Winger who Trent Alexander-Arnold named his ‘toughest ever opponent’ is left unemployed aged just 28

"I was 18, playing for the Under-21s, first ever time at Anfield, got beat 3-0. He scored two and got an assist. I came off at 60 [minutes].

"Still to this day, he's the opponent I think that just destroyed me, man. I've never had it like that before.

"At that point, I'm thinking 'this kid is going to be the best player in the world'.

"Because I'd never seen someone move so quickly and sharp and effectively, so I'd say Brandon Barker."

Barker came through City's youth -even winning their Academy Players' Player of the Year during the 2013/14 season.

But he left in 2019 after just one senior appearance and four loan moves, to Rotherham, NAC Breda in the Netherlands, Hibernian and Preston.

Barker then moved to Rangers, had another loan to Oxford, joined Reading, then Omonia in Cyrpus and most recently Morecambe.

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He then left League Two side Morecambe at the end of last season - leaving him in search of a new club.

Barker, 28, told : ";I’ve never been too bothered about money.

"One goal I had when I started was to help my mum and dad buy a very nice house. I was lucky enough to be able to do that.

"Me and my family have completely different lives now from when I was growing up, so I’m grateful for that.

"Setbacks happen. I’ve been through a lot, but there are footballers who have been through more setbacks than me.

"I’ve just got to keep trying and giving it everything I’ve got until I can’t do it anymore. I just want to play."

Responding to Alexander-Arnold's praise, he said: "I’m sure he’s had more difficult games, given some of the superstars he played against, but it’s nice of him to say it. I’d never played against him before.

"He looked very young and he was very small and skinny, whereas I was already established at that level. But I was pretty good that day, to be fair."