In recent history, there are not many better full-backs than Dani Alves. So to receive a compliment from the Brazilian when playing in the same position certainly carries some weight.
And that is exactly what Trent Alexander-Arnold has received as his brilliant form for Liverpool continues. The England international has been superb since making his debut.
At just 23, Alexander-Arnold has already made well over 200 senior appearances for club and country and has won the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup and Club World Cup. The fact that he has played a vital role in all of those squads speaks volumes too.
So much so that he has attracted the attention of Alves, who has won just about nearly everything there is across his fantastic career. Now back at Barcelona under new coach and friend Xavi, the 38-year-old has had a chance to look at his successors.
The former Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain star was asked what right-backs in the world he admires right now, with Alexander-Arnold joined by Chelsea star Reece James and Achraf Hakimi.
“I admire Trent Alexander-Arnold very much,” Alves told FourFourTwo. “He’s a fantastic footballer – this guy has got world-class skills.
“I also like to watch Reece James and Achraf Hakimi. They mix strength with technique and are also great players. The three of them obviously have different characteristics and styles – but they all know how to do the job.”
As for Alexander-Arnold, the Englishman has admitted that Barcelona are his favourite club – other than Liverpool who he has been with throughout his entire professional career.
“I’d say my favourite other team would be Barca,” he said. “I feel as though they’ve got kind of the same values and beliefs as Liverpool, they like to bring players through the academy.
“I grew up watching Messi and that special Barcelona team, with Iniesta, Xavi, Henry, Eto’o.”
The defender has been in fantastic form once again this year and currently has 11 assists in the Premier League. That is just two behind his best tally of 13, which he achieved in 2019/20 when Liverpool won the title.
If he can take the Reds back to the top of the table with his assists yet again, his name would forever be etched in at Anfield - if it is not already. Alexander-Arnold has grown up to become a dangerous weapon of Jurgen Klopp's - along with Andy Robertson on the other flank.
