Henderson: Clyne perfect tutor for Liverpool starlet Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson insists starlet Trent Alexander-Arnold has the perfect mentor at the club in England full-back Nathaniel Clyne.

Clyne – who signed for the Reds from Southampton in the summer of 2015 – has been a stalwart at Anfield in recent times, playing 52 games in all competitions last term and starting all but one of their Premier League matches so far during this campaign.

A rib injury to the 25-year-old however gave Alexander-Arnold his big break two weeks ago when he was thrust into one of the biggest games in English football, making his first top-flight start against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

And while Clyne was back among Jurgen Klopp’s ranks for Saturday’s loss to Swansea, Henderson believes the 18-year-old academy product could not have a better source of inspiration.

“One of the big positives Trent has, in this moment, is the player he is learning most directly from: Nathaniel Clyne,” he said.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

“Clyney isn’t someone who gets a lot of headlines but for me and a lot of our lads, he is a standout performer week in, week out.

“He is the perfect role model for Trent and any young full-back for that matter. Without question he is one of the best full-backs in Europe, never mind just England, and he goes about his business quietly but impressively.

“Ask any attacking player in the Premier League what it’s like to play against Clyney. In fact, ask us lads who play against him in training.

“He can stop you in your tracks one minute and have you scrambling back to stop him attacking the next.

“He has all the tools the modern-day full-back needs and for Trent there is no better person to learn from and aspire to emulate in his position.”