In Focus: Alexander-Arnold has bright England future as midfield maestro

Trent Alexander-Arnold's move into midfield may have breathed new life into his England career.

The 24-year-old has struggled to win the trust of Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate at right-back, despite impressing there at club level for Liverpool.

However, he was deployed in the centre of the park during England's 4-0 win at Malta and performed admirably.

With North Macedonia up next, Alexander-Arnold will want to continue making an impact in his new position — and nail down a starting berth ahead of Euro 2024.

Sleeping lion

It is fair to say that Alexander-Arnold's international career has not taken off in the same way as his club one.

He missed out on Euro 2020 entirely due to injury and has been limited to just two World Cup appearances — the final group games at Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.

In 2018, he played 79 minutes against Belgium with qualification already secured, before making a 33-minute cameo against Wales last year.

Both campaigns have clearly suggested a lack of trust from Southgate, when it comes to performing on the biggest stage.

Midfield opportunity

After impressing in midfield against Malta, Alexander-Arnold is hopeful that his positional switch will prove a profitable route into Southgate's first-team plans.

He said: "I think, regarding England, the manager's always [tried to] find a way to fit me into the team, but with the quality of the players in the position that I play in, it is difficult to find that.

"But in the role I'm playing at club football, it's definitely opened a new avenue for me and hopefully it's an option he wants to use a lot."

Hybrid role

Alexander-Arnold's midfield move was likely prompted by his performances as an inverted right-back for Liverpool towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

The 19-cap international explained the simplicity of his new hybrid role.

He said: "I'm both. With the ball, I see myself as a midfielder. Without the ball, I see myself as a right-back."

In and out of possession

Alexander-Arnold's creative abilities are no secret and they were on full display against Malta, as he scored a superb goal.

He also completed all five of his take-ons, as well as 18 final third passes and five passes into the penalty area — the most of any player on the pitch for each of those metrics.

His work off the ball may have been what impressed Southgate the most, however, winning possession more times in the attacking third than any player from either side (four).

Next steps

Southgate clearly views Alexander-Arnold's move into midfield as a success and may well use him there against North Macedonia.

He said: "I won't hesitate to play [Alexander-Arnold in midfield] again.

"Of course, we should always be mindful of the level of the opponent but the quality of the play is the quality of the play and lesser quality players couldn't have produced that even against a lower opponent.

"He did everything we hoped he would do and maybe a little bit more in the pressing and the intensity and the adaptation. We were very happy with him."