Former Liverpool defender Danny Mills has blamed Gareth Southgate’s tactics for restricting the performances of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The 20-year-old earned plaudits for his exceptional performances for the Reds this season. But Murphy feels he deserves more freedom when playing for the national side.
Alexander-Arnold did not start the extra-time defeat to the Netherlands in the semi-final of the Nations League but got his chance against Switzerland which the Three Lions won on penalties. The Liverpool defender didn’t quite have the same kind of impact that he has had for his club all season and Murphy blames Gareth Southgate’s tactics for that.
He said: “Trent is becoming a real threat. His crossing is so consistently good, it’s such a weapon. He is consistently putting the ball in ridiculously dangerous areas. At the moment with our lack of creativity in the middle of the park, I think we have to get this lad in the team constantly.”
Murphy emphasised how a back-three worked wonders for England in the World Cup last summer but feels the Liverpool youngster is restricted in a back-four.
“We did so well in the World Cup as Gareth Southgate stuck at the three at the back, but now he’s changed to a four and he’s probably got his reasons. But if you play a four with England, what you’re doing is restricting Trent a little bit. So then how do you get the best out of him? I think it’s a bit further up and giving him that freedom,” he concluded.
The former Liverpool man’s opinion makes a lot of sense considering how good Alexander-Arnold is on the ball. England’s midfield has been poor, and pushing the youngster higher up could potentially be a masterstroke by Southgate ahead of the European Championship next year.
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