Matthew Upson claims Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold showed he is ‘the best one-touch passer’ for England. But Malta did not prove the ‘challenge’ of being in midfield.
The right-back enjoyed a makeshift role in Gareth Southgate’s engine room on Friday night as England beat Malta 4-0. Alexander-Arnold has seldom featured in a midfield role for his club or county in the past. But the 24-year-old loved the European Championship qualifier.
Alexander-Arnold produced an all-round performance as England’s No10 at Ta Qali during his 19th cap to date. He stole the show with a display from another world compared to his last time in Southgate’s midfield. The defender majorly struggled against Andorra in 2021.
Alexander-Arnold shone in England’s midfield vs Malta
Southgate revelled in seeing Alexander-Arnold shine in England’s midfield against Malta as the Liverpool product carved their hosts apart. The right-back played a delightful pass over the top to release Bukayo Saka before Ferdinando Apap diverted the Arsenal star’s cross in.
It was just the start for Alexander-Arnold, though, as the Liverpool-born maestro would net his second England goal soon after. After initially miscontrolling a rebound, he rocketed the ball into the back of the net from outside the area with a precise effort into the far corner.
Alexander-Arnold would have a hand in England’s third goal, as well, before moving deeper following Eberechi Eze’s introduction. The No10 role in Southgate’s squad against Malta let the Liverpool defender show his talent at its best, essentially freed of his defensive duties.
Malta did not test the Liverpool star to the maximum
But while Alexander-Arnold delivered a masterclass in Malta, the European Championship qualifier did not test the Liverpool star’s effectiveness for England’s midfielder to the best. Instead, Upson has suggested he still needs to repeat the performance against a top team.
“He’s the best one-touch passer I’ve seen,” Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live. “His ability to see it and the confidence he has in his ability to do it. Whatever technique is required, he has it in his repertoire. That’s the exciting thing about him as a player.
“It’s a false environment in terms of what he has to do out of possession and that’s a massive challenge for a midfield player.
“If you play against a top team, out of possession is such a key part of the game. We haven’t seen him tested physically in that way but we have seen him on the ball.”
Alexander-Arnold has only played in England’s midfield against Andorra and Malta to date and seldom starts in the role for Liverpool. But Jurgen Klopp began to adapt his duties for the Reds in 2022/23 with an inverted role. He gained a greater licence to join the midfield.
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