Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold paid a special visit to Rainhill High School today to present a personalised signed shirt.

The Reds full-back studied there from the age of 12 and returned to the Prescot-based school to participate in a specially-organised assembly with year eight students before handing over the signed shirt as a thank-you to pupils and his former teachers.

Alexander-Arnold said: “I had a fantastic six years at Rainhill High School and cannot thank the teachers and staff enough for their support.

“They really helped me to balance playing football at the Academy whilst making sure I got an excellent education, so I would like to personally thank them.

“To be able to visit the school as a first-team player makes me immensely proud and I think that getting a good education is really important in any walk of life, so would encourage any of the current students to take school as seriously as possible.”

Rainhill High School’s head teacher, John Pout, said: “It is brilliant to be able to welcome Trent back to the school to meet some of the younger students and to receive a special signed shirt.

“Trent has an excellent attitude, got excellent GCSE results, is a polite young man and I am delighted that he is doing so well with LFC.

“We have a fantastic relationship with Liverpool FC which has existed for eight years now and it makes us immensely proud to see Trent and fellow former students Sheyi [Ojo] and Jordon [Ibe] making their debuts for the first team.”