Trent Alexander-Arnold springs Rangers surprise as ex-Ibrox star who 'destroyed' him named among toughest opponents

Trent Alexander-Arnold has bizarrely name-dropped form Rangers and Hibs star Brandon Barker as one of the toughest opponents he's ever faced.

The England international and Champions League winner was quizzed on his individual battles on the pitch over the years, and reckons former Manchester City kid Barker was a formidable foe when the pair came up against each other in Under-21s action for the big Premier League outfits. Barker, who had stints at Rangers, Hibs and an Omonia Nicosia side coached by Neil Lennon, is now without a club at the age of 27.

The winger was the subject of a surprise admission by Alexander-Arnold, after he was asked who the toughest adversary he is faced who never really 'made it' in football. And the 25-year-old was quick to cast his mind back to when Barker competed at youth level against him, with the Liverpool star admitting he was 'destroyed' by the Englishman.

He told Liverpool's Youtube channel: “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 minutes.

“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.”