Gareth Southgate explains ‘frustrating’ situation with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold that can hinder tactical change

Gareth Southgate says he wants to experiment with Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield

Gareth Southgate has stressed that he is running out of time to find an ideal midfield partner who can gel with Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold. The England head coach is now doubtful if he will use the Reds fullback in the centre of the pitch.

England are already stacked with options in midfield, with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice already seen as preferred choices in the middle of the park. However, Southgate hopes to find a third partner who can connect with Rice and Bellingham and form a great tandem.

Meanwhile, other midfielders such as Kalvin Phillips haven’t been considered for the midfield options that open a spot in midfield. In their 1-0 defeat to Brazil, England were technically outclassed by the Selecao.

And their main concern was their midfield, which couldn’t control the game. Following the match, the Three Lions head coach explained how he wants his midfield and explained via Standard Sport:

“The midfield thing we’ve seen, but we’ve missed two opportunities with September, and now this one is really frustrating because there’s so much that’s unknown about it at the moment,” Southgate said. As you know, I’ve liked the idea for a long time, but we’re going to be trialling it when we haven’t seen it in a really high-level game. So we’ll just have to see where we can go with it.”

Alexander-Arnold can change dynamic of England’s midfield!!

Considering midfielders dictate the game’s flow and exert authority over it, finding a technical midfielder who can complement and work well with one another is crucial.

England aren’t short on options in the middle of the park, but their main worry is how they will form a connection with each other. Conor Gallagher lacks technical play, while Phillips and Henderson have been out of form.

Alexander remains the only option who can play an important role in midfield because Jurgen Klopp has used him as an inverted right-back, which has also prevented him from exposing his defensive flaws as a right-back. Trent’s addition to their centre of the pitch brings innovation and technical play to the midfield.

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Hopefully, he will return for the June friendlies, where Southgate will get a chance to experiment with him in midfield with Rice and Bellingham.