November 17th 2023.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is hoping to make a midfield spot his own for England. The 25-year-old Liverpool star has been playing a hybrid role of venturing into central midfield when the Reds are in possession and retreating to full-back without the ball. He believes that his skillset is best suited to playing in the middle of the pitch, and he is determined to make the most of his opportunity.
"In my teenage years I was a midfielder so it's a position I have some knowledge of," said Alexander-Arnold. "I've been tasked with sitting down and watching and trying to learn and adapt. As for whether I'm a midfielder or not, my specific skillset is probably best suited to someone who plays in the middle of the pitch—someone who controls the game, controls the tempo, creates, breaks lines, and progresses the ball up the pitch."
Gareth Southgate will reportedly give Alexander-Arnold a chance to shine in midfield when England host Malta on Friday night in European Championship qualifying. There may be a spot in midfield available going into the European Championships next summer, with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham seemingly nailing down two of the three places in Southgate's preferred formation. Kalvin Phillips is still regularly chosen to complete the midfield, but he plays very rarely for Manchester City.
Alexander-Arnold will have the chance to prove himself and complete an extremely talented trio alongside Rice and Bellingham. He is determined to make this his own and show off his skillset as much as possible. It will be interesting to see how he performs on Friday night against Malta.
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