【明報專訊】◆A shooting star

Unlike many footballers who pursue their athletic careers with top teams away from home, Trent Alexander-Arnold started his football dream in his local team. Born and raised in Liverpool, England, the young right-back (右後衛) joined the local football team's academy at the age of 6, and debuted as a senior player at 18.

He was the youngest Liverpool player to start in a UEFA Champions League Final. On June 2 (Hong Kong time), Trent will join his team and play against Tottenham Hotspur for the 2019 Champions League Final in Madrid, Spain.

■Photo story

Besides football, Trent Alexander-Arnold enjoys playing chess. In 2018, he played against the 28-year-old Norwegian Chess Champion, Magnus Carlsen (left). (photo.3)

(photo.4) Trent (right) went to school with Morgan Feeney (left), the Everton defender. His PE teacher recalled in an interview that Trent once showed great athletic talent in a rugby team tryout.

■Scan and watch

Liverpool defeated Barcelona in a dramatic comeback from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3 on aggregate, and advanced to the Champions League final. Trent became a hero with his quick corner kick (角球) in the match.

■English highway﹕Unlike

"Unlike" can be used to say how one person or thing is different from another.

e.g. He's a rather shy child, unlike his talkative elder sister.

■Glossary

athletic (adj) 運動員的

raise (v) 撫養

on aggregate (phr) 總計

tryout (n) 選拔賽

[Smarties' Power English 第249期]