Fernando Torres names the current Liverpool star he’d loved to have played with | Football

Though a bad knee injury has seen him sidelined since January, Alexander-Arnold is enjoying a fantastic season, with two goals and 10 assists in 29 appearances.

The Reds vice-captain has helped his side win the Carabao Cup and they now lead the Premier League title race and are favourites to win the Europa League.

He has long been considered one of, if not the best right-back in world football and one of the best defenders in Liverpool’s history.

Torres is certainly a fan, and was even recently filmed training in the gym while wearing an Alexander-Arnold shirt.

Explaining this choice, the former striker told Liverpoolfc.com: ‘I think Trent is a special player for the supporters, also for me as a former player. It’s really nice to see young players develop the way they are doing and become one of the main players in the first team.

‘I’m sure Liverpool fans love him because he’s one of them and he’s playing on the field at the level he’s doing. It’s similar to what I did in Atletico [Madrid] – from the stands to the pitch and I always felt I was special for the fans.

‘I’m sure Trent is feeling exactly the same. He’s a Scouser playing for the first team and being important, one of the main players.

‘For all of us, he’s a special guy. I managed to get his shirt and I like to put it on to do some training.

‘I always think it would be so nice to be able to play with him and receive these kind of crosses he does. It would be a pleasure to play in the same team as Trent and be ready to head those crosses. I think it could be a good connection.’

Torres scored 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool and fans can only dream how more he could have got had Alexander-Arnold been there to create for him.

The 25-year-old already has 58 assists in the Premier League for his boyhood club – only Steven Gerrard and Mohamed Salah have more.

Alexander-Arnold is expected back from his injury in early April, perhaps just in time for the huge clash at Old Trafford against arch-rivals Manchester United.

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