Trent Alexander-Arnold sends Marcus Rashford 'threat' message ahead of Liverpool vs Manchester United

Trent Alexander-Arnold insists Marcus Rashford has always carried a similar threat through barren spells and purple patches.

The England duo will provide one of the key battles on Sunday afternoon as Manchester United face Liverpool at Anfield. Erik ten Hag's men can strengthen their hold on a top-four place, following defeats for both Newcastle and Tottenham on Sunday, but face a side who have won three of their last four in the league at a ground they haven't won at since 2016.

Any success for United will rely heavily on Rashford, with the forward's 25 goals across all competitions more than three times anyone else in red. Alexander-Arnold has often been criticised for his defending and the right-back has the unenviable task of managing one of Europe's most in form players come 4.30pm.

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But having gone toe-to-toe with the forward multiple times in recent years, he insists Rashford was just as much of a threat through difficult moments as he will be this afternoon.

“We’re not massively close, to be honest, especially outside of [the] England [national team],” Alexander-Arnold told the Telegraph of his relationship with Rashford. “At England camps everything is cool. We’ll speak. We’ll have good banter just like every player. Nothing special.

"He is in very good form. But he is one of those players where he is always a threat and always has been. Players get judged on their stats. For strikers it is all about if you are scoring, or assisting. But even last year you knew when against him he was a massive threat. It was all there.

"Maybe that is something those watching do not really see, but as a player out there you feel it. It wouldn’t matter