Trent Alexander-Arnold needed just five minutes on the pitch to create a moment of magic for Liverpool. Coming on as a substitute after a long injury layoff, he fired home the winning goal in the 76th minute against Leicester at King Power Stadium on Sunday, April 20.
What made this goal particularly special was that it was the first in his professional career scored with his left foot. “I’m pretty sure that’s my first-ever left-footed goal. It took a few years, but I finally did it. I was saving it for the right moment,” said Alexander-Arnold.
According to OptaJoe, this goal marked the 23rd of Trent’s career across all competitions. Remarkably, the previous 22 were all scored with his right foot, making this a true milestone for the Liverpool defender.
The victory moves Liverpool one step away from clinching their 20th Premier League title, which would tie them with Manchester United for the most in English football history. Although Arsenal delayed Liverpool’s title celebrations with a commanding 4–0 win over Ipswich on the same day, The Reds remain firmly in the hunt.
Even if Arsenal win their midweek clash with Crystal Palace, Liverpool can still secure the title by defeating Tottenham Hotspur on April 27.
In the match against Leicester, Liverpool nearly took the lead earlier through Mohamed Salah, whose shot struck the post, and Diogo Jota, who hit the crossbar. But fortune finally favored them when a loose ball in the box fell to Alexander-Arnold, who drilled it home with a powerful strike.
He ripped off his shirt and celebrated with the traveling Liverpool supporters, who erupted in the away stand.
“We’re so close now. This match meant a lot to me, especially coming back from injury. I’m happy I could make a difference with that goal,” he added.
“Virgil [van Dijk] pushed me forward so I could celebrate closer to the fans. They’ve been incredible, always behind us at every game,” he said.
“We play for ourselves and our families, but also for the fans who spend their time and money to support us in the stadiums,” Trent continued.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot couldn’t hide his pride in the versatile defender. “It was a huge moment, especially for Trent. He worked so hard to recover and then scored a decisive goal,” said Slot.
“When he sets his sights on something, he always delivers. In big moments, he steps up. Only top players have that kind of mentality,” he added.
Slot emphasized that the team remains focused on the upcoming clash against Tottenham and is not getting ahead of themselves. “It’s felt like a season full of defining moments, but in the end, what matters most is finishing the job the right way,” he concluded.
