Joey Barton has highlighted the phenomenal display of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold after the crushing European win over Manchester City on Wednesday night.
The Reds took full control of their Champions League quarter-final tie with a 3-0 home victory at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s side now travel to the Etihad Stadium next week in control of the contest and a first-half blitz saw them blow away the soon-to-be Premier League champions.
In-form attacker Mohamed Salah opened the scoring after just 12 minutes inside the penalty area, while midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain then saw his spectacular long-range effort double the advantage.
Sadio Mane added a third inside the first-half and the Merseyside club managed to hold onto a clean sheet after nullifying an under par Man City in the second period.
Barton decided to put tremendous praise onto defender Alexander-Arnold after he silenced some critics with a solid display.
The 19-year-old right-back enjoyed the battle with Man City winger Leroy Sane, who has been one of the most devastating attackers in England this season.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold man of the match. Excellent against Sane all night,” Barton wrote on his personal Twitter account.
Trent Arnold MOM. Excellent against Sane all night.
— ? Joey Barton ? (@Joey7Barton) April 4, 2018
OPINION
Alexander-Arnold put in one of his best performances in a Liverpool shirt in midweek and proved that he can become a mainstay in the first team. The pacy full-back has burst into the senior side under Klopp and has been under pressure at times from supporters. However, fans are surely going to stick by an academy graduate and he rewarded them with a very mature display on the Champions League stage. Alexander-Arnold was pitted against a brilliant player in Sane and stood up to the task very well. His aim must now be to find consistency to his game as it appears he already has all the tools to be a top defender.