Trent Alexander-Arnold’s rise at Liverpool was something special, but Gary Lineker thinks it should have happened differently.
Coming through the academy, the Scouser primarily played as a midfielder.
The decision to move him to right-back was taken with a view to fast-tracking Alexander-Arnold to the first team.
It stuck, and he became one of the best full-backs we have seen in the Premier League.
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But it was never for his defending, and Lineker thinks he was limited by being played in the back line.
Gary Lineker thinks Liverpool made a mistake with Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold is no longer adored by Liverpool fans after he went to Real Madrid as a free agent in the summer.
But even the biggest Trent hater would admit he has world-class playmaking ability. It helped Liverpool reach the levels they did under Jurgen Klopp.
His passing can be rivalled by only a few players in world football. That’s why Lineker thinks keeping him as a defender was a big mistake.
He said on The Rest Is Football: “I always thought Trent was probably a midfield player turned into a full-back at some point when he first got into the Liverpool side and never kind of shifted out, and then on the occasions he’s just chucked into the England setup as a midfield player.
“Well, he hadn’t had that experience over recent years playing there, so it’s difficult for him. But I think inside there somewhere, I think is basically an absolutely brilliant midfield player. And it’s a bit of a shame that he’s ended up having to play at full-back.”
The former Match of the Day host reckons Alexander-Arnold’s skills are somewhat wasted as a wide defender, and to be honest, I tend to agree.
But I don’t think the blame falls on Liverpool, considering he won everything there is to win as a right-back under Klopp.
Slot tried Alexander-Arnold in midfield last season, but it didn’t work as well as many expected.
Trent Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder for England
As Lineker alluded to, the Real Madrid star could be a factor in Thomas Tuchel’s midfield unit at the World Cup.
Reece James will start at right-back, of that there is little doubt. Alexander-Arnold doesn’t have the defensive ability to unseat the Chelsea captain, so a foray into the midfield might be the best use of his talents.
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England are not shorthanded in that department, but no one matches the distribution and playmaking of Alexander-Arnold.
He won’t get near the starting XI, but he might be called upon to make a bench impact in games where England are struggling to break down opponents.
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