Karl Robinson has revealed how Liverpool ‘kidnapped’ Trent Alexander-Arnold from under the noses of local rivals Everton.
Alexander-Arnold delivered an accomplished performance at right-back on his first full start for the Reds in Tuesday’s EFL Cup win over Tottenham.
But Robinson claims that the 18-year-old was on the verge of heading to Goodison Park rather than joining the youth ranks at Anfield.
The recently sacked MK Dons manager was working within the academy set-up when Alexander-Arnold emerged on Liverpool’s radar at the age of just six.
“I was watching the game on Tuesday night and I got all emotional,” Robinson told the 5Times podcast.
“He had a choice between Liverpool and Everton, and we literally kidnapped him!
“We wouldn’t let him anywhere because he was so good. He was a striker as a kid. He was the best by a long way. We did everything we possibly could to sign him.
“Cameron Brannagan was a bit older than him. Jordan Rossiter and Connor Randall were also part of that batch of players we signed at six, seven and eight.
“I’m watching these kids now and thinking ‘remember the battle we had trying to sign him’.
“Back then you could play for Liverpool on a Monday, Man United on a Tuesday, Everton on a Wednesday, Man City on a Thursday and for Bolton or Blackburn on a Friday.
“We had to do so much to get these kids to the Academy.”