Trent Alexander-Arnold exclusive: Early success was a ‘blessing’ but Liverpool vice-captain wants ”trophy after trophy’

Aged just 24, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has won almost everything possible at club level – but the defender is not prepared to rest on his laurels.

The ambitious England international told B/R Football that he still has the desire to “win trophy after trophy”, and stressed that Liverpool are determined to put last season’s disappointment behind them by competing for silverware this term.

Having emerged from the club’s famed academy, Alexander-Arnold has firmly established himself as a senior Liverpool player, enjoying wild success in the process.

The UEFA Champions League title in 2019 opened the floodgates with the UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and the Premier League trophy following the season after. Last year, he added the FA Cup and League Cup to his brimming CV.

And playing with added responsibility this term, having been named Virgil van Dijk’s vice-captain, Alexander-Arnold is desperate to grow his collection of medals.

Liverpool have made a positive start to their season, winning five of their opening seven Premier League games, and are off the mark in the UEFA Europa League after a 3-1 victory at LASK.

“I’d say the vibe around the club is very exciting,” Alexander-Arnold told B/R Football ahead of Thursday’s Europa League game against Union Saint-Gilloise, which is live and exclusive on TNT Sports.

“I think it was always important to get off to a good start in all competitions, and that’s what we’ve done.

“I think just everybody has stepped up with the responsibility. I felt more responsibility, and I think a lot of players have, especially for the way last season went. So, it was about making sure that doesn’t happen again, making sure we’re in a title race.

“We want to make sure we’re fighting for the biggest trophies and fighting for silverware at the end of the season.

“But I think the new players that we brought in have experience of winning trophies as well, so that always helps, and that’s always important for everyone.”

On being named vice-captain, Alexander-Arnold said he is relishing the added responsibility.

He said: “I’ve always enjoyed responsibility. I think I thrive under that, and I like what comes with it.

“I’ve seen myself as a leader from when I was a young age. I like to think I’m a leader on and off the pitch, no matter what role I’m given. So that’s something I’m happy with, but it comes with responsibility.”

Jurgen Klopp has overseen a radical change in midfield over the summer, having signed four new players and allowing five to leave.

Based on early performances and results, Liverpool look a stronger, more cohesive unit than the team that finished fifth last season, subsequently missing out on a return to the Champions League.

Alexander-Arnold has been pleased with the new signings, explaining: “I’m someone who enjoys passing the ball, I like finding people and making things happen. When I’m on the ball, I’m looking up and seeing options, I’m seeing people who can receive the ball.

“I might have to put extra pace or something on the pass and I don’t doubt that they’re able to deal with it. So that’s something that helps. Not only that, but they’re good lads as well who have bought into what we’re trying to achieve. They want to achieve things individually and as a team and as a collective.

“It’s a great blend, a great mix and hopefully we’re able to just keep it going.”

The addition of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig looks to be particularly good business, and Alexander-Arnold believes he is a “very special” talent. It helps that the two have bonded off the pitch as well as on it.

“I think he’s just a natural born football player,” said Alexander-Arnold.

“I think you just get a feeling with someone who just knows and understands the game, they don’t overcomplicate it. It’s not a certain system or a certain way of playing that brings the best out of them. They can kind of do everything, and it’s just natural. And that’s the kind of vibe you get with him

“He’s a talent that is very special, he’s an exceptional player, and a great lad as well. He’s someone who is very exciting for the club, very exciting for himself, personally as well.

“He’s someone that we’re going to need to perform, and he understands that, and he demands that from himself. So he’s a great addition to the squad.

“[We have] Both similar personalities to be fair, we’re quite laid back. Away from football, we’re very chilled, very relaxed about things, and do similar things in our downtime. Similar ages as well. He’s someone who I get along well with, we hang out quite a bit.”

It is clear that Alexander-Arnold has a burning ambition for success this season.

He stresses that although he is proud of all that he has achieved in the game so far, he demands more from himself and his team-mates.

“Having achieved so much so young was a blessing but also you’ve got to find motivation elsewhere because you have achieved so much,” he explained.

“But my motivation comes from…I don’t want to be remembered as that player who won every trophy by 23 and then didn’t go and achieve anything else, ‘the highlights of his career all came in the first five or six years’.

“I want to be someone who, over the course of their career, wins trophy after trophy after trophy, and hopefully in 30 or 40 years when I’m looking back, I can’t remember which trophy I won where and who was in the team or anything because they’re all muddled up.

“Right now, I remember every moment, so hopefully in years to come, I can get confused as to when and where it all happened.”