Liverpool star, Trent Alexander-Arnold, has been a hot topic in the sports world as England's Euro 2024 matches unfold. The young player’s performance and role in the team have sparked heated debates among fans and pundits alike.
The Liverpool ace has been given starting roles by Gareth Southgate, England's manager, for their first two matches against Serbia and Denmark. The former concluded with a 1-0 victory for England while the latter ended in a draw (1-1). These results have placed the Three Lions at the top of their group with one game remaining.
However, this promising position has been overshadowed by ongoing discussions about Southgate's tactics. The manager is facing criticism for his decision to play Alexander-Arnold in midfield rather than his usual right-back position.
Most pundits aren’t impressed
Jamie O’Hara expressed disappointment over Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Serbia. Alan Shearer also voiced his opinion that the midfield experiment hasn't worked out as expected. Joining these voices is fellow pundit Chris Sutton who shares Shearer's view on this matter.
Chris Sutton, BBC pundit, said:
“Clearly the Trent Alexander-Arnold experiment in midfield has not worked, Gareth Southgate has hooked him off in two games, which tells its own story.
“I am expecting him to make a change there, the interesting thing will be to see if anyone else comes in.”
Conor Gallagher expected to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold
Despite being substituted during both games - at minute 69 against Serbia and minute 54 against Denmark - there are still questions about what Southgate plans to do with this Liverpool star moving forward.
In both instances, Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher replaced him on field suggesting he might be given more playing time going forward. Additionally, young talents like Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton are waiting on sidelines who are more familiar with playing in midfield positions.
Given these circumstances, it may be prudent for Southgate to reconsider his strategy involving Alexander-Arnold especially since winning Euro 2024 seems unlikely with the current approach. Despite boasting a squad of world-class stars, England's performance has been less than stellar. With top spot in Group C still up for grabs, it is clear that changes need to be made before their Slovenia match.
Securing first place would significantly boost England's chances of going all the way in Germany. However, this will require a shift in tactics and potentially rethinking Alexander-Arnold’s role within the team.
