Liverpool and Arsenal fans are probably thinking they are watching a bunch of strangers when tuning into England’s Euro 2024 clash against Denmark on Thursday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice played in midfield during England’s 1-1 draw against the Danes in Frankfurt, Germany.
Liverpool’s star man is used to being the creative brain from right-back at club level, while Declan Rice has played further forward since moving to Arsenal from West Ham United for a club-record transfer last summer.
But when they don England colours, they look and play like complete strangers, as they proved against Denmark, and during their side’s opening game win against Serbia last Sunday.
It has resulted in many being critical of Gareth Southgate and the team’s performance, with Roy Keane sharing his thoughts on Trent Alexander-Arnold playing in midfield.
The Manchester United legend didn’t hold back on the Liverpool man and stated that ‘it’s not a good sign’ when you are subbed off in back-to-back games.
Against Serbia, he was subbed off with many questioning his performance and he only lasted 53 minutes in his side’s second game.
Keane added that Rice had to ‘babysit’ Alexander-Arnold in the middle of the park, with the Irishman also critical of what the Liverpool fullback does without the ball, as he told ITV Sport (20/06/24 at 7:20 pm).
You have to question if Southgate will now stick with Alexander-Arnold in his XI because they will get torn apart by much better teams.
That was touched upon by Keane, who didn’t hold back in his criticism of England and the tactics around players like Alexander-Arnold.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice for England v Denmark
“When you have been taken off in the two games, it’s not a good sign,” said Keane. “I always thought it was a huge gamble to play a player who doesn’t play that week in and week out for his club.
“I know people say that he drifts in there for Liverpool. But drifting into a position and starting is completely different. I have played in midfield, it’s a tough position. Physically, getting your distances and he has come up short in the two games.
“It’s not all down to him. You have to probably put this on Gareth (Southgate). It’s a huge gamble to throw a fullback in the middle of the park. This isn’t against the French or the Spanish, where they have got tougher tests ahead and maybe even Germany. This is against two teams where you thought England would be fairly comfortable and have lots of possession. But it was a big ask for him and he isn’t up to it.”
Keane then continued his criticism of the Liverpool player and playing alongside Rice for England.
“We talk about what you do in possession, but it’s really important against the better teams what you do out of possession,” added Keane. “That’s where he has been thrown into the deep end. Okay, he is going to be comfortable on the ball and if you give him time, he can see a pass, of course, there is no doubting that. But it’s the other bits of his game. The distances. Even for Rice, it feels like Rice is babysitting him in midfield and you can’t do that at this level. You will be found out and he has been.”
Gareth Southgate is to blame, not Trent Alexander-Arnold
Southgate is a defensive coach, what is he doing playing a man of Alexander-Arnold’s technical class in midfield?
Jurgen Klopp could probably coach the Liverpool star to perform at a high level in that role and so could his new manager, Arne Slot.
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But Southgate certainly can’t and that is one of the biggest problems here.
Even if Alexander-Arnold keeps his place in the XI for the final group game against Slovenia, in the long run, it isn’t going to work and England will just end up exiting Euro 2024 earlier than expected.
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