While intrigue continues to surround Liverpool’s summer plans for their midfield, the subplot at right-back is almost as compelling.
For years Trent Alexander-Arnold has been firmly established as the first choice on the right side of the back four for good reason. The Liverpool-born defender has helped redefine how a full-back’s role is viewed in the modern game and has been the creative focal point of a Reds side that has won every top-flight trophy under Jurgen Klopp.
“He’s Kevin De Bruyne at right-back,” Jamie Carragher memorably dubbed Alexander-Arnold a few years ago, but as the England international prepares to end a long 11-month season against North Macedonia on Monday night, questions are being asked over the next stage of the 24-year-old’s development has never been higher.
Alexander-Arnold shone in a traditional central midfield position on Friday night as England hammered a limited Malta side 4-0 at the Ta’Qali National Stadium, with Gareth Southgate’s side continuing their perfect Euro 2024 qualifying record against the 172nd-placed side in FIFA rankings.
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Wearing the No.10, the Red star put in a performance befitting the shirt most associated with playmakers, playing a big part in two goals with some trademark passing while grabbing an eye-catching strike from outside the box.
“It feels natural, I would say,” Alexander-Arnold said after the game on Friday. “It’s somewhere I can see myself playing. I want to make sure I’m in the squad regularly and it was a good foundation to build on.
“I think the role I’ve played with club football is a new path. It’s still early doors, it’s only one game, but it’s important that when I get the opportunity, I take it .”
After playing as something of a hybrid back-slash midfielder for the final two months of the Premier League campaign as the Reds went 11 games unbeaten, the midfield experiment was somewhat more pronounced and less subtle for Southgate’s Three Lions on Friday night.
One big caveat is that it was lowly Malta who were on the receiving end of Alexander-Arnold’s menacing passing range in Mdina, but the truth is that the Liverpool star has done the same with the Premier League outfit since the tactical adjustment was made in April.
The No.66 won the player of the month award for April following his seamless adaptation to the new role and at a time when Liverpool are scouring the continent for the best mix of players to help inject some energy and quality into the central areas, Klopp has a ready-made operator ready to step in at any given time.
But despite being a lifelong Liverpool fan who has been one of the stars of a golden period under Klopp since 2018, those tasked with such issues should not neglect the fact that Alexander-Arnold is entering the final two years of a contract signed in 2021. Surely Anfield’s bosses cannot afford to find themselves in a position where the heartbeat of the team has moved into his final year.
“He’s an incredible player, don’t get me wrong,” says Manchester United’s Luke Shaw. “He is so, so good. An incredible talent. When the ball is at his feet, there are not many better than him.
“I think he has shown that. You never know, it could be the start of something new (playing as No. 10). It was his first real match there. I know he does it for Liverpool but I think he was brilliant.
“For him, it is now about learning that role. A new role. I think he has the qualities and mindset to learn and understand the different roles he is going to take on. He is a fantastic player and one of the best in the world.”
The dull discourse surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s defensive abilities has disappeared for now, while the conversation centers on just how special the West Derby-born player is in possession. The big question for Klopp is whether the tweak is here to stay or not.
Much will depend on what can be done in the transfer window, but given the questions surrounding Klopp and his coaching staff, where Alexander-Arnold is now concerned. The Reds have been linked with both Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard and Ajax’s Jurrien Timber, with Klopp admitting last month: “If [Alexander-Arnold in midfield] is long-term, we’ll see it just depends on the new players we bring in.”
In the coming weeks, however, the door has opened for Conor Bradley as he is set to show what he can do during the pre-season schedule.
The Northern Ireland international was outstanding in Bolton’s EFL Trophy triumph over Plymouth Argyle at Wembley in April and has generally enjoyed a superb year in League One. Bradley made a whopping 53 appearances and climbed into double figures for assists as a marauding right-back; something that has been in vogue at Liverpool in recent years thanks to the exploits of Alexander-Arnold.
It would represent a big leap for Bradley to go from playing with Bolton to starring at Anfield during a pre-season schedule, but with Calvin Ramsay out on loan and James Milner heading to Brighton as a free agent, knocks the possibility of the next one. month for the 19-year-old.
Bradley says: “Obviously it’s up to the gaffer whatever he decides. Trent is a special talent, he’s one of a kind, he’s a brilliant footballer. We’ll just have to wait and see how I’ll do well in pre-season and then we’ll go from there.
“I’m going back, doing pre-season with Liverpool, which I’m really looking forward to. Go back there, see what happens. We haven’t talked about exactly what’s going to happen, but obviously it’s a big one for me, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Given that Alexander-Arnold has established himself as one of the most high-profile players on the continent in a relatively short career, winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Club World Cup to date , there is the prospect of effectively ‘replacing’ him in this Liverpool set-up is a rare chance that Bradley will surely be desperate to show he can take.
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