Trent Alexander-Arnold's mature performance throughout the Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City was a reward for the faith shown in him by Jürgen Klopp.

That is according to Neil Critchley, who has watched with satisfaction as the young Scouser progressed from a promising talent with the U18s to achieving the dream of representing his boyhood team.

Alexander-Arnold's development reached a new level over the course of the two legs with the Premier League leaders, which Liverpool won 5-1 on aggregate to march through to the last four.

Tested repeatedly by the pace and skill of City's all-star attack, both at Anfield and Etihad Stadium, the teenager stood firm and showed composure far beyond his years.

"To be part of a game of that importance and perform the way he did over the two legs I thought was brilliant for him,” U23s boss Critchley told Liverpoolfc.com.

"He has had a little bit of criticism recently about some of his performances but I thought he answered those emphatically. He showed a different side to his game and the side of the game that had been questioned: his defending.

"His defending over the two legs against a top, top drawer player [Leroy Sane] was outstanding. That will give Trent so much confidence and belief going forward for hopefully bigger games to come."

Critchley credits Klopp for empowering his former U18s captain to thrive on the biggest occasion of his fledgling career.

He added: "There were loads of pleasing aspects to his performance over the two legs but the calmness and intelligence he showed in such a big game, when it was obvious that they were targeting getting the ball to Sane and giving Trent some problems, was his biggest quality.

"Sometimes you wonder how they are going to cope on that big stage under pressure and if things don't go your way.

"He also handled being booked and it only takes one mistimed tackle after that or something silly and you are off, so I thought he showed great maturity.

"I was delighted for him and hopefully that's the first of many, many performances for Liverpool in this competition and the Premier League going forward.

"It just goes to show what the club stands for in terms of developing the young players and how quickly you can progress and move.

"It always helps when you have a manager who believes and trusts in young players.

"Our manager could have quite easily left Trent out for one of the two games against Manchester City, but he didn't, and Trent repaid that faith and trust with two outstanding performances."