21 October 2023 , 10:59
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Trent Alexander-Arnold was named in Liverpool’s starting lineup for Saturday’s Merseyside derby - little more than 24 hours after cheating death.
The England international started for the Reds at Anfield against Everton, having narrowly avoided a 40ft electricity pylon on Friday morning, uprooted as a result of Storm Babet.
The 40ft pylon, which weighs half a ton, came down on a wet rural road near Knutsford, Cheshire, when the 25-year-old was on his way into training. Alexander-Arnold had to swerve to avoid the high-voltage power unit and collided with a BMW X5, who had similarly narrowly avoided the pylon.
Alexander-Arnold got out of his Range Rover after slamming into the side of the BMW and checked on the other road user to make sure they were ok. Both men escaped unscathed from the incident despite the risk of huge casualties. The storm, which is sweeping the country, has already caused three deaths.
Cheshire Police said: “At 10.34am this morning we were called to reports of a road traffic collision involving a black Range Rover and a BMW.
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An electricity pole had fallen into the road, causing the accident. Nobody was injured and everything was cleared by 1.05pm. We called the energy company and had the electricity turned off.”
A source told The Sun: “The wind was so powerful it suddenly ripped up the pylon. It was really terrifying. It’s a miracle nobody was hurt. Someone could have easily been killed. What are the chances of that happening? Alexander-Arnold must feel like he’s cheated death. A few seconds later and it could have gone through his windscreen. It’s absolutely treacherous out there.”
Alongside Alexander-Arnold in the Liverpool lineup was Ryan Gravenberch, handed his first Premier League start having previously made three starts in the Europa League and Carabao Cup since his arrival from Bayern Munich on deadline day. That gave Klopp’s men a midfield trio all made up of summer signings, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai also included.
Left-back Kostas Tsimikas made his first league start of the season deputising for the injured Andy Robertson, with Ibrahima Konate replacing Joel Matip and Diogo Jota returning from suspension in place of Darwin Nunez.
Everton named the same side which beat Bournemouth prior to the international break, meaning Jack Harrison, Ashley Young, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Garner all made their derby debuts.