Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold ‘didn’t really want’ free-kick at Hoffenheim

Liverpool youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed he didn’t even want to take the sensational free-kick he scored during the club’s Champions League play-off against Hoffenheim in August.

The 19-year-old is enjoying a stunning breakthrough campaign under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, nailing down the right back position as his own in recent months. 

His rise to the first team began last summer when he fired home a sublime free-kick to send Liverpool on their way to the Champions League group stages. However, in an interview with COPA90, the defender has admitted he didn’t even want to take it.

The 19-year-old scored a vital away goal against the German side way back in August

‘It was a dream come true. In the game before I was taking the corners and must have been doing it well so the players knew I was good at set pieces. So then we got the free-kick and I was on the halfway line thinking nothing of it,’ the youngster said.

‘Then the manager and I think Gini (Wijnaldum) were all shouting and pressuring me to take it. So then I’ve had to try and get involved now and I just remember Jordan Henderson saying “either take it or get back”. I thought I can’t go back now after the manager has told me to take it. 

‘I thought “I’m going to have to take it but I don’t really want to” and then obviously I scored. I’ve probably seen it 200 times since.’

Alexander-Arnold curled the ball low and fast straight into the net against the Bundesliga side

The young defender races away to celebrate after scoring the vital away goal in Germany

Alexander-Arnold was also asked about Mohamed Salah and claimed he is just ‘a normal guy’

Alexander-Arnold was also quizzed about Mohamed Salah, the club’s talisman and key player this campaign. He admitted the Egyptian is just ‘a normal guy’ and told the story of a gruelling fitness drill he won in pre-season.

‘He’s very humble, down to earth, just a normal guy,’ Alexander-Arnold added.

‘The first day of pre-season was just a running session. Not a race, just to see how far you can run really and it gets harder after each lap and then you drop out when you can’t go any further.

‘Everyone had dropped out and it was just me and him left but he didn’t stop. No-one was running against him any more but he had that hunger to win and carry on. It just seemed like his limit was above everyone else’s.’