- Trent Alexander-Arnold played his third game as Liverpool captain
- The Reds star received a standing ovation on Thursday evening
- Liverpool defeated Union St Gilloise 2-0 at Anfield in the Europa League
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Trent Alexander-Arnold may not be as fire and brimstone as Graeme Souness or Jordan Henderson, but in terms of leading by example, Liverpool’s captain against Union Saint-Gilloise was inspiring.
Alexander-Arnold was named the club’s official vice-captain at the start of this season and while Virgil van Dijk rested for the Europa League match against the Belgian leaders, he wore the armband on his red 66 jersey.
Perhaps it’s Jurgen Klopp’s shorter haircut or newfound confidence allowing him to move into midfield, but 24-year-old Alexander-Arnold exudes a quiet confidence at the moment.
A home game in the second European competition that Liverpool was expected to win could have been difficult after Tottenham’s drama last weekend, but Alexander-Arnold ensured his team – with nine Klopp substitutes – rose to the challenge.
Alexander-Arnold, who was included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad earlier on Thursday, went through his full repertoire.
Trent Alexander-Arnold played his third game as Liverpool captain on Thursday evening as the Reds defeated Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 in the Europa League at Anfield
Alexander-Arnold led by example and that seems to be his style as captain
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A sharp pass from the center circle to Mo Salah’s pass was something most players could not have even anticipated, let alone executed.
He also showed traditional defending at right back, an area of the game for which he has been criticized in the past.
And when Liverpool needed a game-changer after a poor miss from Darwin Nunez, Alexander-Arnold proved the man.
A minute before the break, goalkeeper Alisson rolled the ball out to Alexander-Arnold, who happened to be in the left back position.
Sensing the goalless game needed urgency, he went through the gears to bring the ball into the Union half.
After receiving a pass back from Nunez, he unleashed a shot that lacked the accuracy to beat Antony Moris but allowed the keeper to parry into the path of Ryan Gravenberch to score.
Although Moris was at fault, the goal would not have happened without Alexander-Arnold taking responsibility, something Klopp would have been happy with in the player’s first start for a month after his injury.
Alexander-Arnold was substituted after just over an hour on Thursday evening
The England star left the field to a standing ovation from Liverpool fans at Anfield
Less exalted were the Belgian fans whose choreographed singing was conducted by one of their supporters who spent the entire night in front of them, facing away from the field.
Even Alexander-Arnold’s withdrawal after 63 minutes for Joe Gomez has an advantage. It means Klopp looks set to start him against Brighton in a very important Premier League match on Sunday.
Van Dijk returns to lead the team at The Amex, but with Alexander-Arnold – once considered technically brilliant but potentially vulnerable – Liverpool’s local boy is now a real leader for his teammates.