Paul Gorst was wowed by an ‘unbelievable’ moment from one Liverpool player during the first half of their Europa League clash against Atalanta tonight.

The Reds have shown a drastic improvement from recent games and pulled back one of the three-goal deficit from last week’s first leg with an early Mo Salah penalty.

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The match in Bergamo sees Trent Alexander-Arnold making his first start in over two months, and the vice-captain has looked like he’s never been away, as illustrated by one chance to set up a chance for the visitors.

Half an hour into the game, Gorst tweeted: “Unbelievable ball from Alexander-Arnold to get Gakpo away but Salah can’t find Diaz with a threaded ball. That’s what Liverpool have missed while their vice captain has been sidelined though, defence to attack in one pass.”

Unbelievable ball from Alexander-Arnold to get Gakpo away but Salah can't find Diaz with a threaded ball. That's what Liverpool have missed while their vice captain has been sidelined though, defence to attack in one pass. https://t.co/zQYkFTXsN1

— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) April 18, 2024

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The difference that Trent makes to this Liverpool team has been evident in the first half at the Gewiss Stadium.

As per Sofascore, the 25-year-old completed six accurate long passes before the interval and took a team-high 60 touches, getting involved at every opportunity and regularly unlocking the Atalanta defence.

That ability to create attacks from seemingly nowhere is just what the Reds have been lacking in recent games, and as Gorst says, the vice-captain has quickly provided a string which has been missing from our bow in his absence.

After Liverpool’s slump in the first two weeks of April, Trent’s return from injury could hardly have been more timely.  He looks set to have a massive impact on the team in the final month of the season.

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Jurgen Klopp has made it clear from his Liverpool team selection for tonight’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Atalanta that he doesn’t think this tie is irretrievable.

The Reds have a mountain to climb after losing 3-0 to Gian Piero Gasperini’s side at Anfield last week, but the German has opted for a strong starting line-up for the clash at the Gewiss Stadium.

One intriguing change in attack sees Cody Gakpo come in for Darwin Nunez, with the Uruguayan and Diogo Jota among the substitutes.

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Reacting to the team news on the Liverpool Echo‘s live matchday blog, Paul Gorst stated: “I am surprised a little bit to see Cody Gakpo start, even though the Netherlands frontman has been in decent form of late. In full fairness, he has scored a decent number of goals in this competition this term. Only Darwin Nunez has more than Gakpo’s four.

“It’s a first start since early February for Trent Alexander-Arnold too. How they will need his creativity from deep tonight. Jota and Nunez in reserve is tantalising.”

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Jota is still waiting for his first Liverpool start in two months, although he’s appeared off the bench in the Reds’ last couple of matches since returning from a knee injury (Transfermarkt).

Nunez drops out after a run of just one goal in six matches but he’s already had a telling impact as a substitute this season, coming on to score twice in the dramatic win at Newcastle in August and also getting the 99th-minute winner away to Nottingham Forest a few weeks ago.

The pair have scored 32 times between them in the current campaign, certainly a nice luxury to have in reserve if we need a goal or two during the second half tonight.

Hopefully the starting front three of Luis Diaz, Gakpo and Mo Salah can do the business and rescue Liverpool’s first-leg deficit, but having Jota and Nunez to call upon off the bench is indeed a tantalising prospect if it’s needed.

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Liverpool fans know very well that this has been a tough season in terms of injury concerns but because the side has coped so well on the pitch, it’s barely been spoken about.

Whilst Jurgen Klopp’s side trained in front of the media before facing Atalanta, Paul Gorst took to X to report:

‘No further injuries for Jurgen Klopp to concern himself with as Liverpool come through open training at the AXA Centre with as clean a bill of health as they’ve had virtually all season.’

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Even Stefan Bajcetic has been spotted which will be a huge boost for many, with the teenager making just one start this season so far.

Let’s hope we can use this clean bill of health to attack the end of the season and try to claim some more silverware.

You can view footage of the full squad in training via Liverpool FC on YouTube:

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From being forced to blood a series of academy youngsters during Liverpool’s injury crisis earlier this year, Jurgen Klopp now has an abundance of riches from which to choose.

The 56-year-old has the luxury of making six changes to his starting line-up for tonight’s Europa League clash against Atalanta, and the substitutes’ bench is further supplemented by three players returning from lengthy absences.

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Reacting to the LFC team news on the Liverpool Echo’s live matchday blog, Paul Gorst welcomed the ‘frankly ridiculous’ squad depth which is now avaiable to the German.

He posted (19:05): “Fair to say the selection dilemmas for Jurgen Klopp have been of a much different nature than in recent weeks and months. The strength of that bench is quite frankly ridiculous. Szoboszlai, Diaz, Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Jota, Robertson…There is ample in reserve should it be needed this evening.”

Team news is in for tonight's #UEL clash with Atalanta

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 11, 2024

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It’s only been a few short weeks since Klopp fast-tracked the likes of Jayden Danns, Lewis Koumas and James McConnell into the starting XI, such was the extent of Liverpool’s injury crisis.

The youngsters all stepped up commendably, but Reds fans will no doubt be hugely relieved to have a nearly fully-fit squad available once more, especially after being forced to do without so many big-name players throughout February and March.

Diogo Jota’s impending return finally gives us the luxury of having all five senior forwards from which to choose, and as soon as Trent comes back into the side, we’ll have one of our most lethal creative options pulling the strings once more.

Liverpool’s starting XI tonight is by no means a weak one, yet to have players like those two to call upon if needed – as well as Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai – is a testament to what an outstanding squad Klopp has when almost everyone is fit.

Truth be told, you could make a darn good XI out of our substitutes for this game!

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Liverpool Echo journalist Paul Gorst has staunchly defended Jurgen Klopp in the wake of the Reds manager facing criticism over a TV interview after the FA Cup defeat on Sunday.

The 56-year-old was wrongly accused by some social media users of critiquing a reporter’s weight after he said that they were ‘not in a great shape’, in response to a question as to whether his team lacked intensity during extra time at Old Trafford.

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The recipient of Klopp’s irritation has publicly clarified that the Liverpool boss didn’t insult his physique, and Gorst has also stood up for the German following the post-match storm.

In a tweet sharing a Liverpool Echo article which outlined that the 56-year-old would’ve been required to conduct numerous post-game interviews, the Merseyside reporter posted: “The pearl clutching over Jurgen Klopp walking off from one of about 10 post-match interviews yesterday has been laughable. ‘Elite manager unhappy after defeat’. It’s only a story if he isn’t.”

The pearl clutching over Jurgen Klopp walking off from one of about 10 post-match interviews yesterday has been laughable.

'Elite manager unhappy after defeat'.

It's only a story if he isn't. In defence of the #LFC manager…https://t.co/O4HB0Fqacl

— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) March 18, 2024

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Gorst is speaking from a position of many years’ experience of interviewing Klopp before and after matches, so when he’s openly stating that instances of the Liverpool manager being curt towards the media are firmly in the minority, we can take it as reality.

There are occasional instances where the German crosses the line in reacting angrily to reporters, but it’s become commonplace for fans of rival clubs to castigate him for any show of emotion during and after games, as if no other manager in world football has a temper.

As the journalist also rightly points out, it would’ve been a far worse look if the 56-year-old gave the impression that he wasn’t bothered by a stoppage time (after extra time) defeat to his club’s biggest rivals. Was anyone expecting him to be all-singing and all-dancing so soon after the final whistle?

The true Klopp was seen in how he cheerfully interacted with the Manchester United mascots prior to kick-off, and in how he’s given so much of his time to Liverpool fans who’ve endured difficulty in their personal lives.

We’re sure that doesn’t fit the haters’ agenda, but we’re far more inclined to take it from someone like Gorst who knows the Reds boss better than most.

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Jurgen Klopp has made three changes in personnel to Liverpool’s starting line-up for the FA Cup visit to Manchester United, with one of those making way being described as an ‘intriguing’ call.

The returns of Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz were all expected after the trio were among the substitutes against Sparta Prague on Thursday night, although the captain’s recall sees a domino effect in defence as Joe Gomez moves to right-back, with Conor Bradley dropping to the bench.

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Paul Gorst was reacting to the team news on the Liverpool Echo‘s live matchday blog (14:39), stating: “No [Ibrahima] Konate then, as anticipated but Gomez over Bradley is an intriguing one.

“Does Klopp want to have a bit more solidity down that side? Or maybe he’s just picking Gomez based on the outstanding form he’s been in for months.”

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Coming into today’s match, the composition of the back four always promised to be the main talking point of Liverpool’s starting XI, and so it’s proven.

Despite Konate being ruled out through injury, it speaks to the luxury of defensive options that Klopp can call upon that he’d readily omit the thriving Bradley in order to keep Gomez in the team. It’s also a tremendous show of faith in Jarell Quansah, who keeps his place at centre-back alongside Van Dijk.

The 26-year-old will be tasked with shackling Marcus Rashford, who despite a largely quiet season has scored in his last two games and has netted six times against us previously (Transfermarkt).

More often than not, the German gets it spot-on with his team selections. Let’s hope that proves to be the case again today.

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Liverpool may be 5-1 up going into tonight’s Europa League round of 16 second leg against Sparta Prague at Anfield, but Jurgen Klopp isn’t taking any chances with his starting XI.

Despite the comfortable buffer for the home tie, the manager has named Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson, among other first-team regulars, in the line-up to face the Czech champions.

Two prominent journalists covering the game for the Liverpool Echo admitted to being taken aback by the strength of the Reds’ XI, given the emphatic lead from last week and the proximity of the FA Cup clash at Manchester United on Sunday.

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Writing for the publication’s live matchday blog, Ian Doyle stated (18:52): “Some fans won’t be happy with that starting line-up but the reality is Liverpool have a job to do.

“If they get through to half-time in at least as strong a position as they started, then expect certain players to be substituted. That said, for all the talk of momentum, there’s only one more game until a long international break.”

His colleague Paul Gorst said (18:49): “I am shocked by how strong Jurgen Klopp has gone here tonight with his starting XI.

“It was telling that Szoboszlai would start given he was up for media duties yesterday and I assumed Salah would play for the minutes but Robertson, [Wataru] Endo and Nunez are all eyebrow-raisers. [Caoimhin] Kelleher too. Either way, something to look forward to for the fans who maybe expected a much less familiar lineup.”

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Klopp’s scope for rotation is lessened by injuries to several first-team players, although it does seem surprising that he’s included the likes of Salah, Szoboszlai and Robertson in the circumstances.

The hope is that Liverpool can further extend their aggregate lead by half-time and maybe then withdraw the big names to make way for talented youngsters like Jayden Danns, Kaide Gordon and James McConnell.

It’s clear from the strength of the line-up that the Reds boss is paying plenty of respect to Sparta Prague despite the heavy defeat in the Czech capital last week, which on the balance of play was a closer contest than the 5-1 final score would suggest.

Fans may be watching through their fingers if any of the first-team regulars go to ground with even a minor knock, but hopefully everyone will come through the match without any damage being done.

The perfect scenario? Tack on a couple of goals before the interval and take off Salah, Nunez et al to rest them up for Sunday at Old Trafford.

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A brilliant match between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday was overshadowed by yet another VAR controversy in the dying minutes at Anfield.

With the teams level at 1-1, Jeremy Doku caught Alexis Mac Allister in the chest inside the visitors’ penalty area. On-field referee Michael Oliver missed it, and Stuart Attwell in Stockley Park somehow came back with a carry-on verdict of ‘check complete’ despite the infringement being clear in replays.

Taking to X, the Liverpool Echo’s Paul Gorst summed up the woeful inconsistency of top-flight officiating with an image of that incident alongside the one which earned the Reds’ Argentine midfielder a red card in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth at the start of the season.

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The journalist shared the two stills side-by-side and pointed out: “One of these was deemed a high boot and worthy of a sending off. The other was apparently not even a foul. Making it up as they go along on a week by week, game by game, minute by minute basis.”

One of these was deemed a high boot and worthy of a sending off. The other was apparently not even a foul. Making it up as they go along on a week by week, game by game, minute by minute basis. pic.twitter.com/owyWzBbzyE

— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) March 10, 2024

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As bad as the decision not to penalise Doku felt during the match yesterday, it appears even more baffling when compared with the red card that Mac Allister was shown against the Cherries.

The Liverpool midfielder caught Ryan Christie boot-on-boot roughly a foot off the ground, whereas the City winger already had his leg at chest height before following through on the 25-year-old with studs showing.

VAR failed to give a penalty because they apparently deemed that the Belgian played the ball first. While he got a toe to it and then caught Mac Allister, his leg was already dangerously high before making any contact with the ball.

It said a lot that even Gary Neville insisted that Doku was very lucky to avoid being penalised, and that the red card in the Bournemouth game last August was swiftly overturned on appeal.

Once again in the Premier League, the officials have done their utmost to dominate the narrative and take the shine off what was a thrilling match between two top-quality teams.

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Liverpool could potentially reach a significant milestone of Jurgen Klopp’s reign against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

The Reds have enjoyed plenty of high-scoring victories under the 56-year-old, and another today would see them cross a notable threshold.

As Paul Gorst pointed out in the Liverpool Echo’s live matchday blog (14:37), all five senior attackers have hit double figures for goals this season, and if the visitors score three or more at the City Ground today, they’ll reach 1,000 during the German’s eight-and-a-half year reign.

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Forest away has the makings of a real banana skin – we haven’t won away to them since 1984 (lfchistory.net) – but it’s not unthinkable that Liverpool could reach the 1,000-goal mark under Klopp today.

We’ve found the net 24 times in just seven Premier League games since the turn of the year, with three or more in each of the six top-flight matches that we’ve won in that time, while Nuno Espirito Santo’s team have kept just one clean sheet in their last 15 league outings (Transfermarkt).

This fixture is the 473rd in charge of the Reds for the 56-year-old, which shows a healthy average of just over two per match under the German.

A win scoring three would provide a nice embellishment to the core task of securing victory, although winning by any means and scoreline necessary is all that truly matters.

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The Liverpool starting line-up for this afternoon’s clash against Nottingham Forest has prompted plenty of reaction from some prominent journalists.

Jurgen Klopp has made four changes from the midweek win over Southampton, with Alexis Mac Allister among those recalled, while Darwin Nunez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo are all back in the matchday squad among the substitutes.

Writing in the Liverpool Echo’s live matchday blog, Theo Squires suggested (14:08): Squires: “You’d imagine it is [Joe] Gomez at defensive midfield with [Conor] Bradley right-back and [Harvey] Elliott right-wing, as it was against Southampton.

“But it could easily be Gomez right-back, Elliott midfield with Mac Allister deeper, and Bradley on the right flank. Keep them guessing!”

His colleague Paul Gorst acknowledged surprise over one particular selection, saying (14:05): “I am slightly surprised Klopp has gone for Gomez over Endo this afternoon in the defensive midfield position.

“It’s hardly one Gomez has real experience with having played it for one game, at home to a Championship side on Wednesday, but I thought he performed well after he had got to grips with it in the first half.

“Still, though, Endo has been excellent for the Reds but I guess they are just being cautious after that ankle injury at Wembley. It was only six days ago, after all. And Manchester City are up next in the Premier League.”

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It’ll only be once the match begins that we find out for sure what the positional make-up of Liverpool’s starting XI will be, but we’d venture to suggest that – like Squires initially said – we’ll probably see Bradley remaining at right-back, with Gomez in the number 6 role and Elliott on the right-hand side of attack.

Endo’s return to the matchday squad does pose a question as to whether he could’ve started at the base of midfield, but like Gorst pointed out, Klopp could be playing the long game with the 31-year-old when considering the fixtures which are coming up.

The starting XI still has a somewhat experimental feel to it amid the glut of injuries at Anfield, but at least the returns of the Japan captain, along with Nunez and Szoboszlai, offer greater strength and experience off the bench if needed.

There could also be cameos for Jayden Danns and Lewis Koumas at some stage after their goalscoring exploits in midweek, with both among the substitutes today.

As ever, we have full faith in Klopp to pick the best XI available to him to hopefully get the job done this afternoon and open up a four-point lead on Manchester City overnight.

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Paul Gorst was full of praise for one Liverpool youngster who enjoyed a landmark career moment during the FA Cup clash against Southampton tonight.

It was only seven days ago that Jayden Danns made his senior debut for the Reds, but he’s swiftly followed that up by playing for a winning team in the Carabao Cup final and scoring his first two goals at adult level.

The first of those strikes was an exquisite one, too, chipping the ball with aplomb over Joe Lumley to double our lead against the Saints at Anfield on our way to a 3-0 win.

Gorst was providing updated on the match via his X account, and he said of the 18-year-old’s landmark goal: “Cool as you like from Jayden Danns, who lifts the ball over Joe Lumley with the composure of a veteran. 2-0 Liverpool.”

Cool as you like from Jayden Danns, who lifts the ball over Joe Lumley with the composure of a veteran. 2-0 Liverpool. https://t.co/QDXYgzG75H

— Paul Gorst (@ptgorst) February 28, 2024

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Danns had scored 16 goals in 17 games at youth level for Liverpool this season (Transfermarkt), so it’s clear that he’s a marvellous finisher.

Even with that in mind, though, the calmness with which he scored his first-ever senior goal showed a maturity beyond his 18 years, and it may even have shown up some seasoned professionals who wouldn’t have the same composure in that situation.

Southampton’s players may well have been looking on with envy, having created some gilt-edged chances among the 12 shots they recorded at Anfield tonight but failed to make any of them count.

Danns is only starting out in his senior career, but the early signs from his three games over the past week indicate that, with the right application and some good fortune, he could go on to very big things at Liverpool.

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It was a weekend of on-pitch success and off-field woe as the Reds secured three points but Mo Salah was among the stricken few who seemingly picked up an injury.

Writing for the Liverpool ECHO, Paul Gorst reported: ‘Speaking to Egyptian TV station OnTimeSports, presenter Ahmed Shoubir said: “I have sad news, I learned that Salah suffered an injury at the end of the meeting between Liverpool and Brentford and renewed injury suffered during the camp of the Egyptian national team. Salah unfortunately will not be able to play the next Liverpool Premier League match against Luton Town. This is my information and I hope that the news is not true, but it is largely true.”

‘Salah, as is routine for players who are returning from injuries, will be checked over when the team gathers for training and Klopp will deliver the latest in his Tuesday press conference to preview the visit from Luton.’

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It seems that there’s mixed news on our No.11, with it only really being the Egyptian press that has offered any updates at present.

We’ll really just have to wait and see what Jurgen Klopp can say in his pre-Luton press conference, with there being much more than just the Egyptian King that we’re waiting for updates on.

All Liverpool fans are sweating on the likes of Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Curtis Jones, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai – all hoping to return for a Wembley cup final.

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It’s far from ideal as we approach a crucial part of the campaign but we can only cross our fingers and hope that the fringe players can continue to impress.

They’ve not let us down yet and so let’s take each game one at a time and try to field the team that has the best chance of winning each match.

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As is the norm for a pre-game training session, Liverpool shared pictures of the players that were out on the grass but one key player was missing.

Providing an update on Darwin Nunez’s fitness during his pre-Arsenal press conference, Jurgen Klopp said: “we will have to see” if the Uruguayan could play in the game.

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Add onto this, the images shared on liverpoolfc.com also only showed our No.9 in the gym but had no sighting of him on the grass and kicking a ball.

However, Paul Gorst from the Liverpool ECHO took to his X account and shared an image which should alleviate many doubts about the former Benfica man for our trip to the Emirates.

You can view the images of Nunez via @ptgorst on X and liverpoolfc.com:

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Paul Gorst has named one academy prospect at Liverpool who’s held in especially high esteem by the club and has already shown why ‘great efforts’ were made to sign him.

The 16-year-old was signed from Leicester City’s youth ranks last September and was called up to train with the Reds’ first team before long, even being named among the substitutes for three senior matches by Jurgen Klopp (Transfermarkt).

Speaking on The Blood Red Podcast, the Liverpool Echo was asked to name ‘the most exciting young player in the academy’ who ‘fans won’t have heard of’.

Gorst replied: “That they won’t have heard of? Well I like Trey Nyoni. He’s only been there a few months and he’s already making the bench for the senior games and they think massively of him at Kirkby.

“He’s a bit of a goalscoring midfielder; he scored in the mini derby in September. You can see why Liverpool made great efforts to get him from Leicester.”

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Gorst mentioned the impact that Nyoni has made for Liverpool’s under-18s, scoring against their Everton counterparts during a rich vein of form in his first few weeks on Merseyside.

The teenager was duly drafted into the under-21 side, for whom he’s made five appearances (Transfermarkt), and his involvement with the first team suggests that he might just get a senior debut before the end of the season if circumstances allow for it.

We’d venture to suggest that plenty of LFC fans are already familiar with the 16-year-old midfielder given the impact he’s made, but the point about him making a massive impression so soon still stands.

We’ve seen the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah successfully make the step-up from the academy to the first team in recent years. If Nyoni can continue his current rate of progress, you wouldn’t back against him being the next enduring star to emerge from Liverpool’s youth ranks.

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Paul Gorst hailed a ‘superb’ piece of play from Trent Alexander-Arnold during the first half of Liverpool’s FA Cup tie against Arsenal this evening.

The Reds survived an early onslaught from the home side to grow into the game as the quarterway mark of the game approached, and our number 66 was instrumental in instigating a move in the 21st minute which culminated with Darwin Nunez diverting a header wide from a corner kick.

In the Liverpool Echo’s live matchday blog (16:55), the journalist wrote: “Liverpool’s best chance so far falls to Darwin Nunez whose header from a corner drifts wide. It was superb play from Alexander-Arnold to get the team up the pitch in the first place.

“It was a stunning touch and turn and in one movement before a surge forward and a pass found Nunez, whose cross won a corner.”

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Having soaked up plenty of early pressure from Arsenal, it was imperative that Liverpool got a foothold in the game before allowing the Gunners’ initial dominance to count on the scoreboard.

Trent’s ‘stunning touch’ and swivel to get his team up the field in that 21st-minute moment was exactly what the Reds needed, and had Nunez steered his header on target and broken the deadlock, it could’ve been traced back to our captain for the day beginning the surge forward to eventually win the corner.

It was a segment of the match which showed why Jurgen Klopp’s decision to make the 25-year-old the team’s vice-captain was an inspired one, with the Scouser growing into the role with each passing week and leading by example.

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The post ‘Superb play’ – Journalist hails ‘stunning’ 21st-minute moment from Liverpool ace v Arsenal appeared first on The Empire of The Kop.