Gareth Southgate has hit back at criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold – with the Liverpool star poised to start in midfield for England at Euro 2024.
Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Roy Keane and former Everton manager Sam Allardyce are among those to have insisted that the Reds vice-captain isn’t up to playing in the engine-room for the Three Lions.
“Defensively, he’s all over the place,” Rooney said on the Overlap. “He can’t defend. I wouldn’t have him anywhere near the middle of the pitch.
“I’d have no problem with playing him here [at right-back]. I think in here [midfield], I wouldn’t have him anywhere near there.”
Meanwhile, speaking on ITV, Keane said: “It’s against the real top teams I think he’ll be found out. I think he’ll be ripped to shreds if he plays against one of the better teams in central midfield.”
Responding to Rooney’s criticism, Three Lions boss Southgate insisted he’s confident that Alexander-Arnold can be ‘incredibly special’ in midfield for his side.
“Everybody’s more than entitled to opinions, so that’s our world, we have to accept that,” Southgate said. “Then we have to go and show what we can do.
“I’m really happy. I spoke to Trent about playing in this role over a year ago. It’s something he’s been really keen to do.
“He’s been really receptive to feedback and every bit of information. We know he can be a really special player. Equally, we know it’s not something he’s been doing for the last five years.
“There is an element of the unknown to it. But I think it’s an opportunity that’s worth grasping because he could be something incredibly special.”
Meanwhile, the England manager told ITV: “We think he can offer something we don’t have, he can give the team a different dimension and he’s been diligent in understanding the role. He has as good a passing range as anyone in world football really.
“He’s been invested in learning and understanding all aspects of the game in that role and I’ve enjoyed working with him on that project in the last 12 months. His mentality and attitude have been absolutely first class.”
England’s Euro 2024 campaign gets underway against Serbia on Sunday night, with Alexander-Arnold expected to start in midfield alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.
The 25-year-old predominantly played as an inverted right-back for Liverpool during the 2023/24 season, though Jurgen Klopp did switch him to midfield on occasions. With Conor Bradley also impressing during the campaign, it remains up for debate where Alexander-Arnold will play for the Reds next season.
As a result, incoming head coach Arne Slot will likely be watching his inherited vice-captain’s performances during the Euros with great interest, with a midfield role at a major tournament acting as something of an audition ahead of returning to club duty.
While Alexander-Arnold, who remains out of contract at Anfield next summer, will miss the start of pre-season due to his international exploits, Slot has a decision to make regarding where he wishes to play the defender next season.
