Gareth Southgate feels Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold can influence England’s Euro 2024 campaign
Gareth Southgate feels Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold could have a major influence for England in the upcoming Euro 2024, as quoted by the Daily Star.
England continued their preparations for their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on June 16 with a 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday, as Gareth Southgate experimented with tactics, personnel and positions.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has taken his game to a different level since moving into a midfield role for Liverpool. Having partnered Conor Gallagher in the middle of the park, the Liverpool star capped a brilliant display with a superb volley in Monday’s warm-up game against Bosnia & Herzegovina at St James’ Park.
𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎: Gareth Southgate is leaning heavily towards Trent Alexander-Arnold in a deeper midfield role alongside Declan Rice.
Alexander-Arnold’s fine display in the recent friendly has provided further conundrum in midfield selection for England boss Gareth Southgate. A unique talent, Southgate is keen to harness his strengths to great effect and reckons the Liverpool man is learning to enjoy donning the England shirt.
“Firstly, he is enjoying playing in an England shirt. He has had a difficult international career in that, because of the strength in depth in the area, we haven’t always been able to give him the amount of football that his talent deserves,”
“But we have always been trying to find a way to do that, and I think he knows that and he appreciates that, so it is lovely to see him score, have that moment and play with that confidence for England.
“We were very pleased (with Alexander-Arnold in midfield). It is a role he is discovering. He is hungry to learn, and has been since I talked to him about playing it a year or so ago.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – JUNE 03: Trent Alexander-Arnold of England celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the international friendly match between England and Bosnia & Herzegovina at St James’ Park on June 03, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
“And equally, what we saw in the last half-an-hour is also an important option for us as well.
“We are going to have different challenges in this tournament and we are going to have to have different ways of solving problems that teams pose us.”
It is great that Southgate acknowledges Trent Alexander-Arnold’s talents and flexibility to operate both at right-back and in midfield. The 25-year-old’s technical qualities on the ball will be of great use if England ends up facing a well-drilled, low-block side at Euro 2024.
Our boy from West Derby will be a great asset for England if he manages to stay fit throughout the campaign. Nonetheless, Alexander-Arnold is yet to prove himself as a midfielder against an elite side thus far and that should be in Southgate’s mind before announcing his first XI against Serbia later this month.
