Cafu’s warning for Trent Alexander-Arnold could be down to Jon Flanagan’s struggles

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Cafu has been discussing Trent Alexander-Arnold this week. The Brazilian legend, as reported by Sky Sports, warned the ‘very talented’ to remain level headed, keep working hard and never ‘get complacent’.

They were sound words of advice from Cafu, considered to be one of the greatest full-backs of all-time.

But for Liverpool fans, this will be a familiar tale. Because a current Rangers player, who was once a hot prospect at Liverpool, was once talked about by Cafu as well.

Back in 2014, Cafu had this to say to the Liverpool website about the then Red.

“He is a good player; still young and developing, but already gaining recognition at Liverpool and he might even have an opportunity with the English national team. He’ll be a great English player in the future.

“He has speed, strength and determination. He’s an athlete who goes after it and never gives it up. That’s exactly what I used to do; there were no missing chances for me, no tiredness and no being dejected.

“I see that style in him too. I hope he continues that way and achieves as many trophies as I did.”

So his more restrained praise of Alexander-Arnold could be in response to what happened next.

Flanagan was hot property that summer. He was on the standby list for the England World Cup squad and nearly helped Liverpool to the title.

However, things soon went wrong. Years of injury trouble saw Flanagan fall down the pecking order at Anfield. Some personal issues off the pitch almost certainly did not help matters.

In the summer, he was released by Liverpool, joining his former team-mate Steven Gerrard at Ibrox. In Glasgow, he has failed to rediscover the form that had Cafu salivating.

So the Brazilian clearly sees talent in Alexander-Arnold, but after seeing how quickly things went wrong for Flanagan, he is perhaps cautious that history could repeat itself. Liverpool and England fans will hope that is not the case.