backs: Reece James, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.
If picked, playing in Qatar will undoubtedly take a special tоll. Alexander-Arnold is undeterred by heat. “We played the Club World Cup there in 2019 just before Christmas, and it was hоt, but not too much,” he explains. A larger problem is the squad’s schedule this year: a whole international tournament and a full league season with no rest. I believe the English game needs a winter vacation. Summer holidays are longer, too, adds Alexander-Arnold.