Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold reflects on his record-breaking season and teammate rivalry

Liverpool FC and England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has claimed a spot in Guinness World Records 2020 with his outstanding assist record.

Racking up 12 assists during the 2018/19 season, he achieved the record for the most English Premier League assists by a defender in a single season.

Alexander-Arnold actually achieved 16 assists in all competitions, with 12 of these coming in Premier League matches.

The boyhood Liverpool fan has claimed the record from Everton duo Andy Hinchcliffe (94/95) and Leighton Baines (10/11) who had been tied on 11 since 2011.

Alexander-Arnold has enjoyed a tremendous 2019. In addition to his first ever Guinness World Records title, he was named in the Champions League Squad of the season and PFA Team of the Season.

He was also instrumental in Liverpool's Champions League win in June as well as running Manchester City to the wire in the Premier League title race.

"It's an honour. I've always wanted to go forward and help the team to create as many chances as possible. It's obviously down to the lads to put the ball into the back of the net, because football is a team game and without them this record wouldn't be possible.

"It's an unbelievably proud moment for me and my family, and something I hope will stand for a few years," Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold has many teammates to thank for helping achieve this record, but none more so than fellow fullback Andy Robertson.

He and Robertson have two of the Premier League's most impressive full-backs in recent seasons, and their friendly rivalry for who could achieve the most assists spurred them on to a combined total of 29 in all competitions.

Robertson achieved an impressive 11 in the Premier League, and a further two in the Champions League, leaving Alexander-Arnold with the Guinness World Records title and the bragging rights.

"He probably thought he had the competition wrapped up! Near the end of the season we both hit really good form, we were both getting lots of assists and it was good to help the team in those games that we needed to win,"  Alexander-Arnold said of Robertson.

It's not just the goal scorers that Trent has to thank for helping him achieve this record – he cites centre back and PFA Player of the Year Virgil Van Dijk as crucial to his success.

"He is a world-class player and the best I have played with. We benefited a lot last season knowing we have players like Virgil giving us the protection behind us."

Alexander-Arnold's most famous assist during last season didn’t come in the Premier League, but in the Champions League.

With 11 minutes to play in the semi-final second leg against Barcelona, Liverpool needed just one more goal to complete one of the great footballing comebacks.

Alexander-Arnold was about to walk away from taking a corner when inspiration, vision and confidence that belies his years took over.

He picked out Divock Origi, unmarked in the penalty area, who swept home Liverpool's much-needed fourth goal.

"I looked over into the box and saw that all the Barcelona players had switched off. I saw Divock in there and thought 'why not?'.

"It was a really special goal; everything fell into place so perfectly. Hopefully it will stay in the memories of everyone who was there or watching that night."

With a goal and two assists under his belt already this season and having only just turned 21, who knows what accolades await this young Liverpool player at the end of this season and beyond.

Among the other footballing record-breakers to appear in Guinness World Records 2020 are:

• Youngest player to be nominated for the Ballon D’Or - Killian Mbappé (18 years, 293 days) First winner of the women’s Ballon D’Or - Ada Hegerberg
• Most goals scored in the UEFA Women’s Champions League - Anja Mittag (51)
• Fastest goal scored in the EPL - Shane Long (7.69 seconds)
• Youngest player to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League - João Félix (19 years, 152 days)
• Most regular season goals in the National Women’s Soccer League - Samantha Kerr (63)
• Most goals scored in La Liga - Lionel Messi (417)
• Most World Cup finals as captain - Rafael Marquez (5)
• Oldest player at a FIFA World cup - Essam El-Hadary (45 years, 161 days)
• Most EPL Hat-tricks - Sergio Agüero and Alan Shearer (11)

There are 34 pages dedicated to record-breaking sports stars in our latest book, from cricket to combat sports. Find out more about the electrifying new Guinness World Records 2020.