Liverpool continues to use Trent Alexander-Arnold as a key example of an academy pathway that is working to get the Reds back to the very top once again
Trent Alexander-Arnold of England during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between England and Czechia
Trent Alexander-Arnold is still a shining light for the Liverpool academy(Image: (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
Trent Alexander-Arnold's rise at Liverpool is still used as inspiration for the next era of youngsters in the academy, despite his time at Merseyside ending in a bitter way, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of fans.
The defender came through the ranks as a local lad looking to emulate some of the heroics of the legends that came before him like Steven Gerrard. After breaking through at a young age, Alexander-Arnold made himself a key component of the Jurgen Klopp era, offering a unique profile at right-back that wasn't found anywhere else in the world.
His quality on the ball, whether it was in deep build-up play or from crossing opportunities, made him a threat that few opposition could truly stop when he was at his best. That was naturally mixed in with some drawbacks, such as questions about his defensive ability, but it was clearly good enough to continue being picked by Klopp in his Liverpool team each week.
Alexander-Arnold went on to win everything at the Reds, including two Premier League titles and the 2019 Champions League, completing the dream of every local kid when they were growing up.
That only played into the frustration that many then felt when the star announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of his contract to join Real Madrid, in a move that quickly turned sour.
The Anfield crowd made its displeasure at the move known very quickly in his final few appearances, while his return since has also been greeted with jeering and boos. The 28-year-old hasn't quite made it work at the Bernabeu yet, but his rise to the first-team at Liverpool hasn't been forgotten any time soon.
Trent Alexander Arnold of England celebrates the victory during the UEFA Nations league match against Czech Republic
Trent Alexander Arnold's England career appears to be hanging in the balance(Image: Photo by Pavel Lebeda/Soccrates/Getty Images)
BBC Sport reports on the inspiration that Alexander-Arnold is still setting out for the youngsters coming through the academy, having reached the very top of the game through his involvement in the youth teams.
Speaking to BBC Sport about the development process, academy director Alex Inglethorpe said: "The ideal for any academy, and certainly for us, is wanting young players - and hopefully they're local players - to improve the first team and, in doing so, they come and win trophies.
"At Liverpool the bar is high, so to have a player capable of winning everything that you could possibly win is a dream."
It perhaps best highlights the role that Alexander-Arnold still plays and continues to play, regardless of the emotions surrounding his controversial exit from the Reds last summer, with the ultimate goal of the academy being to produce stars who will have an elite career, whether that is at Anfield or elsewhere.
The defender's influence could well create the next big star to come through the ranks, with Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni both choosing to join the Reds over possible rivals with a clear pathway ahead of them, while Lewis Koumas is another fan-turned-player who is making waves for the senior team.
It remains to be seen who could be the next star through the ranks who will make such an impact, with plenty of hope that another local player can make make their way into Andoni Iraola's plans.