Trent Alexander-Arnold has taken his game to the next level since he was free to play in midfield. Credit: AP/Rene Rossignaud
Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted his new role in midfield could be the best way for him to become a regular in the England squad, with Gareth Southgate developing to challenge next year's European Championship.
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Southgate spoke with Alexander-Arnold at the end of the Premier League season about changing his position as an inverted cornerback at Liverpool to the No. 8 position, upfield. Against Malta on Friday night, albeit against a team ranked 172nd in the world, there were signs that Southgate had another orthodox midfielder vying for the starting spot.
With Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier his solid right-backs, and Rhys James returning from injury, Alexander-Arnold had international opportunities limited by competition in his regular position, plus his devastating hip injury ahead of the last Euro. Along with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, there is potential for a mouth-watering midfield.
“This is definitely an avenue,” said Alexander-Arnold. “What is clearly being studied, and that is what the manager wants to study and I want to study. It's one that's exciting for the future, and who knows?
“For me, I want to make sure I play as many games for England as possible and that has always been a goal that gives the manager headaches. I think this is a potential path we can take that will get me on the team.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold, OUTSTANDING 🤩
< br>Stop minding your own business and watch this 🔥#C4Football | #EURO2024 | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/Oc2ZmHJmot
—Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) June 16, 2023
Jurgen Klopp has never hidden his surprise that Southgate is using their player sparingly. The German's way of maximizing Alexander-Arnold's talent was to start him at full-back, but with timing to move into the defensive midfield zone where he could use his passing range. Although it seems natural, Alexander-Arnold learned to act in this role during the course of the campaign.
«There were many questions,» he said. “I asked questions and soaked up a lot of information about where I need to be and how I need to play the game. I also felt natural there. Feeling like this is something I've always done and something I could do regularly. I'd say it's definitely a mixture of both.
“It's very creative these days. There are many interpretations of positions. In each position, different teams play differently, and these teams have different roles. It's a very creative football right now, and may it continue for a long time.
“I know what qualities I have and what I need to work on. Whatever position I play, it will always be there. I'm someone who wants to be as close to perfection as possible, so while it was a good game, there are a lot of things I can work on and improve.»
At the Ta'Cali Stadium, Alexander-Arnold took his time before replying that he thought the game against Malta had gone well. It was his positioning, not the goal he scored into the top corner. «It's like I'm blowing a trumpet…there were aspects, those details, not just the goal,» he said.
Southgate is pleased with the player's willingness to learn
The questions Alexander-Arnold asked Klopp and Southgate about his new roles run counter to the perception of a player relying solely on his natural talent. Southgate called it the Trent Bridge solution. Find a role for him, and then discover that the player is a student of the game willing to learn.
“It was a good bridge. We know he played a little deeper at the club but we wanted to take him to a higher level for the reasons we saw,” said Southgate. «Four weeks ago I talked to him about it and he was ecstatic about it.
«We discussed the real details, the details of what it would look like and where did I see it?» And he was curious to ask intelligent questions. For me, the most pleasant thing is that it was difficult for a lot of time with England.
“It's hard to give someone faith. It's a bit like we went to tournaments with five or six wingers, you can't make them all believe they're favorite sons because you can't justify it with your actions at the end. Therefore, whenever you invite other players, it inevitably undermines someone's trust. But that doesn't mean I didn't see the quality of the player or didn't believe in his abilities.
“I've always said it's a talent that we're trying to approach; he is unlucky to have such high quality and experienced full-backs.”
Next year's Euros are almost exactly one year away and Alexander-Arnold's position is yet another example of how Southgate is developing his team, as he did it before. over the last three major tournaments.
“We need to keep learning and learning because the game is constantly evolving before our eyes, like club football and European football. But the characteristics of the players determine what options you have,” he said.
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