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Trent Alexander-Arnold is reliving a momentous Champions League quarter-final night at Anfield.

“I just remember the bright lights shining down on to the pitch and the way the crowd was,” he told the ECHO.

“It was an unbelievable occasion.”

The visit of Juventus in April 2005 left a last impression on Liverpool's gifted home grown right-back. He was a wide-eyed six-year-old.

“That was my first European night at Anfield. In fact it was actually the first Liverpool game I went to,” he said.

“It wasn't a bad first one! Sami Hyypia and Luis Garcia scored before they pulled one back. From that moment on, it was always my dream to play in one of those nights. I'm thankful to have got that opportunity.”

It arrived on Wednesday – nearly 13 years to the day since that victory over Juve which put Rafa Benitez's side on course for Istanbul.

The Academy graduate from West Derby delivered a remarkable man-of-the-match display as Liverpool swept Manchester City aside.

Flying winger Leroy Sane repeatedly asked questions of him but Alexander-Arnold kept coming up with the answers. He walked off shattered but with the thunderous applause of Anfield ringing in his ears.

“It's definitely the best night I've had in my career so far,” he said. “It was so special - the way it went with the result, the performance and the atmosphere.

“There have been nights when I've scored for Liverpool but they still never come close to a big European night like that.

“I had never experienced noise like that before. I was there for the likes of Dortmund and Villarreal two years ago but Wednesday night was on a different level.

“I don't think either myself or the team would have played as well if the fans hadn't been like they were. Even in the warm up there were thousands already out there and it just gets you up for the game and inspires you.

“I want to thank them for how they treated us. It was a hostile atmosphere for City and I think that played a part in their performance as well.

“With the way it went for me personally and as a team - coupled with how brilliant the fans were – that night has got to be at the top of the list.”

Alexander-Arnold, who used to peer through a hole in Melwood's perimeter wall to watch his heroes like Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso training, grew up on tales of continental glory.

“I know what the Champions League means to this club,” he said.

“I think it means a lot more than it does to some other clubs. There's been a special bond with the Champions League and we've shown that throughout our history.

“Growing up as a Liverpool fan, you know all about that history and what the competition means.

“It gives you that added motivation to make the fans happy and try to get as far as you can in the competition.”

Alexander-Arnold's rise has been meteoric. In the space of two years he's gone from captaining Liverpool Under-18s to shining on the big stage among Europe's elite. Key to that progress has been the support of his family and in particular his mum Dianne.

He still lives at home in Rainhill and remains humble and grounded.

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“After the game I just went home and stayed up with the family talking about the game - reminiscing and going over a few things,” he said.

“It took me a while to get to sleep. I'm still living at home and I think I will be for another few years.

(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

“On Thursday morning I never heard anything again about the game from the family.

“It was back down to business. It was all about going into training and getting ready for the derby. Then after Saturday it's all about getting ready for City on Tuesday.

“It's important to have that mentality. Not to linger on your successes or to dwell on those games where things don't go too well. You get ups and downs in football.”

Alexander-Arnold has enjoyed and endured a few of them this season. The 19-year-old came in for some criticism after the goals Liverpool conceded recently against Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

Jurgen Klopp could have opted for the greater experience of Nathaniel Clyne against City but he stuck with the youngster and his decision paid off handsomely.

“It's important to block out the criticism,” Alexander-Arnold said.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“It's a lot harder these days with social media. Seeing some of the stuff probably isn't the best thing, but you have to take it the right way and you can't let it get you down.

“You have to prove yourself. If the manager trusts you then that gives you more motivation and confidence to go out there.

“It might have been easier for him to put someone else in there on Wednesday night and maybe given me a rest.

“But he trusted me. It's massive going out there knowing you have his trust and going into the game I wanted to repay him as much as I could.”

Alexander-Arnold, who made his senior debut against Tottenham in the League Cup in October 2016, believes his formative years at the Academy under the guidance of Alex Inglethorpe and Neil Critchley gave him the perfect education. They put him on the right track.

“That mentality of bouncing back and putting things behind me probably stemmed from my last year at Kirkby,” he said.

“Going into that I was still a child. I was quitting early in training. When things weren't going my way, I'd throw my toys out of the pram.

“I owe a lot to Alex and Critch. They taught me how to cope with it differently and how I needed to forget mistakes and just look to rectify them. That's what I was trying to do out there on Wednesday.”

The conveyor belt of talent continues to roll with youngsters desperate to follow in his footsteps.

With Klopp's squad heavily depleted by injuries, Conor Masterson, Rafa Camacho, Curtis Jones, Nathaniel Phillips, Herbie Kane, Adam Lewis and Liam Millar were all training at Melwood on Friday.

Alexander-Arnold has been on hand to provide advice and insists they wouldn't let anyone down if a couple of debuts are dished out in Saturday's Merseyside derby at Goodison,

“I know what it felt like when I first came up here with not knowing the players,” he said. “I came up with Ben (Woodburn) and Ovie (Ejaria) and that made things a bit easier for me.

“I am trying to be as close to the young lads up here as possible. They come to me and ask: 'What time are we in? What time is the meeting?'

“They might be nervous to go and ask the likes of Hendo but the longer they spend here, the easier it will get.

“It's hard at a lot of top clubs for young players to get opportunities. But everyone at the Academy knows that Jurgen is willing to give young players a go.

“That's a really big thing. If you don't have that confidence then it feels like you are going nowhere. Young players at Liverpool know they are reaching for something. It gives you more motivation knowing the manager could call upon you any given day.

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“Every time a new lad comes up here they seem to cope with it a bit better than the one before. That comes down to the quality of the coaching and the environment that's been created at the Academy. Alex and Critch mould you into being the player you need to be.

“To see so many young lads coming up here at such a vital time in the season is good for the club. It shows that the Academy is developing players who can be trusted and are doing the right things. The manager is watching them. I know he's always got an eye on the Academy.”

Alexander-Arnold is waiting to discover whether he's required for the showdown at Goodison. Klopp could turn to Clyne and save the teenager for the Etihad on Tuesday night.

He said: “Who doesn't want to play in the Merseyside derby? I've come off the bench a couple of times in derbies at Anfield but I haven't started one yet.

“I don't know what the manager will do but mentally you have to be prepared to play.

“It's still a very important game. We won't dismiss it and just focus on Tuesday. We want to win them both.

"We know the tie with City is not finished. They scored five past us earlier this season. Okay, there were circumstances that day but it's still in the back of our minds.

"With the way they attack, they can score a lot of goals and they have shown that throughout the course of the season.

"We have to approach it right. None of us are thinking that we are already through. We are not eyeing up the semi-finals.

"We still have another game to go. Essentially, it's still only half-time. We might be 3-0 up but we'll be looking to win the second leg as well."