Trent Alexander-Arnold has lifted the lid on what happened on the morning Jurgen Klopp dramatically revealed to the Liverpool squad of his decision leave at the end of the season.

And in a revealing chat with Reds legend Jamie Carragher, the vice-captain also opened up on his frustrations over missing the Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea in late February while issuing a fitness update ahead of Sunday’s visit to Manchester United.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Carragher, as part of the Football For Change charity lunch at the Liver Building last week, Alexander-Arnold spoke about a number of topics from his current injuries issues to winning the Champions League and Premier League – as well the launch of his own After Academy last year.

Alexander-Arnold launched the Football for Change initiative alongside Carragher, England defender Conor Coady and PR firm ThisGeneration Communications back in 2021 and well over £1m million has been raised since its inception.

Thursday’s event saw tens of thousands of further funds raised for disadvantaged young people across the North West and the ECHO was on hand to hear from the Liverpool and England star as he opened up on stage.

Carragher: “As well as your support for Football For Change, you have launched the After Academy, can you explain what that’s all about?”

Alexander-Arnold: “The After Academy was something we’ve set up over the last year or so and it’s about giving opportunities to 16, 17, 18 year olds who have been released by academies. It’s for kids who have sacrificed so much but they have nothing else to fall back on. They might not have qualifications needed to go and get a job. No safety net behind them. We try to get them work placements and apprenticeships and show them there is a life after football when their time at an academy comes to an end.”

Carragher: “How important for you as a local lad to give something back to Liverpool?”

Alexander-Arnold: “One hundred percent. It’s the way I was brought up by my parents. I was always told you give back to those who are less fortunate. I’m in a position now where I’m able to give back more and more, and it’s something that’s very important to me and my family.”

Carragher: “When you look back on your career so far, when was it that you felt you had really made your mark on this Liverpool team?”

Alexander-Arnold: “I remember making by debut against Tottenham. I used to listen to young players talking about their debut and how excited they got. I’ve always been quite a level-headed player on the pitch, cool and calm, but within about five minutes of my debut I should have been sent off! It’s the excitement of it.

“Your emotions are running high. I just remember coming off the pitch and being hugged by the gaffer (Klopp). The dream had always been to make my debut. That was the starting point for me. I thought even if I never get to step on that pitch again at least I can say I played for Liverpool.”

Carragher: “Who were the biggest influences in terms of shaping you as a footballer?

Alexander-Arnold: “Definitely my brothers and my parents off the pitch. They’re the ones who keep my feet on the ground. They never let me get ahead of myself when everything shot off so quickly for me. Then the manager, Pep Lijnders, (Academy director) Alex Inglethorpe, they were all very influential in the way I approached the game and in terms of how they adapted and moulded me as a footballer.

“As a young player, all you can ever ask for is an opportunity and the manager gave me that. Then it was down to me to take it and keep gaining his trust. It’s rare in modern football to come straight through the academy and go straight into the first team without going out on loan. It’s not easy to do but I’ve always had the right people around me at the right times making the best decisions for me.”

Carragher: “What’s the one trophy out of the collection you’ve got that means the most? Was it winning the European Cup or ending the club’s long wait for the title?”

Alexander-Arnold: “It’s hard. With the Champions League final, you’re going into it knowing the difference between winning and losing is massive. It gets you going like nothing else. The league title is a lot harder to win because it’s over the entire season. You have to be so consistent. I think it was harder for us to win the league but I’d say it felt better in terms of a single moment when we won the European Cup. When Divock (Origi) scored in Madrid, that’s the best feeling I’ve ever had on a football pitch.”

Carragher: “What happened on that morning in January when you found out that Jurgen would be stepping down at the end of the season?”

Alexander-Arnold: “It started off like a normal day. Then the manager called a meeting at 10:30am which we had never had before so everyone was like ‘what’s going on?’ He came into the changing rooms and told us there was news breaking as he was speaking. So we found out as players at the same time as everyone else but he told us personally.

“He said that this has to be his last season, that he needed a break to spend time with his family. I didn’t know what to do. You think ‘is this a joke?’ None of us were expecting it. After he left the room, everyone was just sat there thinking ‘has that actually just happened?’ Then you have to get on with it, going out to train in an hour’s time, doing your job.”

Carragher: “Has wanting to end this era on a high for Jurgen after everything he’s done for the club been a topic of conversation in the dressing room?”

Alexander-Arnold: “One hundred percent. That was something that Virg (Virgil van Dijk) said to us all after Jurgen had told us. He said ‘this is huge news that’s going to rock the footballing world but we can’t let it distract us, we have to use it as motivation. The manager has led us to so much success, he’s enabled us to fulfil our dreams, so we owe it to give everything we possibly can to give him the best send-off.

“Virg said we can’t allow it to be an excuse for results or for a lack of focus, but we have to use it to our advantage and that if people think this is going to make us take our eyes off the ball then we need to prove them wrong. It was big news but as professionals you have to get your head around it and move on.

Carragher: “You don’t miss many games so what’s this period been like for you?

Alexander-Arnold: “It’s been difficult. You pick up your niggles, issues that rule you out for a few weeks, and you get on with it. But when it’s months and you’re missing finals and games against teams like Man City then it hurts. The whole world is watching and that’s the stage you want to be on performing.

“You want to be winning trophies and in title races. But it’s been incredible to see the young lads come into the team and perform like they have done. The day we had at Wembley was amazing. When you’re not playing yourself and not able to do what you’ve always done, it’s hard. Football is your life. If everything keeps going right then I should be back in the next couple of weeks.”

Carragher: “There’s always a lot of talk about your position on the pitch, where do you see yourself playing going forward?”

Alexander-Arnold: “I think it depends on the manager. I’ve had good talks with the England manager. A manager tells you how he wants you to play and you go out and play that role. I’ve evolved year after year, coming into the centre more so than ever. I like to get on the ball in the middle of the pitch and make things happen. Whether I start in that role or just move inside when we’ve got the ball, it doesn’t bother me. I just want to play.”

Carragher: “If you did become a midfielder permanently, do you see yourself as more of a No 6 or a No 8?”

Alexander-Arnold: “No.6 or 8 really. I can play a pass, I can receive the ball, I can do things with the ball. It’s more about what the manager wants to see from me defensively – whether he wants to see me jumping out or being a bit more protective.”

Carragher: “In terms of games you’ve played in, which do you look back on and think ‘yeah that was me at my best’?

Alexander-Arnold: “The first Champions League final was a big one for me. I thought ‘this is the pinnacle of football’ and I felt quite comfortable, even though we lost that game. At least I knew I could perform at that level after coming up against a great Real Madrid team. Barca at home, Leicester away in the season when we won the league too.”

Carragher: “For me, Barcelona was the greatest night at Anfield. Were you able to fully appreciate what you achieved that night?”

Alexander-Arnold: “Probably not until some time after. It was only when we weren’t competing in the latter stages and you’d watch a game and think ‘well there’s no way that team is going to get back into it from 3-0 down’. When you are part of it, you just go with the flow, you don’t have time to think. But looking back now, it was incredible.”

Carragher: “Do you ever think about what you might want to do after your playing career?”

Alexander-Arnold: “I’d definitely stay in football. I watch it a lot. I haven’t quite switched into analysing yet. I just like to watch it for fun. I appreciate good football.”

Carragher: “I’ve already booked flights to Dublin (for the Europa League final) so no pressure!”

Alexander-Arnold: “Hopefully you won’t have to cancel them!”