Liverpool FC vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold joined former Red and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher at the annual Football for Change fundraising lunch on Thursday. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool FC legends Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jamie Carragher were both at a fundraising lunch for charity Football for Change on Thursday.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie hosted an  ‘in conversation’ with Trent as the 25-year-old defender told all about his trophy-laden career, positional future and how he found out legendary manager Jurgen Klopp would leave Anfield at the end of the season.

Alexander-Arnold launched the Football for Change initiative alongside the Communities Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside, Carragher, England defender Conor Coady and PR firm ThisGeneration Communications in 2021.

Sir Rod Stewart became the patron of Football For Change in the same year. England star Jude Bellingham, Lioness Beth Mead, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville and Match of the Day legend Gary Lineker have all since become ambassadors for the charity.

Football for Change has raised more than £1.1m in less than three years, bringing together sports stars and business leaders to help NEET (not in education, employment or training) young people find education or employment opportunities.

This initiative has sent more than 100 disadvantaged young people to the US for sports and education retreats and helped to finance the build of an education hub in Bootle.

Football for Change has also partnered with Local Solutions to support young people into employment while placing homeless youngsters back into work and accommodation in Glasgow.

The charitable initiative is also partnering with Manchester’s UA92 Academy to provide laptops and technical equipment to students from low-income households.

At the event on Thursday, hosted at the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, Football for Change featured a star-studded auction which featured once-in-a-lifetime meet-and-greet prizes from Alexander-Arnold, Jack Grealish, comedian Alan Carr and behind-the-scenes tours at Sky Sports and Formula 1.

Trent said: “It’s amazing to see the impact Football for Change is having on disadvantaged young people.

“I am proud to be part of the initiative. A lot of young people just don’t have the support they need around them and Football For Change is about giving them the tools to build better futures and reach their potential.

“Being part of this is important to me because growing up in Liverpool I saw so many people struggling, with poverty blocking so many chances for kids.”

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Jamie Carragher added: “Today has been another powerful Football For Change event, bringing together business leaders and football superstars to help provide opportunities to young people affected by poverty and disadvantage.

“Trent has played a huge part in Football For Change since we launched in 2021. It is a credit to Trent and in his nature to give up so much of his time today to meet those who have supported the initiative since day one.”

The Football For Change fundraising lunch was sponsored by Brantones, G&G Joinery, Legacie and RWInvest. The event also included a performance from The Lightning Seeds.