Trent Alexander-Arnold reveals how he found out England spot

Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed how "father figure" Jurgen Klopp broke the news to the youngster that he would be a member of England's World Cup squad. Alexander-Arnold has been a revelation at Liverpool this past campaign, helping the Anfield club to a Champions League final.

“The manager told me when we were away last week,” Alexander-Arnold recalled, a week on from Liverpool’s pre-Champions League final training camp in Marbella. “We were on the shuttle bus towards the plane, and he came over to me.

“He asked: ‘Have you heard anything from the national team?’ I said: ‘No, no’. So he replied: ‘When is it getting announced?’ I was like: ‘About 12, 1 maybe.’

“And when we were in mid-air he came over and asked: ‘Well, have you got any holidays booked this year around World Cup time?’ and I said: ‘No’ and he knew and said: ‘Well, Gareth Southgate’s been on the phone and told me to let you know you’re in the squad.’”