Roy Keane believes Trent Alexander-Arnold is so poor defensively that he could not even play in holding midfield for England against an elite level country.
Ahead of England’s Euro 2024 campaign there is plenty of debate over who will play in the midfield three for the Three Lions.
Gareth Southgate is guaranteed to pick Declan Rice as long as he remains fit, while Jude Bellingham will also start, although whether he is at no.8 or no.10 is still up for discussion.
It could be that the England boss chooses a deeper midfielder alongside Rice, much like he has done in the past with Kalvin Phillips, and Alexander-Arnold has been touted as an option for that role.
Keane is absolutely not having it though, thoroughly unimpressed with the Liverpool man’s defensive skills, even though he has spent most of his career at right-back.
The Manchester United legend thinks the 25-year-old could cut it in midfield when England are heavy favourites to win a match but would be badly found out against a high-quality side.
‘You can’t play him in there against one of the top teams,’ Keane said on Stick to Football. ‘One or two of the group matches…but if you play Trent in there against one of the top nations, the defensive side of the game you’re talking about…he can’t defend!
‘I’d still be worried even as a two [alongside Rice], against the really top teams, France or Germany in the knockout games. If you’re playing Trent in there defensively, he can’t defend, like…really bad.’
It was suggested to Keane that Alexander-Arnold being in midfield would cover up for his lack of defensive acumen, but the Irishman was not on board.
‘F**king hell! You have to defend in midfield!’ Keane said. ‘Defensively, he dangles his leg in, he’s not aggressive in defensive situations.
‘On the ball lovely, absolutely lovely, but at that level, in the knockout games, if Trent’s in there and asked to a do a defensive job for England against a really good team…he doesn’t smell danger.
‘I get that he’s higher up the pitch and he’s got that security behind him, but if he plays in there…all the best.’
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