Liverpool’s academy coaches made life tough and the result could be footballs booted away in anger, a new book reveals
“Get at Trent! Get at Trent!” Neil Critchley bellowed from the side of the pitch as Bobby Adekanye was fed the ball. Seventeen-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold was new to the role of right-back, a fish out of water. Until now, he’d mostly played in midfield, either wide right or centrally; he’d even spent some time at centre-back.
Right-back brought a whole new gamut of challenges – one‑v‑one defending, learning how and when to get forward to support the attack and what exactly to do when faced with wingers faster, stronger and trickier than himself. His head would spin and frustration would build, often to the point he would angrily send balls flying across to the far reaches of the training pitches of Liverpool’s academy.