Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has named Marcus Rashford and Wilfried Zaha as his two toughest opponents in the Premier League to date.
Alexander-Arnold has emerged as a regular at right-back for Liverpool over the last 12 months, making 33 appearances in all competitions last season and earning a place in England’s World Cup squad in Russia – he has also started all four of the Reds’ Premier League games so far this term.
The 19-year-old notably got the better of Leroy Sane across two legs in last season’s Champions League semi-final against Manchester City.
But he admits there are two wingers who have given him grief in his short career so far.
Asked if any Premier League winger can match him for pace, Alexander-Arnold told the Daily Mail: “Marcus Rashford.
“He’s probably the fastest in the league. But it’s not just out and out pace. It’s getting you off balance, that’s when they get you. It’s not just a foot race. Get you off balance, then your body shape’s not right and they’re gone.”
Alexander-Arnold went on to talk about his most difficult spell last season, during which he struggled against another winger: Crystal Palace’s Zaha.
“If you look back before the two City games in the Champions League, there was Man United away and Palace away where Marcus Rashford and Wilfried Zaha gave me a tough time,” the teenager said.
“A lot of people might have doubted me and doubted whether I was ready for the Champions League, but I went out there with a point to prove.”
Although few wingers have embarrassed the youngster, Alexander-Arnold admits he is fortunate Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane play on the same side as him.
He added: “I get the punishment they dish out in training. At least it’s not in front of the TV cameras on a Saturday night.”
Liverpool travel to Wembley to take on Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday hoping to avoid a repeat of last season’s 4-1 defeat to the Londoners.
The post Alexander-Arnold: Rashford and Zaha my toughest Premier League opponents appeared first on Squawka News.
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