Trent Alexander-Arnold was terrorised by Brandon Barker in a 3-0 loss at Anfield (Image: Getty)
There is one player who sticks out to as the man who ‘just destroyed him’, and his name may be completely unfamiliar.
Brandon Barker was, at one point, one of the hottest prospects in ‘s youth system. And shortly before breaking into the first team, Alexander-Arnold found out exactly why in an Under-21s game at Anfield. City won 3-0, with Barker scoring two and setting up the other.
“Still to this day, he’s the opponent I think that just destroyed me, man,” Alexander-Arnold told ‘s official in 2023. “I’ve never had it like that before. At that point, I’m thinking this kid is going to be the best player in the world. Because I’d never seen someone move so quickly and sharp and effectively.”
Barker has since addressed the torrid time he gave the man seemingly bound for Real Madrid this summer, telling : “I’m sure he’s had more difficult games, given some of the superstars he played against, but it’s nice of him to say it.
“I’d never played against him before. He looked very young and he was very small and skinny, whereas I was already established at that level. But I was pretty good that day, to be fair.”
Barker was earmarked as one of the academy products capable of breaking into the first-team under , having made his senior debut for City shortly before his appointment.
Brandon Barker played for Rangers between 2019 and 2022 (Image: Getty)
The Manchester-born winger, now 28, scored goals for England at youth level and had been pulling up trees in the academy, even while playing against youngsters older than he was.
Despite the fact he terrorised Alexander-Arnold on the star’s own patch, their careers could hardly have diverged in more dramatic fashion. Alexander-Arnold has made well over 300 appearances for his boyhood club and has his sights set on being remembered as one of the best right-backs of all time.
Barker, meanwhile, has not played professionally for over a year. Four loan moves at City failed to aid his development in the way Etihad bosses had hoped, while subsequent spells at Rangers, Oxford United, Reading and Cypriot club Omonia were short-lived.
Barker signed for fourth-tier Morecambe last year but managed only two appearances before being struck down by a serious hamstring injury. Still unattached, he is prepared to drop into non-league.
“Setbacks happen,” said the former City wonderkid. “I’ve been through a lot, but there are footballers who have been through more setbacks than me. I’ve just got to keep trying and giving it everything I’ve got until I can’t do it anymore. I just want to play.”