Wonderkids: It's time to call Trent Alexander-Arnold the best right-back on the planet

Without further ado, here’s our five picks from this weekend’s action.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) Age: 20 Position: RB

Key stat: 12 – record EPL assists for defender after 2-0 win v Wolves

If you were starting a new team from scratch and had the pick of any player in world football, is there any doubt who you’d select at right-back?

The thing with Trent is that he’s not just a full-back. The 20-year-old seemingly spends as much time in the attacking third as he does deep in his own half, while his routine switches of play over to partner-in-crime Andy Robertson out on the left casts him as a playmaker as much as anything else.

Against Wolves, both these aspects combined. It was his speed of thought that saw him set up a one-two with Jordan Henderson as he bombed on before picking out Sadio Mane in the middle.

Liverpool may have finished second to Manchester City in the title race, but Trent at least has the make-up of a serial winner.

Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) Age: 19 Position: CM

Key stat: 7 – goals in nine games as winger after 1-1 draw v Schalke

Here’s another stat for you. Even though Kai Havertz has been playing on the right of a 4-3-3 for the best part of three months, in each of his last three matches he has attained more than a 90 per cent pass completion rate.

A traditional touchline hugger he certainly isn’t, but it speaks for how influential he is having taken nearly as many touches (86) as the central playmaker Julian Brandt (87) against Schalke.

His nominal position change has allowed Leverkusen to become a little more rugged in midfield with usual right winger Karim Bellarabi out of action.

The 19-year-old certainly likes to drift in, but it’s no surprise he is finding joy there – he has the complete arsenal for a modern footballer. He is 6ft1 with lightning feet, has the vision of an architect and has reached a top speed of 21.76 mph this year. The German can evidently score goals too, lashing home his 14^th of the Bundesliga season on Saturday.

What a guy.

Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad) Age: 17 Position: LW

Key stat: 1 – first goal of his career in 3-1 win over Real Madrid

There can’t be many 17-year-olds to have scored against Real Madrid before, yet Ander Barrenetxea’s exploits went relatively unnoticed during the weekend.

Much of the focus was of course on Real Madrid’s demise – but onlookers may have been fooled by the fact that Barrenetxea looks like a fully grown man.

The Basque, who became the first player born in the 21^st century to play in La Liga last year, is also pretty mature between the ears.

His simple passes back in the build-up for two goals – when he could have run at a defence weakened by the red card to Jesus Vallejo – deserves as much applause as his six successful dribbles.

Then came his crowning moment, smartly tucking away a rebound for his first-ever senior goal. Real Sociedad have a talent on their hands.

Louis Beyer (Borussia Monchengladbach) Age: 18 Position: RB

Key stat: 7 – successful tackles in 4-0 win v Nurnberg

The Bundesliga’s answer to the Premier League’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka? Louis Beyer has been remarkably sturdy whenever he has appeared for Gladbach this season.

It was nowhere more evident than at Nurnberg on the weekend, where the 18-year-old made a pressure-relieving seven successful tackles, as well as three interceptions.

In only his second appearance of the season, with Gladbach have recently reverted to a 4-4-2, the teenager has capitalised on recent injury problems for the experienced right-sided option in Michael Lang.

Houssem Aouar (Lyon) Age: 20 Position: CM

Key stat: 87% – Ligue 1 pass success rate for season after 3-0 win v Marseille

It was one of the goals of the weekend. Houssem Aouar extricated himself from the clutches of two Marseille players and found Tanguy Ndombele, whose outrageous flick reached Moussa Dembele in the box – and the ball proceeded to arc into the net.

That no one would bat an eyelid if the trio don’t play for France speaks for how deep the talent runs in those parts. All have been linked with moves abroad, and Aouar’s link to Liverpool makes the most sense.

If Liverpool lack anything it is genuine creativity from midfield and the 20-year-old is Adam Lallana at his peak – and then some.

Ingenuity, high work ethic – as he has shown in a two-man midfield – and a certain craftiness on the move, as exhibited again in Lyon’s trouncing of Marseille, mark him out as a name to watch in the transfer window.