Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed the fear that drives him every day – not delivering his potential.
Having fought for a career as one of Jurgen Klopp’s chosen ones at Liverpool, the England full back really is living the dream.
But the nightmare that lurks is looking back on his career – and knowing he could have done better.
At 21, Alexander-Arnold has the football world at his feet for club and country.
But as he awaits his first Premier League crown the right back is contemplating sustained success and the prospect of legendary Anfield status – not a quick hit and run title medal.
“The thing that scares me most is wasted potential. I think that’s what motivates me more than anything,” says the Kop youngster.
“I don’t want to get to the end of my career and think ‘I should have done this or that in that season’ or ‘I should have worked harder or could have been better than what I am now’.
“I want to win everything for club and country and try and be a legend whenever that is possible.
“To be at the level of someone who is an amazing player, who gives his all on the pitch, made good things happen and made the fans happy.
“And when it’s all finished I want to look back with a lot of trophies and memories.”
Alexander-Arnold was speaking before lockdown with YouTube producer and model Rubi Deschamps who went on a tour of his early life in Liverpool with the defender for the video Behind the Dream.
In four seasons since he burst on the scene as a 17-year-old the youngster has racked up 125 games for Liverpool and already has a Champions League winners' medal in his locker.
And his desire to strive for more is no surprise to Ian Barrigan, head of pre-academy recruitment at Liverpool and the man who spotted the defender at primary school.
“He’s the most competitive person I’ve ever met. If he plays a game of tiddlywinks it will kick off!
“As a schoolboy in training if it was too easy all you’d do is give a couple of penalties against his team.
“His mum Diane would phone and say 'Ooh, Trent hates you - he isn’t going to play for you ever again' that’s what he’s like. He’s terrible.
“You could just tell generally that he was well above the standard of other kids at the development centre straight away, within five mins.
“Obviously his raw athleticism as well, he’s such an athlete and always has been. When he played in younger age groups at Country Park in the Walton and Kirkdale League he would score 9 goals a game.
“So even when he was baby and really young he would dominate the game.
“We’ve found a big player. But I don’t think he’s ever been cocky, he’s not got it in him,” says Barrigan.
“He’s grounded, his family are all around him making sure his feet are on the floor so there’s no chance of being cocky.”
The watchword for the Alexander-Arnold family is humble – and the star was genuinely blown away when shown a big picture of him holding the Champions League trophy on a wall at the Liverpool Academy in Kirkby.
“Wow, it’s the first time I’ve seen this - it's sick. I am stunned by it. Madness! Hopefully it inspires the younger generation when they come through these halls and see things like this they’ll see anything is possible.
“It’s mad because you don’t realise you’ll be on the wall in the academy and have things about you and the trophies you won in and around the building - but it shows these things can happen.”
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