Stuart Pearce has urged one International manager to change how he has used one Liverpool star during EURO 2024 and Craig Dawson has suggested who should replace him.
Multiple Liverpool players have been included in international squads for the European Championships with Cody Gakpo and Virgil Van Dijk just two examples of this.
Another is, of course, Liverpool’s vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been given plenty of game time under Gareth Southgate.
However, despite Alexander-Arnold being given game time to try and prove himself for the Three Lions, the new role he has been given is simply not working after two games at EURO 2024.
Pearce urges Southgate to change Liverpool player’s role
There was some surprise that Alexander Arnold was called up to the England squad for the tournament due to the depth of options the Three Lions have in his position.
Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker can play at right-back but because of the injury problems that Southgate has at left-back, the Newcastle United defender has been deputising at left-back.
Luke Shaw has had an injury plagued season for Manchester United and the left-back has yet to feature, despite being available for selection. As for the Liverpool right-back, he has been deployed further up the pitch.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Stuart Pearce believes that the midfield experiment for Alexander Arnold has simply not worked.
“I would make a change there,” Pearce said. “I think we have got nothing to lose. Trent might say, ‘You put me in midfield to deliver passes, and all I can see is faces looking back at me when I get the ball’.”
Alexander-Arnold has been lining up in a midfield two alongside Declan Rice but the Liverpool right-back was substituted after 53 minutes during Thursday’s draw with Denmark.
Dawson suggest Crystal Palace star should replace Alexander-Arnold
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Hull City defender Craig Dawson believes Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton should start ahead of Alexander-Arnold.
“Trent, to me, is becoming the scapegoat but the reality is he’s just not a midfielder,” Dawson told Sky Sports. “We have (Kobbie) Mainoo or Adam Wharton in there as a replacement.
“I hope he goes for Wharton as a replacement because I’m a big fan of his since he’s gone to Palace. He gets on the ball he’s positive and because he only has one cap he can play with freedom because the pressure is off him.”
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