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Klopp questions England's decision to play Alexander-Arnold in midfield

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has questioned England's decision to play right-back Trent Alexand...



Klopp questions England's deci...
Soccer

Klopp questions England's decision to play Alexander-Arnold in midfield

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has questioned England's decision to play right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield during the recent international break.

Alexander-Arnold was deployed in central midfield by Gareth Southgate in England's recent victory over Andorra - a position that is unfamiliar to the 22-year-old.

Despite England cruising to victory, Alexander-Arnold failed to have any real influence on proceedings in what was his first game for The Three Lions since missing Euro 2020 through injury.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of Liverpool's game with Leeds, in quotes reported by The Liverpool Echo, Klopp questioned the decision to play Alexander-Arnold in midfield, noting that he is 'the best right-back in the world'

Klopp

"If you watch our games, Trent’s position already changed when possible. There’s no need to make him a midfielder now," said Klopp.

"It’s a shame we talk about this in 2021, good players play everywhere, Trent plays right-wing, everywhere. He can play midfield but more a six than an eight.

"But why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I struggle to understand how you can think that?

"Some people think he could be more influential in midfield. How is it possible to be more influential than Trent Alexander-Arnold? We use him as good as we can."

Klopp was also quizzed on the availability of Liverpool's Brazilian players following the news that Alisson and Fabinho look set to be ineligible to play against Leeds because they did not make themselves available for their country.

"I don’t know what will happen at the weekend, to be honest. In this moment, we have to see what other people decide and then we will again accept that probably, do what people tell us and try to win a football game.

"But the whole situation is really just like the whole world in the moment in a nutshell – ‘Ah, in football they have these problems as well.’ Yes, we have these problems. And now we will see who finds the solution."

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Alexander-Arnold England Jurgen Klopp Liverpool Premier League