Trent Alexander-Arnold has shared that he sits next to Harvey Elliott in the Liverpool changing room.
Speaking to GQ, the 23-year-old has said that sitting beside Elliott gave him a view on how hard he has worked to recover from his injury setback this season.
“I sit next to him (Elliott) in the changing room, so I always saw how hard he was working,” said Alexander-Arnold.
“He never had too many down days, even though you expect people to have bad days.”
Asked whether Elliott’s goal on his return against Cardiff City was a ‘big deal’ for Liverpool, Trent was in no doubt that it was.
“It was, you know. He had an incredible start to the season and that was quite short,” said the Liverpool right-back.
He then praised Elliott’s reaction to his injury against Leeds United in September.
“But it’s always nice to see how people cope with those setbacks. Especially with young players, because it’s so difficult knowing that people were talking about you when everything’s going well and then all of a sudden after one tackle, you get surgery and you’re out of the team.”
Learning from the best
It’s fantastic to hear that Elliott is at close-quarters with Trent.
Of course, Jurgen Klopp likes to have the Liverpool squad sit in numerical order at the training ground and on matchdays.
That means that player’s socialise with teammates who they might otherwise not sit next to, and avoids cliques forming in the dressing room.
In this instance it means that Alexander-Arnold and his iconic number 66 shirt, is sat alongside Elliott and his number 67.
As the 18-year-old becomes a bigger part of Klopp’s squad, it may be that Elliott takes a more ‘traditional’ number in the squad.
But until then, it’s an added bonus that he can glean as much knowledge and advice as possible from Trent.
The Scouser has been through a similar process to the teenager, as a much-hyped young player trying to break into one of the biggest club’s in the world.
Alexander-Arnold was able to keep his head down and become arguably the best right-back on the planet whilst always maintaining professionalism and cultivating a winning mentality.
No doubt he is sharing his experiences with Elliott. Harvey himself seems like a well grounded young man despite his otherworldly talent.
Right-sided connection
It could also have on-pitch benefits for Liverpool.
Elliott has often operated as the right-sided central midfielder when he’s played this season. At times the connection between Alexander-Arnold, Elliott and Mohamed Salah has looked almost telepathic.
We all know the story behind Salah’s contract situation. Fingers crossed his long-term future is with Liverpool.
But if not, Liverpool fans can be safe in the knowledge that in Alexander-Arnold and Elliott, they could have a partnership that can thrive for club and country for the next decade or more.
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