Having impressed centrally in England’s warm-up games, Alexander-Arnold looks set to be given the nod alongside Declan Rice for England’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen this evening.
While his creative ability on the ball is well documented, many have voiced concerns that the 25-year-old may get found on defensively in the middle of the park.
Roy Keane suggested he could get ‘ripped to shreds’ against ‘top teams’, while former England captain Wayne Rooney declared he would not have Alexander-Arnold ‘anywhere near the middle of the pitch’.
Speaking ahead of Sunday evening’s clash, Southgate defended the decision and Carragher has backed up the England boss, insisting Alexander-Arnold has the quality and experience to thrive in the role.
‘I think Trent is that kind of player that you have to find a place for him in this team,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘If someone has that much quality you can’t have him sitting on the bench when England have that hole in midfield.
‘People say that Trent isn’t a midfield player but he’s 50 per cent a midfield player. He plays there when Liverpool have the ball and we know a lot of teams do that now where the full-back goes into midfield.
‘International football is almost a completely different sport to Premier League football. The game is so much slower, and I think that helps Trent.
‘I don’t agree with the other guys around his defensive capabilities. I’ve been a critic of him in terms of his one versus one defending but when you play in midfield you don’t get that. You have bodies around you and very few players run at you in the centre of the pitch.’
Carragher, though, did partially echo the fears of fellow Sky Sports pundit Keane and worries that it may be too much of a risk to start Alexander-Arnold in the middle of the park in the latter stages of the tournament.
In particular, the former Liverpool defender highlighted the threat of Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala who delivered a superb display on opening night to help Germany to a thumping 5-1 win over Scotland.
Should England slip up and finish second in Group C they would likely face Germany in the round of 16, with Carragher fearful that Musiala’s direct style could torment Alexander-Arnold.
‘The only one I can think of in this tournament who really does that [dribbles centrally] is Musiala who is a real superstar,’ he added.
‘You might have a problem if Trent is playing in midfield against Germany and Musiala is running at him because he does have problems defensively in that area.’
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