Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold backed a 19-year-old youngster to be the club's next star, and hailed the impact of $54 million summer signing Diogo Jota

• Trent Alexander-Arnold has hailed the impact of Diogo Jota at Liverpool this season, and has backed 19-year-old Curtis Jones to become an Anfield superstar.
• "Diogo's goals in particular have been very important to the team," the 22-year-old told Insider, adding that the Portuguese winger's contribution has been "invaluable."
• "Curtis has been class and really stepped up. He is going to be a top player for sure," Alexander-Arnold told Insider in an exclusive interview.

Speaking exclusively to Insider, Trent Alexander-Arnold has hailed the impact of Diogo Jota at Liverpool this season, and has backed one of the club's most promising young stars to become an Anfield superstar.

Liverpool spent $54 million to bring Jota to Merseyside from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer and the Portugal international has since been a revelation, scoring nine goals in 17 games, including a sublime Champions League hat-trick against Atalanta in November.

The 24-year-old, however, suffered a knee injury in Liverpool's most recent Champions League fixture against FC Midtjylland and will now be sidelined for six to eight weeks - further deepening the Red's injury crisis.

Star defender Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for the season in October after finding himself on the end of a calamitous tackle from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, while Joe Gomez is also expected to miss a large chunk of the campaign after suffering a knee injury while on international duty with England.

Xherdan Shaqiri, Joel Matip, and James Milner are also currently out, as is summer signing Thiago Alcantara, who despite only playing just twice this season, has also been lauded by Alexander-Arnold.

"All clubs get injuries, it's part and parcel of professional sport. This season has been challenging with no real pre-season due to COVID and as a result, maybe more players have picked up injuries," the 22-year-old defender told Insider.

"[Jota and Thiago] faced their own fitness issues, but when fully fit, have been invaluable additions to the squad. Diogo's goals in particular have been very important to the team.

"The lads will be integral as the season progresses and most importantly both have fit right in."

Alexander-Arnold - who features in Insider upcoming ranking of the world's top 50 footballers - has had his own injury problems this term too, missing seven games over the past two months due to a calf knock sustained against Manchester City in early November.

The England star returned to action in the 4-0 victory over Wolves on December 6 and played his first 90 minutes against Midtjylland three days later.

Despite being delighted to return, he told Insider that is vital not to "rush coming back."

Alexander-Arnold is expected to start for Liverpool on Wednesday night in the team's top-of-the-table clash with Tottenham Hotspur, arguably the biggest game of the English Premier League season so far.

Curtis Jones is Liverpool's next star, Alexander-Arnold says

Speaking about his Liverpool teammates, Alexander-Arnold said that he believes, Curtis Jones, a 19-year-old midfielder will "100%" became a Liverpool regular in the near future.

Jones, who was born and raised in the city, has made 14 appearances in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp's side this term and scored three goals, with the German coach describing his most recent performance against Fulham on Sunday as "sensational."

"Curtis has been class and really stepped up," Alexander-Arnold told Insider.

"He is going to be a top player for sure. It's not just him though, all our young players have been really impressive, with the likes of Rhys Williams and Caoimhin Kelleher also stepping up."

Liverpool take on Tottenham at home on Wednesday evening, where a win will see it jump ahead of Jose Mourinho's side to the top of the English Premier League table.

Alexander-Arnold spoke to Insider as part of his partnership with Therabody.

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