Trent Alexander-Arnold: Jurgen Klopp hails 'outstanding' Liverpool defender - ‘World-class football player’

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s progress during his tenure and believes the versatile 25-year-old has turned into a "world-class football player".

Alexander-Arnold has spent the entirety of his club career with Klopp as his head coach, making a first senior Liverpool appearance in October 2018.

The latest stand-out moment in a Liverpool shirt came at Craven Cottage on Sunday, where he curled in an unstoppable free-kick past Bernd Leno in a 3-1 victory that keeps their Premier League title challenge on track.

"He has been a fantastic player from the first day," said Klopp in a press conference looking ahead to the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.

"An outstanding talent and he has turned into a world-class football player.

"It is rare as a manager that you are part of a journey for such a long time. Trent has never had a different manager so it will be good for him to get new influences in the future. But he can be happy with the steps he has made."

Klopp is backing Alexander-Arnold to leave a lasting legacy at Anfield, having already won a Premier League title, the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, World Club Cup and Super Cup during his 305 appearances for the club to date.

"I have nothing bad to say about Trent and his development," Klopp added.

"He is one of these stories that not a lot of clubs can write, but he is someone people will talk about in 20, 30 and 40 years."

The Liverpool manager also looked in more detail to what will be his final Merseyside derby at the club, with The Toffees targeting points themselves to move further clear of the Premier League drop zone.

"It's super important for us and that is clear," he continued.

"I don't know when my first derby was but I always knew how important it was. Now I know it and I feel it. My understanding has developed over the years but they are always difficult games, especially there [Goodison Park].

"There has been good results and good games over the years. High intensity.

"Goodison Park can create quite a good atmosphere as well. We will never get underestimated when we arrive there and that is what makes it more difficult. They always look ready for the game. We have to make sure we are ready for this one.

"You cannot compare the games of the past. It is just about playing football but the atmosphere is special.

"Derby fever will be in minds so we have to be cool and that is an important part in preparing for the game."

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media