Trent Alexander-Arnold names ex-Man City starlet as the best opponent he faced who 'never made it' to the top

Trent Alexander-Arnold has opened up on the best opponent he has ever faced who 'never made it' to the top.

While Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Brighton may have felt like an opportunity missed, having led the game for over half an hour before Lewis Dunk's equaliser.

The 25-year-old was also asked about the best player he had ever come up against who 'never made it' to the top.

After a long pause, Alexander-Arnold replied: "I would say Brandon Barker, played for [Manchester] City."

"I was 18, playing for the Under-21s, first ever time at Anfield, got beat 3-0. He scored two and got an assist. I came off at 60

"Still to this day, he's the opponent I think that just destroyed me, man. I've never had it like that before.

"At that point I'm thinking: 'this kid is going to be the best player in the world' because I'd never seen someone move so quickly and sharp and effectively, so I'd say Brandon Barker."

Barker never broke into City's first-team and was shipped out on loan to Rotherham, Dutch side Breda, Hibernian and Preston North End, before eventually signing a permanent deal with Rangers in 2019.

After a more successful loan spell with Oxford United, the Englishman joined Reading as a free agent, where he managed just four appearances before taking up a new challenge in Cyprus with Omonia.