Trent, Ovie and Ben on Plymouth, the 'Gerrard Final' and their FA Cup dreams
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ovie Ejaria and Ben Woodburn could all make their FA Cup debuts on Sunday - and the teenage trio are relishing another opportunity to play at Anfield.
Liverpool host Plymouth Argyle in the third round this weekend, with Alexander-Arnold, Ejaria and Woodburn hopeful of getting another chance to impress Jürgen Klopp.
We sat down for an exclusive in-depth chat with the youngsters at Melwood earlier this week and LFCTV GO subscribers can click play on the video below to hear their thoughts on the meeting with the Pilgrims, memories of the 2006 final and dreams of Cup glory.
Alternatively, read on for a full transcript...
On whether they are excited about the prospect of playing in the FA Cup…
Alexander-Arnold: “Yeah, obviously the FA Cup’s such a big competition and everyone wants to win it and everyone’s wanting to play, every player’s wanting to play and try and help us get through to the next round, but if we get our chance I think we’re ready to take it.”
Woodburn: “Definitely. If the chance came I’d try and grab it with both hands. This fixture’s massive, no matter who you play against, it’s the FA Cup, a massive tournament, so you just want to play and win the game.”
On the challenge of playing against lower-league teams…
Ejaria: “You’ve just got to match them in the ugly side of the game, really, and then hope that the technical side of the game will eventually show and help us win the game. But we know it’s not going to be easy, it’s a massive competition, so I’m just hoping I can get an opportunity to play really.”
On the FA Cup giving them the chance to play in the first team…
Alexander-Arnold: “I think that’s what happened last year as well with the young players, the likes of Pedro [Chirivella], Cam [Brannagan], Jerome [Sinclair] and Brad Smith, they got their chance in the FA Cup against Exeter and Brad scored. I think that’s what we’re all hoping for – a chance against Plymouth as well.”
Ejaria: “Hopefully if we can all keep doing well we can get opportunities like this. That’s what we’re all looking forward to.”
On the 2006 ‘Gerrard Final’ and their earliest memories of the FA Cup…
Alexander-Arnold: “Yeah I’ll definitely say that game! I remember the goals and that’s my earliest memory of it.”
Woodburn: “There’s loads. Steven Gerrard’s strike from there was an unbelievable goal so that’s always going to stick in your mind.”
On winning the Cup being one of their career goals…
Alexander-Arnold: “Yeah, I think every person wants to win every tournament they’re a part of, but there’s something special about the FA Cup because there’s so many upsets and anything can happen. Any team can win it really, that’s what’s been shown, that lower-league teams can go really far in it and can cause big teams a lot of upsets, and I think that’s why it’s so magical.”
Woodburn: “That’s probably every player’s dream - to win as many cups and trophies as they can, that’s what you want to aim for every season. The FA Cup would be a nice trophy to win.”
On pre-match nerves…
Woodburn: “There would obviously be a few butterflies, but they do seem to fizzle out during the game and you get comfortable and play your own game.”
Ejaria: “I just try not to think about it too much and just go out there and play with freedom because if you think about it too much it can affect your performance, so I just try and get my head down and play football like I play with anyone, with my age-mates. So just don’t think about it too much.”
LFCTV subscribers can also catch the interview in the new episode of #LFCWORLD and throughout the weekend on our official club channel.