Trent Alexander-Arnold has won Player of the Match in three of England’s four Nations League fixtures this season. He has admitted feeling a sense of freedom under Lee Carsley and will hope this continues under new Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.
The German is known for his rigour when it comes to setting up systems but has also shown to be adaptable. Throughout his career, the 51-year-old has shown a trend of initially using a back three or wing backs upon taking over a side before conforming to four-at-the-back.
Admittedly, this was not the case at Bayern Munich and international football is a different beast to tame. But if he does emulate Gareth Southgate and begin his tenure with five defenders, Alexander-Arnold could well be in for an enjoyable ride.
Although, Tuchel wouldn’t call all five ‘defenders’. “[I] interpret the wing-backs more as midfielders because if you play in a back three it is not really a full-back position, more of a midfield position,” he told Chelsea club media in 2021.
“I would not call them defenders but they have to defend in some moments like defenders. But they are more free to attack the opponents’ box than they are in the role of a full-back.
“So it is necessary that they are included and we bring them to the box at the end of our attacks and increase the goal threat. I am happy when we create chances, and I’m happy when we have five or six players in the box to be dangerous.
“In this system we play, it’s true that the wing-backs are there and have the freedom to be dangerous.” This will ring like music to Alexander-Arnold.
The Liverpool vice-captain feels he played well for England in Carsley’s system due to finding “positions that were natural to me”. He added: “Whether it was roaming inside, getting the ball off the centre back or [going] high and wide, making underlaps, overlaps.
“I was kind of doing it all. I was playing well and enjoying it.”
Alexander-Arnold further underlined that it is imperative to limit the opposition and that clean sheets “is what pleases” him – but that he is also able to “get on the ball to help the team win the game”. The right-back has been critiqued for his defensive solidity at times.
Some have mooted that, because of this, a wing-back role would suit the Reds academy graduate. It does not seem likely, necessary or perhaps conducive for Liverpool to start adopting such a system, having not done so under Jurgen Klopp nor Arne Slot so far.
But for England, it might be a different story. The national team’s defence has looked rather leaky since Euro 2024 and Tuchel has a knack of addressing such an issue as a priority when first taking over a team.
The idea of Alexander-Arnold being tasked with playing as a wing back for England is not so outlandish. Ultimately, onlookers will have to wait until March, the first international break of 2025, to discover what route Tuchel takes.
But with Kieran Trippier now retired from England duty and Kyle Walker somewhat waning (and perhaps better suited in a back-three anyway), Alexander-Arnold is becoming the obvious pick on the right of defence. If Tuchel reverts to type, the Liverpool star’s fruitful streak could blossom.
