Trent Alexander-Arnold will face Manchester United on Sunday, nearly two years after arguably the worst performance of his career.
The right-back had a torrid time at Old Trafford back in March 2018. Marcus Rashford, playing on the left-wing, ran him ragged and scored twice inside 25 minutes.
This was Alexander-Arnold barely a year into his senior career. He was naive at times, very much learning on the job and the performance came in a bad spell for him. Wilfried Zaha blew him away around the same time, causing doubts to swirl around the Scouser.
Really, it proved to be the making of Alexander-Arnold. Not long after the Old Trafford game, he shut out Leroy Sane in the Champions League with a wonderful defensive performance.
That was just the beginning, of course. He’s gone on to become arguably the best right-back in the world – possibly the best full-back.
But still, that performance at Old Trafford in March 2018 is a little bit of a stain on his brilliant career thus far. He can right that on Sunday, however.
There are real doubts around Rashford’s fitness and he may not play. Regardless if he does or not, it puts Alexander-Arnold on the front foot against United.
He’ll either play a less-than-fully-fit Rashford or United’s second-choice left-winger. Either way, it’s a wonderful opportunity to run a United player ragged at Anfield and decide the game in the same way they targeted him two years ago.
Alexander-Arnold has grown into Liverpool’s chief creator and they’ll look to him on Sunday. If he can push on and be the threat he can be, then United’s left-flank doesn’t stand a chance.
No matter who is it up against him, they won’t be capable of stopping the 21-year-old at his best. Now is his chance to put United to the sword and banish the memories of two years ago.
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