Trent's thoughts with Jota after Madrid win
Trent Alexander-Arnold said he believed Diogo Jota was with him in spirit during Real Madrid's dramatic FIFA Club World Cup victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car crash in Spain and while many of his former Liverpool team-mates gathered for the funeral on Saturday (AEST), Alexander-Arnold had to concentrate on football matters with his new club.
Madrid team-mate Kylian Mbappe, who scored the winner in Los Blancos' 3-2 win, celebrated by showing the number 20, Jota's squad number with Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold played the cross that set up Fran Garcia's strike in the first half, but he admitted it was hard to focus on the match.
"I still had a job to do - to try and perform for the team and help them win the game, no matter how difficult it was," he said.
"As hard as it was to do it, I had to push myself to focus on what my job and role was. I tried to do it as best as I could, but it was difficult, and I am not going to lie about that.
"[Jota] was one of my close friends. And I am sure that's what he would have wanted me to do. He was there with me, I am sure.
"I shared the dressing room with him for five years. Amazing memories on and off the pitch. It goes without saying he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and the player he was."
