[Image]: Liverpool superstar all smiles after being placed joint-22nd in Ballon d’Or rankings

Trent Alexander-Arnold placed 22nd in the 2022 Ballon d’Or Rankings

The prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to undertake on Monday, 17th October at Theatre du Chalet, Paris and although the club do not have many nominees in this year’s shortlist, one Liverpool star has already known his fate.

Liverpool homegrown player Trent Alexander-Arnold has been placed 22nd in this year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, sharing the position with fellow England teammate Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva from Manchester City.

In a season where the right-back has faced his fair share of criticism, being placed among the top 30 players of last season would come as a delight to the young-full back.

Many people fail to realise that Trent is only 23 years of age and has a long way to go before being deemed world-class. However, no one can deny the ability and special skill set that the player possesses.

In his 239 appearances for the club, he has contributed to an impressive 77 goals from the right-back position. Certainly not an easy task to achieve while your main duty is to defend the goal.

Trent can be somewhat credited with changing the manner a full-back is perceived in modern football and has seen teams giving thorough importance to an earlier neglected position in football.

Jurgen Klopp should be given due credit for the way he has handled Trent’s development and protected him from the evil eyes of football, allowing him to nourish despite his rectifiable flaws.

In return, Trent has established himself as a key cog in Klopp’s dominant Liverpool side and his presence is felt in fixtures where the Englishman is absent due to injury or suspension.

Lately, Trent’s form has not been ideal which has resulted in him missing out as a first-choice right-back in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2022 World Cup in November.

However, with an injury to Reece James which can potentially disrupt the Chelsea man’s World Cup plans, it presents a unique opportunity for Trent to make the full-back position his own.

No one in the England squad possesses the skill set of the Liverpool playmaker and Southgate would be wrong to not include him in the 26-man squad that travels to Qatar.

With six league games to go before the World Cup, Trent needs to capitalise on the presented opportunity and display a good level to stake his claim in the final squad.