Liverpool secrets to success as Trent Alexander-Arnold gives behind-the-scenes insight

Showing the precision of one of his passes, Trent Alexander-Arnold got to the heart of what Liverpool are about.

Asked if a spectacular display of power and verve against such intimidating rivals as Manchester City in their FA Cup semi-final delivers confidence, his reply spoke volumes about the mentality of his team right now, even under the most intense pressure.

The Reds defender said: “I don’t think as a team we need performances to give us confidence. We look around the dressing room, we look at the manager and the players we have got. I think it just speaks for itself.

“Each game we have, we go into wanting to win and kind of expecting to win – whether it is Manchester City or anyone else. We thought we could win this game if we executed the game plan. The first half, especially, we did it.” As a team, Liverpool are more than the sum of even their electric parts. Their brand of football can be compelling, as the first half against a truly shell-shocked City demonstrated. Yet the spirit they have, the bond all their players enjoy, takes them to a different level.

It is why they will go into May still chasing an historic quadruple. Which is mind blowing, when you think of it. No team has got beyond mid-April before, still in four competitions, and they will surely take it now to the final days of the season. They’re still calling it “impossible” of course, and you can see why. Playing in the FA Cup final means another rearranged game, and there seems no space in the already crowded fixture list to fit it in.

Yet there was one phrase - two words - uttered by both Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk on Saturday, as they briefly revelled in their astonishing victory. “Enjoy it.” That is instilled by Jurgen Klopp. He