Former Anfield icon Robbie Fowler has leapt to the defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold and admitted he understands the pressure the defender is under due to being a local player.
Alexander-Arnold - born and raised in West Derby - like many of his team-mates, has endured a difficult start to the 2022/23 season and has been publically scrutinised for his performances against Manchester United, Arsenal and Napoli in particular.
The right-back's difficulties continued in September when he was left out of the England squad for the Nations League finale against Germany by manager Gareth Southgate. Leaving the defender - along with Fikayo Tomori, Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse - consigned to the stands of Wembley to watch the six-goal thriller.
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That led to the debate about his defensive capabilities returning and becoming the public's hot topic once more, just weeks before Southgate is due to name his 26-man squad for the World Cup finals in Qatar later this month.
But Fowler, who was dubbed 'God' by the Kop during his maiden eight-year stint at the club, has given a firm vote of confidence to Alexander-Arnold and told how he understands the pressures of being a scouser within the Liverpool first-team and the subsequent pressure that comes with it.
“It’s a natural instinct for any local lad,” Fowler said, “If you swing it around the other way and you’re a fan on the Kop and you see a local lad, you’ll see a bit of themselves in you.
“That is why local players, someone like myself, had such a good rapport with Liverpool fans because they knew who I was and what I was about. It’s exactly the same with Trent."
Fowler, raised in Toxteth, advanced through the Liverpool academy ranks in the early 1990s before making his debut under Graeme Souness in 1993. He went on to score 183 goals for the Reds in all competitions and stands as the club's sixth all-time top goalscorer, even if Mohamed Salah is eyeing up his record.
Fowler added: “I know he’s having a tough time in terms of people having a go at him, but he is still a world-class player. Trent is not the reason Liverpool are having some adverse results. There are probably elements of his game that he could with a little bit of help but you can say that about any player.
“It’s great when everyone wants to sit on the glory train when everything is going well but let’s get behind him a little bit more. As a local, he’ll feel the pressure a little bit more and that everyone is against him. I have no doubt the fans will be willing him to be the very best he can be.”
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