Liverpool gave Alexander-Arnold problems with decision no. 8 Southgate

Trent Alexander-Arnold remains an enigma for both club and country. The 25-year-old Liverpool academy graduate looks set to play a key role for England this summer at the European Championship after being handed the No.8 shirt.

The right-back impressed in midfield for the Three Lions in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and was easily the best player on the pitch after coming off the bench in the shock defeat to Iceland on Friday night.

Alexander-Arnold created three chances, the most of anyone, during his 25-minute cameo at Wembley after replacing Kyle Walker at full-back.

Against Bosnia, however, he was placed on the right of a double pivot in midfield and finished the game with a goal and created five chances in the 3-0 win. His show won rave reviews.

The record-breaking right-back is expected to start Euro 2024 alongside Declan Rice in England’s 4-2-3-1 formation. And the fact he was given the much-coveted No.8 ahead of Conor Gallagher suggests he is in Gareth Southgate’s first-team plans.

Everything seems to point to him being in England’s starting XI. Rice even commented on the need for him to start before the game against Iceland.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Jurgen Klopp

“He’s special. We all know Trent’s skills — his passing, the way he sees a pass, that position on the right (center) suits him nicely,” Rice said.

“He can get on the favored right and see that pass like he did for Liverpool. He really suits that role, but he went to right-back for the last 20 minutes (on Monday) and looked just as good. He is a player that any country would appreciate. He’s a player we have to play, we have to get involved and our forwards would have to deal with someone like Trent because his passing is off the scale.

Trent in midfield?

If that is the case, and he manages to impress in a midfield role, it could make things difficult for Liverpool.

Alexander-Arnold is in the final 12 months of his contract at Anfield. According to reports last month, the Reds saw sorting out the future No.66 as a summer priority.

However, there has been nothing concrete in recent weeks and any talks will be put on hold while he is away on international duty with England. There have been suggestions he is a transfer target for Real Madrid, with the European champions keen to bring him to the Spanish capital on a free transfer next summer.

Earlier this year, the 25-capped England international revealed how he views himself as a player to FourFourTwo, saying: “The ability and skill set that I have is best suited to play in midfield and you will get the most well from my specific set playing midfield. And I see it as an opportunity to show the world that.”

This after Jurgen Klopp used the right-back as an inverted full-back. In possession, he would form a pivot double with the defensive midfielder for Liverpool.

But the German tactician never fully committed to using Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder. Last season would have been the ideal time to make the switch if they were convinced of his ability in that role.

The Reds overhauled their midfield, bringing in four new faces while occasionally using Cody Gakpo in the middle third.

They resisted the temptation to have Alexander-Arnold play that role permanently. The club could have stopped short of three new midfield signings and instead looked to bring in a right-back to free up the number 66. They didn’t for a reason.

Trent pulls the strings from the back straight

In the interview with FourFourTwo, the Scouser admitted that he was given freedom as a full-back and it allowed him to influence the game in ways that he might not have otherwise been able to do had he been given a set role.

The truth is that the right-back role, especially under Klopp, has allowed Alexander-Arnold to influence play for the Reds. Others would act as facilitators to allow them to pull the strings.

Arne Slot also uses his right back in a similar way. The right-back role, especially when tasked with reversing, plays to his strengths.

Midfielders are often given more responsibilities off the ball. These responsibilities may limit their influence in the future.

Ironically, by moving further up the pitch, his final third involvement could drop. And that’s probably why Klopp didn’t use him there. He was too good to be burdened with everything that comes with playing in midfield.

England’s role gives Trent leverage

However, if Alexander-Arnold catches England’s eye as a midfielder, despite playing a different system and formation, he could return to Liverpool wanting a midfield role.

And his contract situation strengthens his hand. If he doesn’t like what the club has to say and how he sees his role going forward, he can simply cancel his deal and leave for free.

He finished his football at right back for Liverpool. If he’s going to continue as a full-back, why not complete football with Real Madrid to add to his already storied career?

This could put the Reds in a difficult position.

Do they risk playing Alexander-Arnold, a 25-year-old full-back with no real experience as a midfielder in senior football, in the middle third because they might lose him? Am I simply spoiling him because he feels he is being wasted as a full-back now?

In Conor Bradley, they have a player who can play at fullback. This, combined with the arrival of a new manager, means that this is probably the best opportunity for this experiment to be tested.

The only way these questions about his physicality and athleticism will be answered is if he ran there.

It really is now or never, isn’t it? Both for his own sake and so the club can move on from the same discussion every season. Success for England could be a disaster for Liverpool.