As England prepare to face Denmark in their second game of Euro 2024, there are ongoing debates about whether Trent Alexander-Arnold should remain in midfield.
The Liverpool defender played alongside Declan Rice in the match against Serbia, delivering a solid performance in a narrow one-goal victory.
While he didn’t fully showcase his club-level talent, there were promising moments. Alexander-Arnold attempted four long balls (tied with Jude Bellingham for the most by an England player) with confidence and bravery, but he also lost possession 12 times.
One significant lapse occurred just outside his box, where he gave the ball away to Aleksandr Mitrovic, who then missed the target. Additionally, Alexander-Arnold didn’t complete a key pass, which is usually a hallmark of his game at Liverpool. Clearly, there is room for improvement.
A victory over Denmark could secure England’s position as group winners, assuming Slovenia and Serbia draw. This would allow Gareth Southgate to rotate the squad in the final group match before the knockout stage.
With the tension of the nervy opener, which saw only 0.70 expected goals between the two teams, now behind them, a better overall performance from England, including Alexander-Arnold, is anticipated.
In an interview with Betfred, former Manchester United striker Andy Cole supported the Liverpool star to maintain his place in the team.
“It depends on what England are trying to achieve. England have a lot of good midfielders and it looks as if Trent isn’t going to play at right-back.
“Trent hasn’t let anybody down when he’s played in midfield and going forward; that looks as if that’s going to be his position for England and they just have to get on with it. It’s as simple as that.”
While Cole backed him, other former professionals have dismissed the notion. Robbie Savage told Planet Sport Bet that he should continue “for now” but expressed doubts about his ability to compete against higher-quality opponents in Spain, France, or Germany.
However, Teddy Sheringham expressed his dislike for him playing in midfield and suggested using either Adam Wharton or Kobbie Mainoo instead.
“I thought the midfield was disjointed again against Serbia – I don’t like defenders playing in midfield and full-backs coming in.” He told Poker Sites.
“You receive balls differently when you’re playing in midfield and I don’t think he knows how to do that as naturally as someone like Kobbie Mainoo or Adam Wharton.”
Fans, pundits, former players, and current players alike have all weighed in on Alexander-Arnold’s suitability for England’s talent-rich midfield.
While the debate over his ability to play in midfield has been resolved, the pressing question remains: can he excel there? Only time will tell.
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