Trent Alexander-Arnold might end his career with a bigger legacy than any in the last decade…. with many academy products making the step up into Jurgen Klopp’s first XI

There is a mural on a wall on Sybil Road, across the road from Anfield, with a photo of Trent Alexander-Arnold in his now iconic number 66 shirt, with the words: ‘I’m just a normal boy from Liverpool whose dream is just came out’. It is an inspiration to many young children.

We all know the story of the rise of Alexander-Arnold. The 25-year-old will take over the armband once Virgil van Dijk leaves – which, to avoid any worries, won’t happen anytime soon, and there is no fear of the skipper moving on.

But beyond that, Alexander-Arnold is quickly becoming a talismanic figure.

Alongside the aforementioned Van Dijk and top scorer Mohamed Salah, plus the near-perfect goalkeeper Alisson, the all-action Alexander-Arnold has established himself as irreplaceable in the backbone of Jurgen Klopp’s team.

But beyond his role as captain at right-back, plus a goal threat and an ever-improving defender, Alexander-Arnold could end his career with a bigger legacy than any in the last decade, and that’s the number of kids who he inspired and later advised in his leadership role.

The Liverpool star is pictured on a mural on Sybil Road, just outside Anfield

Alexander-Arnold will take over the armband once Virgil van Dijk (pictured above) leaves the club

Liverpool have always been proud of their youth academy, but it had stagnated somewhat in the decade before Alexander-Arnold’s breakthrough, at least in terms of generational talent. Curtis Jones, a regular in the XI when fit and a hugely underrated gem, is another success story.

That pair inspired a generation and the Reds academy is now thriving. During the FA Cup match against Arsenal two weeks ago, ten of Liverpool’s twenty players in the matchday squad were graduates of youth teams from the AXA Training Center in Kirkby.

Some of these fluctuate between the senior and development teams, such as Bobby Clark, who made an impressive cameo in midfield at the Emirates and played for the Under 21s the following weekend.

But many are now first-team mainstays, either coming on the bench or training regularly with Liverpool’s top players. Some have impressed Jurgen Klopp so much that they have been fully integrated into the conversation for the XI, such as the supreme talent that is defender Jarell Quansah.

The Warrington-born youngster moved to Bristol Rovers in League One this time last year and neither he nor Klopp foresaw exactly the moves he would make over the ensuing 12 months. But Liverpool’s faith in him shows others what is possible.

“Jarell played an absolutely excellent preparation,” Klopp said on Friday. ‘People knew he was a real talent. But his real face only emerged when he was close to the first team. Since then he has only played good games.

‘When he came on against Newcastle (after Van Dijk’s red card in August) he was excellent and has been going well since. I can only integrate into the first team what the academy produces.

‘The number of players from the youth academy at the match against Arsenal was ten, which is very nice. Even the academy cannot perform miracles, but there must be talent in it. It’s even more fun when they’re Scousers.

“I think what helps the most is the emergence of Trent, Curtis and now Jarell, that’s what drives young players. To see what is possible in a top team in the Premier League. It is well. We are very happy with that. We needed it too.’

Jarell Quansah impressed when he got the chance to perform this season

Young right back Conor Bradley will start against Bournemouth on Sunday

The next person to make the step to regular football will not be a Scouser like Alexander-Arnold and Jones, but one who still feels very much at home in Liverpool. That is Northern Irish right back Conor Bradley, who will start against Bournemouth on Sunday.

“Here’s a shout: Conor Bradley will be Northern Ireland’s most prominent player after (George) Best,” former boxing star Carl Frampton said on social media after impressing in the FA Cup win at Arsenal earlier this month.

Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but it only emphasizes the sky-high standard at which Bradley, who spent last season on loan at Bolton, is judged. He scored five goals and five assists with the League One team, proving his talents as an all-round attacking full-back.

Bradley also impressed in Liverpool’s early pre-season camp in games in Germany, with Alexander-Arnold playing in midfield. Unfortunately for him, a stress fracture in his back caused him to decline somewhat and has only returned to full competitive sharpness in the past month.

Klopp credits Vitor Matos for the success of the academy stars entering the fray

“Conor after the loan, and the same goes for Jarell. When preparation started, they looked ready from the first game,” Klopp added. “Conor got the injury out of nowhere to be honest. It’s not easy to run with these guys and that’s what held him back.

‘We were desperately waiting for him to come back. It’s always the same (from the fans): “You have to buy a right back so Trent can play in midfield, you have to buy a central defender”. But we have Conor, we have Jarell.

‘It’s not a popular opinion, but if we had bought a right-back or centre-back these guys wouldn’t have turned up. I told him that I waited longer for Conor to finally play than I probably waited for Conor to play because I just wanted to give him that opportunity!’

Klopp credits Vitor Matos for the success of the academy stars entering the fray. The former Porto player essentially acts as an intermediary between the first team and the youth squad, informing Klopp and Co who is impressing and ready to make the step up.

“Some of the most important things I inherited when I was here was this connecting coach between the academy and the first team,” Klopp said. ‘We are always aware of what is happening. I’d like to say I watch all the games from U14 onwards, but that’s not true.

‘But when someone shows up a bit or needs to be rewarded, they come to us for training. Vitor doesn’t say it’s about numbers. Sometimes it’s a man I’ve never seen before. We have a lot of good kids with us.”

And while Liverpool’s cast of key stars are the key players in Liverpool’s quest for glory in four competitions this season, Klopp knows you can’t win trophies without a good supporting cast either. The Reds academy is flourishing again.