Wayne Rooney makes bold claims over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s involvement as it remains a big decision at Liverpool

As Arne Slot holds his first Liverpool press conference and the Reds play their first pre-season game this summer, one of the biggest questions that would need answering surrounds Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool’s number 66 is out of contract in 2025, but an even bigger answer that needs to be resolved is what position on the pitch he will occupy in the future. Alexander-Arnold has made a name for himself as a right-back, but the possibility of him playing further forward is one that has already escaped the surface for some time.

While Jürgen Klopp was never too keen on placing him in the middle permanently, eventually settling on a reversed role that would allow him to do a bit of both, Slot comes with a fresh pair of eyes. Part of the decision may also lie with Alexander-Arnold himself.

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There is an argument to be made both ways. On the one hand, Alexander-Arnold could be freed up with less defensive responsibilities, but on the other hand, playing in the center means someone else — maybe Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones — dropping out. He also hasn’t played that role week in and week out since he was a youth player.

For his country, Alexander-Arnold is regarded as a midfielder, although it remains to be seen whether he makes Gareth Southgate’s starting XI for this summer’s European Championship. Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo is also among those fighting for a place in the squad and Wayne Rooney has had his say on the situation.

“I’ve seen Trent play in midfield a few times and I think you lose a lot of his qualities,” Rooney told The Overlap. “His delivery is obviously incredible and of course he can pick out passes from midfield, but I think he has to fight (with Kyle Walker at right-back).

“I know Kyle is the best right-back in the world at the moment, but I think midfield is such an important position. I’d play Mainoo ahead of Trent in the middle, 100%.

Liverpool.com says: England don’t have a huge amount of options available in the center of the pitch, so it might make sense to play Alexander-Arnold there. However, Rooney picking Mainoo over him is a case of recent bias. On the big stage, you need experience as well as quality and Alexander-Arnold has both. Picking a 19-year-old to start for the Three Lions would be a bold move that doesn’t feel particularly ‘Southgate’.