Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a man of the match performance during England’s first match post Gareth Southgate, demonstrating his qualities and importance to this team. Starting in midfield, before moving to the bench over the course of Euro 2024 just a few of months ago, Southgate opted for the services of an ageing Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier as his full backs, rather than a more youthful and forward thinking Alexander-Arnold, despite his great form last season. Alexander-Arnold was a key member of Liverpool’s squad during the last campaign, playing a pivotal part in Jurgen Klopp’s final season in charge of the club. A season which ended with both a domestic trophy being won and a third place finish in the league. Klopp was the man to give Alexander-Arnold his chance in senior football, a decision which paid off handsomely and was key to Liverpool’s success. The pair have won every trophy available to them since 2019, with Alexander-Arnold’s attacking output breaking several records along the way.
Alexander-Arnold has redefined the right back position, becoming the benchmark for others. His attacking influence and playmaking from both deep and attacking positions makes him so unique and valuable, that Klopp practically gave him a free role from right back. Out of possession he would act as a standard right back, but once the ball is turned over he is unshackled and free to roam, Alexander-Arnold tends to pick the ball up from deep, assessing his options before delivering a pinpoint pass, very much akin to a quarterback in the NFL. He also possesses a great instinctiveness for finding himself in the half spaces where he can turn and face the goal in threatening positions. His brilliant technique and accuracy has seen him rack up both goals and assists from these positions, year after year. Overlapping Mohammed Salah in front of him, before putting in dangerous crosses, both high and low is also a feature of his play. Not since David Beckham has the Premier League witnessed this consistency and accuracy of delivery from open play. Over the years, Salah and Alexander-Arnold have formed a telepathic connection, capable of dismantling teams on their own.
Arguably, Alexander-Arnold’s strongest trait is his creative, long range passing. The switching of play is a constant weapon of his to find the spare man on the opposite side of the pitch with a long raking pass, but he is just as brilliant at finding runners in behind from central positions. The quality of his passing and crossing is of such quality that at times it’s impossible to defend against. He finds the space in behind in crucial areas and positions, which defenders struggle to deal with. From areas closer to the goal, Alexander-Arnold’s playmaking prowess comes to the fore. Flicks, disguised passes, combinations, subtle touches, he really has everything in his locker. He can hurt you in so many ways and it is this varied skill-set that often proves to be the difference in key moments of matches for his club and given more opportunity under Carsley, he could be the key ingredient for England too.
Doubts remain over Alexander-Arnold’s defensive capabilities, but there are signs of improvement in this area. Liverpool’s new manager, Arne Slot, recently praised Alexander-Arnold for being a ‘good defender all his life’, making it clear that he has no concerns over his abilities. Over the years, Alexander-Arnold has taken media bashings and several confidence knocks over his defensive performances. Last January, Roy Keane went as far to say that he ‘can’t believe how bad Trent is’ when he’s directly up against a winger, whilst in March, former Liverpool player, Jamie Carragher, stated that ‘we all know his defending is not good enough.’ Although Alexander-Arnold’s defensive capabilities have question marks, his competition in the national team are also flawed defensively, without carrying the offensive threat Alexander-Arnold has within him. Walker’s recovery pace is a useful tool, but his positioning often lets him and the team down. Trippier’s age is rapidly catching up to him and he looked a shadow of his former self over the Euros last summer. Southgate missed a trick in not utilising Alexander-Arnold’s offensive threat more in Germany and with his potential to effect play in the build up, he should have featured more in the tournament. Choosing to ignore his remarkable passing ability has hindered the overall level that an England team might have reached. Whilst Southgate took England all the way to the final on multiple occasions, a fit and firing Trent might have enabled England to complete the final hurdle and get over the finish line against a highly technical Spanish team.
We are three matches into Arne Slot’s tenure as Liverpool head coach and it is clear to see that his usage of Alexander-Arnold is on the money, giving him the platform and environment to do what he does best, which is to supply and create. A player with the quality and consistency of Alexander-Arnold needs to be able to step onto the pitch and be able to find himself in positions where he can really hurt oppositions most. This is what Southgate failed to do during Euro 2024. When given gametime in the lead up to the tournament and during it, Alexander-Arnold was played in a double pivot in the midfield. Here he would receive the ball with his back to goal and not be given the needed space in front of him which he is used to at club level, thus nullifying his key attributes. When being used as a right back, the game is in front of Alexander-Arnold. He has time on the ball and space to drift into. He does not need to shake off his man before firing over a fifty yard, game breaking pass. Southgate should have trusted him to play consistently at right back and to effect games in the way he does and has done for several years for his club, for which he is so admired for across the football world.
Against Ireland, England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley set Alexander-Arnold up for success, using him in a similar way to which Klopp and Slot have. Alexander-Arnold cut a confident figure, oozing confidence, playing with a swagger and enjoying himself on the pitch. Within the first half an hour he created two major chances from his own half, carving Ireland open with a teasing long range pass from a central position to help England open the scoring. When you have such a uniquely talented player who can hurt you from deep in Alexander-Arnold, he must be allowed and encouraged to play to his strengths. In Anthony Gordon, England had a winger who ran in behind against the Irish, stretching play and creating space for others. For Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold has Salah and Luis Diaz who do the same job and give Alexander-Arnold the tools to hurt his opposition. Ultimately, Gareth Southgate limited Alexander-Arnold by not giving him this luxury. Instead, he opted to use an extra man in the middle, playing without a left winger to run in behind, failing to unlock Alexander-Arnold’s genuine threat as potentially one of England’s most threatening players. Carsley has taken a liking to Alexander-Arnold, they share the same offensive principles and see football in a similar way. The era of Trent Alexander-Arnold for England has finally arrived.
