Alexander-Arnold, pictured in his school days with the former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, top, could win a place in England’s World Cup squad for Russia

There is a story about Trent Alexander-Arnold, a tale of which he might not even be aware, that perfectly encapsulates the teenager’s standing as one of football’s wunderkinds.

In January, when Liverpool pushed to bring forward Naby Keïta’s move to Anfield to offset Philippe Coutinho’s transfer to Barcelona, RB Leipzig officials responded with a request of their own. The Bundesliga club suggested that a deal involving Alexander-Arnold would be one solution to smoothing Keïta’s early arrival before his £57 million transfer on July 1.

Liverpool dismissed the idea, and with it their hopes of landing the Guinea midfielder ahead of schedule. Yet Leipzig’s interest, coupled with Liverpool’s intransigence, speaks volumes for a player who is destined to go places regardless.

After Alexander-Arnold’s coming-of-age performance in