“Should be playing”: Gary Lineker thinks Jürgen Klopp is making a mistake at Liverpool

Follow us on Google Discover

Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp have been told they are misusing Trent Alexander-Arnold by Gary Lineker.

What’s the story?

Well, the BBC Match of the Day host – who is currently out in Qatar covering the World Cup – believes Klopp should be playing his No.66 in midfield, rather than using him at right-back.

Speaking on BBC One’s World Cup Extra, Lineker said: “I think Trent’s a player who should be playing in midfield, I always have done.

“By accident, he’s fallen into right-back, which he plays brilliantly and he’s as good a crosser as you could ever see, but he’s the best passer in English football, he could be playing anywhere in midfield, he could play anywhere. The only weakness he’s got is occasionally he gets caught defensively.”

Interestingly, Gareth Southgate has already tried using Alexander-Arnold in midfield during England’s 4-0 win over Andorra back in September 2021, where the 24-year-old was no more influential than usual.

Klopp actually questioned that decision in a press conference shortly after, admitting that he just doesn’t understand why people insist on putting the “best right-back in the world” in another position.

James Pearce of The Athletic quoted the German as saying: “Why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I just don’t understand that. Some people think because he’d be ten yards further up the field he would be more influential. We always use him as good as we can.”

Liverpool should test Alexander-Arnold in midfield

Of course, Klopp clearly isn’t a fan of this idea, but we believe it’s definitely worth a go.

We understand why the 55-year-old is against using Alexander-Arnold in midfield, as he seems to be under the impression of, if it isn’t broken, then it doesn’t need fixing.

However, we feel Liverpool could get so much more out of the England international by using him centrally, especially as Klopp has something of a midfield crisis at Anfield right now, with a severe lack of depth.

Whatever happens, Alexander-Arnold remains one of the best technicians in England, regardless of where he plays.