TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD proved he is now a Liverpool senior statesman – at the grand old age of 22.
The England right-back skippered Liverpool for the first time in his career as the youngest Champions League team in the club’s history failed in their bid to end the group stages with a 100 per cent record.
Mo Salah scored as Liverpool drew 1-1 with MidtjyllandCredit: AFP
Alexander Scholz bagged a second-half equaliser for the hostsCredit: Reuters
Incredibly, when you consider his age, Alexander-Arnold found himself paying tribute to the latest teenagers to arrive in Jurgen Klopp’s team following the draw in Denmark.
French defender Billy Koumetio became the youngest Liverpool player to feature in the Champions League or European Cup while 19-year-old midfielder Leighton Clarkson, who made a solid Euro debut, revealed that he considers Alexander-Arnold as one of the team’s old heads.
Mo Salah’s opening minute goal was cancelled out by a second half penalty from Alex Scholz in a game which spanned over 100 minutes due to the length of time being taken by VAR.
Fit-again Alexander-Arnold said: “To captain the team was an extremely proud moment for me. I have obviously got to say thanks to the manager and the staff who chose me to captain the team. I will look back on this fondly.
“It was good to see some more of the young players. We have so many coming through and it is encouraging to see. What they need to do is focus on themselves and keep learning from the players they are looking up to.
“The way they performed here was good. Leighton especially. We are in the Champions League knockout stages and now the fun starts.”
Blackborn-born Clarkson, 19, was the pick of the young players and expect to see him more over the coming months.
He said: “It is the stuff you dream of as a child, making your Champions League debut. I thought I did alright. It is good when you have help from the likes of Jordan Henderson and Trent advising you and telling you what to do.”
Salah put his side ahead in Denmark with just one minute on the clockCredit: AFP
Scholz kept his cool to slot home an equaliser from the penalty spotCredit: Reuters
It was a tougher night for Koumetio who, at 18 years and 25 days, broke Liverpool’s Champions League record held by Antonio Barragan, who was 18 years and 59 days old when he turned out for the first-team in 2005.
Throw in Irish rookie keeper Caoimhin Kelleher and Rhys Williams and here was another remarkably inexperienced Reds team
Liverpool took just 55 seconds to take the lead when Salah seized onto a shocking backpass from Scholz, used his pace to carry the ball into the area and then toe-poked the ball through the legs of home keeper Jesper Hansen.
The goal was Salah’s 22nd for the Reds in Europe’s top club competition, overtaking Steven Gerrard, who scored 21 Champions League goals in his Liverpool career.
Fabinho cleared off the line to stop Sory Kaba from levelling and the emergency centre-back was then replaced at the break by Koumetio.
Liverpool had already qualified for the knockout stage before the gameCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Midtjylland finished bottom of the group on two pointsCredit: EPA
It was certainly a baptism of fire for the youngster and it was not ideal that he was playing alongside fellow rookie Willians.
Midtylland had several chances before equalising with a penalty thanks to some help off Liverpool’s old enemy, VAR.
Kelleher was penalised for a foul on Anders Dreyer even though it seemed as though the home player was offside with the linesman having flagged.
Scholz struck a decent penalty to level and then thought he had created a second but after more waiting due to VAR, Kaba was ruled offside.
It was a tough night for a heavily changed Liverpool sideCredit: EPA
The Reds can now look forward to the last 16 in 2021Credit: AFP
Takumi Minamino thought he had struck a 90th minute winner but Liverpool were once again cursing VAR as, after a long wait, the goal was scrubbed out after the ball hit Sadio Mane’s arm.
Klopp said: “I liked the first half but in the second half we did not play football anymore. You can imagine.
“Having Trent as captain was a logical situation. Normally, we have Hendo (Henderson), Milly (Milner), Virgil (van Dijk) or Gini (Wijnaldum) as captains so it is then the player who has been longest at the club who gets the armband.
“Billy came on for us. Leighton played 90 minutes, Rhys played a good game, These things are all good, They help us but the driving forces need to be the other, more experienced guys.”
Diogo Jota was passed up by Portuguese club for just £2,000 seven years before his dream £45m Liverpool move
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
