Trent Alexander-Arnold’s latest performances in midfield for England have as soon as once more opened the talk over his greatest long-term place at Liverpool.
The 25-year-old grew up as a midfielder within the membership’s youth academy and performed numerous roles earlier than reaching the primary workforce as a right-back.
He has made 287 appearances for the membership and has develop into among the best gamers on this planet in that place, however questions have at all times lingered over whether or not his attributes might be used additional.
Alexander-Arnold’s personal feedback final week indicated that he feels his strengths lie in midfield, suggesting he can showcase his “expertise” if given extra freedom.
David Lynch (@dmlynchlfc), Sam Millne (@sam_millne) and Adam Beattie (@beatts94) are right here to provide their verdict on the way forward for Liverpool’s supremely proficient quantity 66.
Southgate used Trent in midfield to deliver the talk again to the desk. What do you consider the concept of him taking part in there for Liverpool?
DAVID: I feel he ought to undoubtedly be an choice there for Liverpool.
It is a place he excelled in, coming by way of the academy earlier than being moved to protection out of necessity, so I by no means understood the consensus that fashioned round him as he may solely function in midfield if he moved there from proper again floated.
ADAM: I’ve at all times been curious to see what it will appear to be – even when only for a number of video games – however till Klopp totally commits to that in pre-season, I am unsure how possible it will be as a long run. time period choice.
Klopp put the hybrid function on us earlier this yr after we wanted to combine issues up and it has usually been successful, however we’d like a high quality right-back to exchange him so it definitely would not be successful. night time job.
SAM: I feel he has the chance to play there, however he has the greatest proper again on this planet in Liverpool’s system will be as influential as having an incredible midfielder.
The opposite downside is the truth that Liverpool have no good choices at right-back aside from Conor Bradley, so you’d be creating a brand new downside there.
What did you consider Trent’s personal feedback about his function final week?
SAM: He’s proper when he says he has the abilities to play in midfield.
Taking part in centrally opens up views he did not use earlier than and, as we noticed when he modified roles for Liverpool, that is very troublesome for opponents to cope with.
Nonetheless, it additionally makes defending tougher as a result of gamers can assault from all sides and also you usually must know who’s behind you.
ADAM: I discovered them very fascinating, however possibly not that shocking when you concentrate on it.
He grew up as a fan of Steven Gerrard and has clearly proven that he has all of the strengths to excel within the center. I dare say he’s additionally a bit bored with the pointless and tiring scrutiny surrounding each side of his protection!
DAVID: At first look it appeared like he was contradicting Klopp, however I truly suppose they agree that Trent operates greatest in central areas the place he can dictate the sport.
He could not begin video games within the heart, however he spends a lot of the video games there on the behest of his supervisor.
If he have been to maneuver, the place would you see him match into this present midfield?
ADAM: At this level the plain slot could be quantity 6. Purely due to the depth of high quality we have now for that and the dearth of acknowledged defensive midfield choices.
For England it appears he has been extra of a No.8 and I’ve little doubt he has the standard to do this.
But when we take him away as a right-back, it would not really feel like we essentially want extra choices additional ahead.
DAVID: We have had glimpses of him in pre-season within the guard function and he can definitely fulfill that function, however I am assured he would slot in nicely in the fitting eight.
After all, that is the place Dominik Szoboszlai operates, so I do not see the supervisor being determined to attempt it out.
SAM: My intuition could be to say on the fitting of midfield, however Szboszlai appears to suit that function completely, as David says.
The place that might be open is in midfield, and I do not actually really feel like we have seen him play nicely there. Maybe his alternative may current itself this season.
What are the professionals and cons of taking him out of the right-back place?
DAVID: I feel the most important profit could be that it will finish the bullshit debate round Trent not with the ability to defend, however that is not one thing that ought to be on Klopp’s radar as a result of it is merely not true.
By way of downsides, it will be the truth that you might be losing one of many good choices Liverpool have in midfield by placing a present starter on the bench.
SAM: As talked about, there may be the query of who will truly play as a right-back for Liverpool when he strikes. Joe Gomez is principally a central defender and Bradley has not confirmed himself.
The optimistic is clearly the attacking output he would produce, however does this outweigh the negatives contemplating he can have already got some influence as a right-back?
ADAM: The upsides are that he can definitely do it, he has confirmed it to some extent within the hybrid function and additional ahead with England – or so I am advised!
The draw back is that it will require much more operations for the workforce. As beforehand talked about, we would wish a prime class right-back to exchange him and he would take one of many spots in an already aggressive midfield, as David hinted.
Lastly, in case you may solely play him in a single place for the subsequent 5 years, the place would you place him?
ADAM: It nonetheless needs to be proper again for me, it feels reactionary to say in any other case.
In a really perfect world we might get Bradley and Calvin Ramsay as much as health and tempo so Trent may develop into an choice within the center, however that is so far as I might go proper now.
DAVID: For me it is nonetheless proper again. Liverpool gained each honor potential when he performed there. Then why the desperation to maneuver him?
SAM: I might additionally must say right-back, particularly contemplating that in 5 years he’ll nonetheless solely be 30 years outdated.
If Liverpool can add or produce a high quality midfielder, then there isn’t any motive to recommend he can’t have an effect in trophy-winning seasons within the years to return.
