If there's anyone in the Liverpool first-team squad who doesn't need reminding of the importance of the Merseyside derby ahead of its 229th iteration, it's Trent Alexander-Arnold.

A born and bred Scouser and boyhood Red, Trent knows everything about this 'special' fixture - particularly the importance of a victory to fans across the city.

Recalling his childhood memories of the derby, the teenager tells Liverpoolfc.com: "You grow up watching the game with your family sitting in the living room and then after you'd go out and try to recreate the scoreline with friends.

"I'd go out into the garden with my brothers and play with them and we'd commentate on the game and recreate the goals.

"There's always something special about derby day, everyone in the city gets involved in it and one half of the city is red, the other blue.

"Everyone watches the game and everybody's hoping for different outcomes but whenever Liverpool got the win there'd always be a smile on mine and my family's faces.

"It's especially good with a Sunday game because it was straight after that you'd go into school and be happy.

"At lunchtime there'd be a Liverpool team and an Everton team. It was something special."

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Of course, back then, Trent was just one of thousands of Liverpudlians who grow up dreaming of running out representing the Reds or the Blues in a battle for local bragging rights.

But, fast forward a few years - to April 1, 2017 specifically - and it was him receiving the call from Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp to come on in a game against Everton.

The No.66 takes up the story: "I was just warming up, minding my business and watching the game.

"You've always got to make sure you're warm and ready to come on at any moment because there could be an early injury or anything so you've got to be mentally prepared.

"But I can't say I was that ready for it! The manager shouted me, I turned and he was like, 'get ready' - so I did.

"I was just really excited, as soon as I looked at him I was smiling and I just ran in as fast as I could to get my pants and jumper off and get on the pitch."

Including injury time, Alexander-Arnold was given 21 minutes to test his mettle against the Toffees, and so nearly marked his appearance with a goal.

Latching onto an Emre Can pull-back just inside the box, he arced a curling shot toward the top corner at the Kop end only for Joel Robles to palm the ball to safety at full stretch.

Regardless, the defender concedes he 'can't complain' with how his derby bow went.

Amazing feeling making my derby debut, great win aswell!💪🔴 https://t.co/4fP34nNjpG — trentaa98 (Trent Alexander-Arnold) 1st Apr 16:54

He adds: "That is definitely one of my dreams, to score against Everton at the Kop end. But I think the result on the day, 3-1, you can't complain with that, it's a really good win.

"Especially with the timing of the game, coming up to an important time of the season, to get the win was important and that's the main thing."

Any disappointment over that near miss was somewhat soothed a month later, when Alexander-Arnold netted the decisive goal as the Reds' U23s spoiled their Everton counterparts' title-winning party with a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park.

Having joined the club's Academy at the age of six, the West Derby-born full-back has enjoyed enough of those tussles with the Blues at various age groups to have learned a thing or two.

As such, when it comes to derbies, he speaks with the wisdom of a player far beyond his tender years.

He says: "You can't be flying into silly challenges or getting caught up in fights because that could really hurt the team and the result on the day.

"At the end, the most important thing is the result and not who makes the hardest tackle or anything like that.

"It's the result, the three points, and that's what we're focused on."