Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has claimed that he 'proved Manchester City wrong' with his performances in the two-legged Champions League quarter-final affair.
The English full-back was deliberately targeted in the first leg at Anfield due to his inexperience, only to come out on top in his personal battle with Leroy Sane.
Tuesday's return fixture proved to be a similar story, as Alexander-Arnold thrived down the right flank in Liverpool's 2-1 triumph at the Etihad Stadium, sealing a comfortable passage through to the last four in the end.
Speaking to reporters after the 5-1 aggregate victory, the Liverpool-born youngster said: "I guess Man City looked at it and felt I was the weak link. Maybe that gave me that underdog mentality and I tried to prove them wrong. That's what I went out to try and do - prove them wrong and show them I'm not the weak link in the team.
"I think over the two legs I did my best to win my personal battles and help us win the tie. It was a different test for me. It was a bigger, harder test. I had to play to a better level than I've probably ever played before. It tested me to a new level and now I know that I've got that in me.
"That is the level I need from myself to keep my standards really high and to hopefully be able to play in these elite European games and come out on top. Throughout the whole tournament there hasn't been a team who strike fear in us. We've looked at it from the start that we're in it to win it.
"As it goes on, you get closer and closer to getting that chance to win it. We've taken another step closer to the final and there are still two more games ahead of us. Whoever we draw on Friday, we'll look forward to the game and hopefully get to the final."
Liverpool will face one of Roma, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, with the draw to take place on Friday.
Daniel Lewis
