Liverpool fans would have been delighted to see Trent Alexander-Arnold starting at right-back for England. It has been four years since the Liverpool creator started in that position for his country, with Gareth Southgate using Alexander-Arnold in midfield at Euro 2024. England beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in Dublin on Saturday for their UEFA Nations League opener and all eyes were on Lee Carsley’s first XI as interim manager.
With Kieran Trippier retiring from England duty, Kyle Walker not selected and Reece James still suffering from injury issues, then it opened the door for Alexander-Arnold to finally step forward into a role he has thrived in at club level. Southgate’s defensive system couldn’t get the best out of the passing specialist – that’s not a surprise – but in Carsley’s new attacking system, fans have now got a glimpse of what he can do. Alexander-Arnold might not have had an assist or goal to his name, but he was involved in the opening goal and it was typical of the Liverpool man.
Roy Keane was critical of Ireland for giving the 25-year-old time on the ball from his right-back spot, and like he has done for years, he pinged a delicious ball over the top, through the heart of Ireland’s defence and for the on-rushing Anthony Gordon. The Newcastle winger couldn’t convert his one-v-one effort, but eventually, the ball was recycled, thrown straight back into the mixer and Ireland’s public enemy number one Declan Rice scored . Keane loved what he saw from Alexander-Arnold and how you simply don’t want to be giving a man of his calibre so much time on the ball, as he told ITV Sport .
Trent Alexander-Arnold stars for England at right-back “Brilliant, fantastic,” said Keane about Alexander-Arnold’s ball over the top to Gordon, which eventually led to England’s opening goal. “If there is one player you don’t want to give time to on the ball in that area is Trent. He (Gordon) should have scored with the first effort and then Rice doing what he does best, coming in late.
When that breaks to him, you know he has that in him and he has a good technique. Beautiful finish and a deserved lead for England.” More England caps to come for Trent Alexander-Arnold The one-time Champions League winner has 29 caps to his name and that clearly isn’t enough for a player of his calibre.
Only a handful of them are starts at right-back, which, if you go by his performances for Liverpool, are criminally too low. READ MORE: How the Dutch media reacted to Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch & Cody Gakpo’s display v Bosnia But with Southgate out of the England door , many are hoping the long-term successor is an attacking coach because that will make Alexander-Arnold the first choice at right-back. Manchester City’s Rico Lewis has also been selected to deploy that role and Tino Livramento can also play at either right or left-back.
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