Trent Alexander-Arnold admits midfield role could be key to England minutes
Trent Alexander-Arnold shone in midfield in England's 4-0 win over Malta; the Liverpool right-back has played an inverted role at club level and ended the season in electric form; Gareth Southgate has praised Alexander-Arnold's impact.
By Tom Gott
Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted moving forward into midfield could be the key to his emergence as an important player for England.
The 24-year-old has often struggled for opportunities at international level but was given the chance further forward in midfield during England's recent 4-0 win over Malta, scoring a sensational goal in a player-of-the-match performance.
With competition at right-back so strong - manager Gareth Southgate has often preferred Reece James, Kyle Walker or Kieran Trippier in the role - Alexander-Arnold conceded that playing in midfield could now be the key to his England future.
"It is certainly an avenue," said Alexander-Arnold. "One that is clearly being explored and is something the manager wants to explore and I want to explore. It is one that is exciting for the future, and who knows?
"For me, I want to make sure I am playing as many England games as possible and that has always been the aim, causing headaches for the manager. I think this is a potential route we can go down that will help me get into the team."
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Originally, brought through the Liverpool academy as a midfielder, Alexander-Arnold admitted his previous training helped make the transition easier but conceded he has needed time to learn how to play the position in senior football.
"There were a lot of questions involved," he said. "There was me asking questions and absorbing a lot of information about where I needed to be and how I need to play the game.
"There was also me feeling natural in there. Feeling like it is something I’ve always done and something I could do regularly. I would say it was definitely a mixture of both.
"It is very creative these days. There are a lot of interpretations of positions. Every position different teams play different ways and there are different roles within those teams. It is very creative football at the minute and long may it continue.
"I know the qualities that I’ve got and the things I need to work on. Whatever position I play in, that will always be there. I am someone who wants to be as close to perfect as possible, so although this was a good game there are a lot of things I can work on and improve."
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