Since he played in midfield in the final 30 minutes against Fulham and put in an impressive performance which saw him score a late winner in a seven-goal thriller, many have argued that Liverpool midfielder Trent Alexander-Arnold, who normally plays in defence as a right-back, would be better suited in midfield.
It’s not the first time he has shown he has what it takes to play a more central role in midfield.
The question being asked here is, should Trent Alexander-Arnold permanently play in midfield for Liverpool?
Let’s dive straight in to find out.
Was it just a one-off performance, or has he excelled in midfield before?
The game against Fulham on December 3, 2023, saw him shine in his role as a midfielder, but it wasn’t the first time he has played in this position.
He also did the same in the Carabao Cup against Bournemouth for a similar amount of time, managing an assist and helping the Reds win 2-1 away.
Will Klopp play Alexander-Arnold more in midfield now?
While England manager Gareth Southgate has said he is considering more of a central role for the 25-year-old, it’s not looking like Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will move him from a right-back position to the midfield.
In fact, Klopp has publicly stated that he has no intention of playing him in this position.
The manager believes his most influential role is guarding the back.
However, as and when needed, he may be called upon to move into midfield because he can play in both positions.
He is fast, strong, intelligent, skilful, intelligent, and adaptable, but he is needed more at the back, so for the time being, we are only likely to see him play more of a midfield role on the rare occasion.
However, many Liverpool fans say they would like to see him play in midfield more often.
Where are Liverpool in the league right now?
We have just reached the halfway mark in the 2023/24 season, and Liverpool are at the top of the table with 45 points after 20 games played.
The top 6 in the Premier League table currently looks like this:
- Liverpool (45 points)
- Aston Villa (42)
- Manchester City (40)
- Arsenal (40)
- Tottenham (39)
- West Ham (34)
You then have Brighton in seventh place, Manchester United in eighth place, Newcastle United in ninth place, and Chelsea in 10th place.
Final thoughts
In some of Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures throughout January and early February, they play Arsenal (FA Cup third round), Fulham (EFL Cup semi-final), Bournemouth (league), Fulham (EFL Cup), Chelsea (league) and Arsenal (league).
Mo Salah is away at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Egypt, meaning Darwin Nunez will have to step up to the plate if he wants to be seen as a permanent replacement if Mo Salah leaves the club for good one day.
We will just have to wait and see if Klopp decides to play Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield in any of the games, but he will most likely be played in a defensive right-back role where Klopp believes he is needed most.
