Essentials: Trent Alexander-Arnold

For the latest installment of Essentials, Hypebeast caught up with Liverpool footballer Trent Alexander-Arnold to talk about his necessities, both on and off the field.

At 24 years old, the right-back is already vice-captain of the team, working with captain Virgil van Dijk. First making his debut with the team at 18 years old, Alexander-Arnold is regarded by many as one of the best full-backs in the world. Since joining, the England international has won four major trophies with the club including the 2019 Champions League and the 2019-20 Premiere League championship.

Whether it’s his football boots or his copy of Atomic Habits, the Red Bull athlete is always thinking about bettering himself. Follow along as he takes us through his essential items. 

It seems like a lot of your items surround the theme of wellness and relaxation. When you have a day off, do you ever sit back and do nothing? Or is there always some sort of active recovery going on? 

It’s both really. I think I’ve just gotten into a mentality that what is required is constantly thinking about football, recovery, and how I can get better to make sure I’m the best version of myself every day. There are times when that means just relaxing if I’ve had a really hard game, and often that will be a complete me day. It will be relaxing, watching TV, watching some boxsets maybe, playing some PlayStation, and just having a lay-in. Some other days it’ll be going to the gym, or getting into the pool and stretching.

Obviously being a football player is fast-paced and takes a toll on the body, is that where things like the Nintendo Switch come in? What are some of your favorite games to play? 

Yeah, I play Mario Kart with the boys on the bus when we travel to and from games. We’ll play a bit of cards too. It’s all just for fun and to pass the time because a lot of our job is traveling to different places around Europe and around the world. At home, I’ll play a lot of F1. 

Can you talk to us a little bit more about the boots? What kind of things do you look for in a pair of shoes?

I would say comfort always comes first. And then after that is how they look, I’ll think about how trendy and in style they are. But for me what I always look at first is the comfort aspect. 

The book Atomic Habits is all about building small routines and putting them into practice. Have you found that this idea has helped you in terms of discipline in your everyday life and training? 

For sure. I think there’s a quote that says “We are what we repeatedly do.” I do think that is a real thing, if you repeat the same things that work for you, and you keep those same habits and that discipline on a daily basis, you will then see the results. It’s all about the fine margins when you get to the level that I’m playing at. You need to find the one percent of people who are also playing on that level on a daily basis in order to outmaneuver and be better than the opponents because everyone’s so advanced. Everyone’s so good, so skilled, so talented. It’s about how every day you can get better and if you gain something every day, through the habits that you’ve built, I think that puts you in a great position over time. You might not see the results from day to day but eventually, when time accumulates, that’s when all the differences will be visible.

Is there a character from Entourage that you identify most with and why?

Me and the lads, we discuss this a lot. Because we all see ourselves in a person’s position. I would say, I’d have to be Vince because he’s the one who made it, and then everyone comes along for that ride. I resonate with that the most I would say, but I see traits and similarities and mindsets of all the characters. To me, it’s one of or probably the greatest show ever made, just in terms of how it’s made me feel. It’s strange, I don’t actually think it’s the best ever, but I think, it’s because I resonate so much with the show and the journey that it takes you on. Growing up even before I’d ever played on the first team, I saw Vince and his friends and his brother all come through. I was like “That’s what I want. That’s how I’d do it. If I were to ever make it and make it into the big time and into the limelight, I would want to bring the people closest to me with me, so they could live and feel and experience that too.” It’s not just about the one person, it’s about the team you create and build around you to sustain that. I think that show is a perfect example of having the right people around you and the right team.

It’s no surprise you’re on the road a lot, how do you stay connected to family and friends when you’re away? 

Being on the phone is the most important. I’ve never been someone who’s constantly in touch with people. It might sound quite bad and quite cold, but that’s just the person I am and the the people closest to me understand that. Of course, when I’m away with internationals, that’s more a prolonged period of time, then, it’s more keeping in touch and FaceTime. It’s really just having that sense of home because you do get a little bit homesick on the road so often.

To find out more about Trent Alexander-Arnold head to his Red Bull athlete profile page.