Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold started in midfield for England against Serbia, and Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham have made it clear on Instagram what they thought about his performance.
Alexander-Arnold is a right-back by trade, but England head coach Gareth Southgate decided to accommodate the Liverpool star in the starting lineup against Serbia at Euro 2024 by playing him in midfield.
With Manchester City star Kyle Walker starting at right-back, Alexander-Arnold was deployed alongside Arsenal star Rice in holding midfield.
Praise for England’s Alexander-Arnold display vs Serbia
As you can see below, Rice was impressed by the display produced by Alexander-Arnold, and so was Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, who scored the only goal of the match in the first half.
BBC Sport pundit Alan Shearer has also praised Alexander-Arnold, saying that the Liverpool star “played some good passes” and times his tackles well.
The England international marched forward as well. The 25-year-old took three shots and one of them was on target.
Trent in midfield is worth persevering with
Trent Alexander-Arnold has predominately played as a right-back in his career so far, so it will take him some time to get used to playing in midfield at the highest level.
The 25-year-old is not going to become a new Xavi or a new Kevin De Bruyne overnight. It will take time.
If England and Liverpool both think that Alexander-Arnold’s best position going forward is in midfield, then they have to persevere with that.
There will be moments when Alexander-Arnold will struggle and make mistakes, like the time when he lost the ball cheaply and almost allowed Aleksandar Mitrovic to score.
But that is all part of the learning process. Alexander-Arnold will emerge as a better player for it.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
