England boss Gareth Southgate explains starting Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield
England boss Gareth Southgate went on to explain why he started Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield (h/t Daily Mail). The Liverpool star was seen in an unfamiliar position in the middle of the park as England dispatched Andorra 4-0 in the WC Qualifiers.
Southgate went on to explain that it was an experimental move that he could be tried out in the game but admitted it did not work out as planned.
The international break rolls on as England continue their group stage of the qualifiers. They were 4-0 winners against Hungary and managed to repeat the same against Andorra as well. Jesse Lingard and Bukayo Saka starred for the Three Lions while Harry Kane chipped in with a goal as well.
There was a very peculiar thing to be noticed in the game as well. Southgate went in with three right-backs. While Reece James started in the original position and Kieran Trippier shifted to the other flank as he does, it was Alexander-Arnold who was drafted to the midfield. At times, he looked quite out of place and shifted back to his natural right-back spot after the break.
Southgate went on to explain his decision of using the Liverpool star in midfield. He felt that the game was a good chance to experiment with the role.
“We wanted to see something and we felt this was a good game to look at it. Clearly in the second half he has been in more of those positions where he felt more comfortable. Even though a lot of the time it was the same positions he was in in the first half but just he’s coming onto things, he looked happier in that position. That was clear so I think his play with the ball exhibited that happiness. We know he has outstanding quality with the ball and of course he finds himself in those positions with Liverpool.
“But what was clear in the first half was there wasn’t a lot of space and to find yourself in those positions coming onto those positions is different to starting in those positions so I don’t feel we lost anything by having a look at it.”
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Alexander-Arnold might have the abilities of a midfielder but he is better off in his own position, bombarding ahead from the right. There, he plays his best games and should be allowed to do so. Southgate’s point is understandable but this was an experiment that clearly did not pay off.
