Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Trent Alexander-Arnold started five of Liverpool’s six matches in November, and was the runner up in our post-match poll four times. It’s that consistency of performance which has already driven his career to such dazzling heights despite his tender age.

The only game Liverpool failed to win last month, a 1-1 draw with Napoli, was the one where Trent didn’t start. This column has previously defended the creative abilities of Joe Gomez as a right-back, but there’s no question the established occupier of that position was sorely missed against Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Whether he’d have fashioned the decent opportunity Liverpool sorely lacked that night or not, aside from Sadio Mané (with three goals and one assist) no other player topped Alexander-Arnold’s goal contribution tally of three in November. Not bad for a right back, is it?

Except using that old fashioned term as a description of where or how Trent plays does his influence upon the success of Jürgen Klopp’s team a massive disservice. Jamie Carragher famously said “no one wants to grow up to be a Gary Neville”, but there will be plenty of young Scousers hoping to emulate the feats of Liverpool’s current homegrown hero.

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