Trent Alexander-Arnold's new Liverpool contract sees youngster turn from boy to man at Anfield
Trent Alexander-Arnold's new Liverpool contract is the moment the young defender transitioned from boy to man, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.
The young full-back put pen to paper over the weekend just days after fellow defender Andy Robertson inked fresh terms himself.
It's reward for the remarkable progress Alexander-Arnold has made under the guidance of Klopp since he signed his last contract in July 2017.
Since then the Academy graduate has firmly established himself as the club's first choice right-back and helped the Reds to a Champions League final last season.
He has also played an important part in a Liverpool team that has serious designs on winning the Premier League title this term and Klopp was full of praise for the young defender.
And the Liverpool boss believes this new deal means Alexander-Arnold has now come of age as fully-fledged international footballer.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: "The previous [contracts] he signed them maybe as a ‘boy’ – and I don’t mean that in any way to be disrespectful to his importance at that particular point of his life, more about his age, but they were different to this.
"This one is very much about ‘the man’ and the player he has become, the status he now has both with us and in the game, and it is thoroughly deserved.
"Since he last signed for us he is now established in our team, rather than a surprise inclusion – or one where people say: ‘Oh, that’s nice.’ He has played and scored for the England senior team and been to a World Cup.
"But with Trent, the most exciting thing about him is that the questions you ask about him always have a very positive follow-on. By which I mean, ‘Is he a fantastic player?’ Yes! ‘But can he get even better?’ Absolutely – and he will!"
Alexander-Arnold missed Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Anfield due to a knee injury he suffered against Brighton last weekend.
Initially, the Reds feared he would be sidelined for a month but he has responded well to treatment and the outlook is now more positive.
Alexander-Arnold has a chance of being fit for Liverpool's next game against Leicester City at Anfield on January 30.