Carragher reminds Klopp of the Southgate experiment to play Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield
Speaking on the Monday Night Football Show (h/t Sky Sports), Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher feels Trent Alexander-Arnold is capable of playing in midfield for England.
Alexander-Arnold’s form has shot up the roof since his recent change in the role. The 24-year-old is starting at right-back but roams into central midfield on the ball to become a playmaker for the team.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp talked about making this change in the system at a point in the season when it felt like there is nothing to lose. Well, since the change, the Reds have won seven of their last eight games, drawing the other against Arsenal.
A couple of years ago, England manager Gareth Southgate played Alexander-Arnold in midfield in an experiment that lasted only 45 minutes. Klopp wasn’t too pleased with that choice. Here’s Carragher on why the player can challenge to play for the national team in that position and reminds the Liverpool boss of the Southgate experiment (h/t Sky Sports):
“If I’m Gareth Southgate, I’d be thinking he’s challenging the midfielder players, as well [as the right-backs]. Don’t forget, it was Southgate who put him in midfield before anyone and Klopp criticised him for it.
“When you talk about England’s midfield options, [there is] Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham – but there isn’t much behind that. I think he could be pushing there. Forget the hybrid role: he could play the midfield role for England.
“I don’t think we’ve ever talked about any other full-back like we talk about him. No one else comes up in conversation more than him.”
A few weeks ago, Gary Neville had doubts about whether Alexander-Arnold can play in midfield where things are different compared to wide areas.
One can imagine that the former Manchester United defender forgot that the 24-year-old was a midfielder in his youth days before being converted into a right-back by Klopp.
What the Liverpool man has done in the last few weeks has shown that maybe he can be deployed in that position permanently now. If that is the case, the Reds might have to go into the market looking to buy a right-back or a right-sided centre-back.
More Liverpool News:
- Micah Richards suggests Liverpool to sign James Ward-Prowse from relegated Southampton
- Alisson Becker talks about role of his teammates in his new contract with Liverpool
- Young Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah signs a new deal with the club
It is up to Klopp and his staff to decide on it by the way. The summer window is fast approaching and decisions regarding player incomings have to be made swiftly for faster deals before the start of the pre-season.
