Trent Alexander-Arnold is back to his best at Liverpool, yet questions persist regarding where he should be played.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having made his name as a marauding right-back, Jurgen Klopp adapted his role to an inverted position, where he drifts into central midfield.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This caught the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate, who has been starting the 25-year-old in the middle of the park.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ahead of Liverpool\u2019s Europa League match with LASK, we take a look at Alexander-Arnold\u2019s evolution and where his positional future lies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
City performance<\/h2>\n
Liverpool\u2019s 1-1 draw at Manchester City last Saturday highlighted the perceived strengths and weaknesses of Alexander-Arnold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Pep Guardiola\u2019s team had the ball, they invariably played it to Jeremy Doku to dribble at the Reds\u2019 vice-captain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It seems likely that the idea was to exploit Alexander-Arnold\u2019s lack of defensive quality, while limiting his attacking forays. Ultimately it did not work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Doku was a constant menace, he failed to contribute to a goal. Meanwhile, Liverpool\u2019s No66 smashed home the equaliser.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In his post-match interview, Alexander-Arnold gave his take on how things went for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI think there was potentially a game plan to stop me from getting the ball in midfield.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least that\u2019s what it felt like, especially in the first half, a little bit of man-marking. I think Bernardo [Silva] was very close to me a lot when I was pulling inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it was about trying to get on the ball in different ways and I think I adapted to it. I tried to pull out a little bit wider.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Klopp\u2019s decision to use Alexander-Arnold in an inverted full-back role towards the end of last season paid off handsomely.\u00a0<\/p>\n The academy product provided seven assists in the final 10 Premier League games.\u00a0<\/p>\n That return prompted debate as to whether Alexander-Arnold would remain in a hybrid role, or could even be used as a regular midfielder.\u00a0<\/p>\n The England international has instead been stepping into central areas slightly less often this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n With Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai now at Liverpool, there is a reduced need for midfield reinforcement, unless there is a real desire to create overloads.\u00a0<\/p>\n When recently quizzed about the matter, Klopp was cautious about a positional change.\u00a0<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIt is a possibility. It depends on the opponents and the situation and things like this but we know that he can play there.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFor us, if we just put him there then we lose one of the best right-backs in the world and we should not forget that completely.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has addressed the lack of an alternative to Alexander-Arnold for the Reds.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cLiverpool haven\u2019t got a back-up for Alexander-Arnold as it\u2019s difficult to get quality to sign to sit on the substitutes bench.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI would love Liverpool to acquire a right-back who could play in the big games and push Alexander-Arnold into midfield.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n In contrast, England have an abundance of talent in that position, enabling Southgate to move the Kop hero.<\/p>\n With Alexander-Arnold in with a chance of starting at Euro 2024 in a midfield role, we could see a rare example of international form dictating a change at club level.\u00a0<\/p>\n For all that he has achieved, there remains a sense that there is more to come from the Anfield ace, should he literally become central to Liverpool\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n![\"Trent](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/fe945710-478e-4eff-9553-6731af57a553.png\")
Klopp caution<\/h2>\n
![\"Trent](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/e722c1ed-9266-4ac2-9140-3d5984ab4950.jpg\")
Carragher hope<\/h2>\n