There are plenty of decisions for Arne Slot to make about what he sees as his best Liverpool XI.
For now, all eyes are focused on the transfer market and Liverpool’s slightly odd lack of activity in it.
But when you take a step back, you can understand why things have been so quiet at Anfield so far. Slot does have a big first-team squad to work with as it is.
The new head coach will currently be devising exactly where he sees each player fitting into his system. Not all of them will. Others will stay the same while more will perhaps be asked to perform new roles.
The player with easily the most intrigue in this regard is Trent Alexander-Arnold. Exactly where on the pitch will the No.66 be playing his football for Liverpool next season.
Arne Slot makes Trent Alexander-Arnold decision
There is of course a slight question over whether Alexander-Arnold will be playing his football at Liverpool next season full stop.
The academy graduate has just one year left on his contract and there are growing fears that he will not sign an extension.
Alexander-Arnold has been linked with Real Madrid and that is a scenario that will have every Liverpool fan breaking into a cold sweat.
Nevertheless, there does not seem to be any particular panic at Anfield over Trent. The expectation seems to be that he will sign on to new terms and continue his story with Liverpool.
READ MORE: What the England squad are saying about Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid
So, with that – hopefully – put to one side, the focus can be on where Slot chooses to play Alexander-Arnold. Does he continue with Gareth Southgate’s botched midfield experiment, keep him in a hybrid role, or move him back to being an orthodox right-back.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, that decision has now been taken by Slot. However, we’ll have to wait to find out exactly what it is.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold will hold talks with Arne Slot. The Liverpool manager has already decided on where he will play and wants to make him part of the players’ leadership team, which will help with any new deal discussions,” Jacobs tells Give Me Sport.
“Slot is expected to share more details about Trent’s role after they have spoken face-to-face, but has remained coy for now. Liverpool are calm despite Real Madrid’s interest. They are not planning for an Alexander-Arnold exit, and Real are not actively working on a transfer at this stage.”
What will Arne Slot decide over Alexander-Arnold?
It would interesting to take a poll of Liverpool supporters to see where they see Alexander-Arnold’s role in Slot’s new-look team.
In our opinion, the Scouser is a right-back. Liverpool have had great success with Trent playing at full-back and we don’t believe there was ever a reason to change that.
His range of passing is of course useful to have in the middle of the pitch, but from right-back he has always been able to work his way into those positions and affect the final third anyway.
Slot has already publicly addressed Trent’s position, but did insist that he would like to speak to his player first before revealing where he wants him to play.
With Alexander-Arnold not due back at Liverpool for a few weeks yet, it may be a while before we get the definitive answer. Until then, it will remain a burning question.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
