Trent Alexander-Arnold has been compared to Kevin De Bruyne and David Beckham this season.
But it was Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard who the 21-year-old grew up admiring and modelling his game on.
Jamie Carragher claimed Alexander-Arnold could one day play in a role like Manchester City’s De Bruyne as he has “more quality than Liverpool’s midfield players”.
Another former Red, Danny Murphy, claimed the England right-back is “as good a crosser of the ball as David Beckham”.
Alexander-Arnold is staying grounded despite the lofty comparisons as he enjoyed watching a player closer to home growing up in Liverpool’s academy.
When asked who he modelled himself on, he said: “Gerrard, really. Everything about his game I really admired. I always studied him and wanted to be like him.
“I never thought, ‘I want to cross a ball like that,’ it happened naturally. It is my best asset going forward so I try to use that.”
Alexander-Arnold has become Liverpool’s assist king with his ability to cross and that gives England a great asset going forward.
He has already provided three for the leaders this season and got a staggering 15 in the league last season.
Alexander-Arnold has worked on his free-kicks too after studying Rangers boss Gerrard down the years but insists any idea of switching into midfield to be the next De Bruyne is a long way from his thoughts.
He said: “I remember Gerrard always took them (free-kicks) for Liverpool.
“I feel confident stepping up and putting a decent ball into the box. I’m not fussed where I play. I just want to play football.”
Alexander-Arnold can help England clinch Euro 2020 qualification in the double-header with the Czech Republic and Bulgaria having learned from a 5-3 win over Kosovo.
He said: “We will analyse what went wrong and try to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We’ll make sure we get it right.”
