Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jamie Carragher's viral photo with 'a young Trent Alexander-Arnold' isn't actually Trent Alexander-Arnold

The Reds legend shared a picture with a young mascot as Alexander-Arnold scored in Liverpool's Champions League play-off win on Tuesday. There's just one problem

Wednesday 16 August 2017 16:00 BST

From L-R: Dion Simpson, Jamie Carragher and Trent Alexander-Arnold (Sky Sports/Getty)

Trent Alexander-Arnold announced himself to football fans across the country on Tuesday night after scoring a superb free-kick in Liverpool's Champions League play-off win over Hoffenheim.

The 18-year-old full-back wheeled away in celebration, leaping with joy in front of the Reds' travelling support.

Manager Jurgen Klopp hailed the youngster for having the "balls" to step up and take the set piece, while former captain Steven Gerrard described his entire match as "a special performance".

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Show all 11

1/11Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Simon Mignolet - 7 out of 10

Liverpool have a lot to thank Mignolet for after his performance against Hoffenheim. He made a string of good stops in the first half including a penalty save.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8

Alexander-Arnold scored a superb free kick to put Liverpool into the lead in the first half and rarely put a foot wrong when defending at the back. Nathaniel Clyne’s route back to the first team might not be not be as easy as first thought.

Bongarts/Getty Images

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Alberto Moreno – 4

The left back was pressing high up the pitch when Hoffenheim attacked the void left by Moreno and won a penalty from Lovren. The Spaniard was continuously caught out of position and needs to defend better if he is to continue to start games.

Bongarts/Getty Images

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Joel Matip - 5

Matip made a crucial interception in the first half when Gnabry was waiting to score. Liverpool were caught on a couple of occasions from set plays, Matip has to be more vocal at the back.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Dejan Lovren – 4

Lovern was left exposed in the first half and brought down Serge Gnabry in the box when the winger took it past him. He was unlucky not to score with a header from a corner which went narrowly past the post. The centre-back was played Uth onside when he scored his goal to give Hoffenheim a glimmer of hope for the second leg.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Georginio Wijnaldum - 6

Wijnaldum also had a quiet game but linked up well with the attacking players in front of him.

AFP/Getty Images

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Emre Can - 6

The German was very strong in the midfield and rarely put a foot wrong. Can was effective when playing a deeper role when Milner came on and was decisive with his passing in the final third.

Bongarts/Getty Images

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Jordan Henderson – 5

The captain came off after a quiet 62 minutes. Henderson was tidy with his passing but produced nothing noteworthy.

Getty

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Mohamed Salah – 6

Liverpool’s summer signing looked threatening when he got forward but was unable to contribute to any goals.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Sadio Mane – 6

As usual, Mane was bright on the break for Liverpool. His quick turn and pace won the free kick which Alexander-Arnold scored to but the Reds ahead.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Hoffenheim vs Liverpool player ratings

Roberto Firmino – 5

It was an unusually quiet evening for Roberto Firmino against his former club. He came off late in the second half after failing to add to his goal from the weekend.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Jamie Carragher - another club legend - simply posted a photo on Twitter moments after the goal.

The photo - dating from 2009 - shows a young mascot standing alongside Carragher in the Elland Road tunnel.

The image quickly went viral, with many fans retweeting the post and celebrating the fact that a local lad was breaking through into the Liverpool first team and following in the foot-steps of his idols.

Except there was one problem. The photo doesn't actually show Alexander-Arnold, but a boy called Dion Simpson.

"I was a mascot back in 2009 against Leeds away, which is my hometown," Simpson, now 19, told the Liverpool Echo.

"And then last year Sky put some footage out on Sky Sports News which they thought was Trent, just before the recent EFL Cup game against Leeds last year.

"Then it went viral all last year - and now Carra has brought it back up again!"

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies