Trent Alexander-Arnold thrived in midfield for Liverpool final season… with SIX midfielders probably departing Jurgen Klopp should not neglect he can fill the void

It’s truthful to say Liverpool’s midfield will look a bit totally different this season.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner have left with Fabinho and even presumably Jordan Henderson to follow whereas Fabio Carvalho has departed on mortgage.

Practically £100million has been splashed out on new arrivals Alexis Mac Allister and Hungarian Dominik Szoboslai whereas Jurgen Klopp might be hoping Curtis Jones continues his improvement and Thiago Alcantara’s accidents clear up.

Even so, with the Anfield membership unable to compete financially for the likes of Jude Bellingham, who joined Actual Madrid, there’s a sturdy likelihood of an elevated position for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the middle of the park.

Alexander-Arnold has divided opinion for years with many contemplating him the perfect proper again in Europe and others questioning his defensive capabilities.

Liverpool’s midfield will look a bit totally different subsequent season following the departures of Naby Keita (left), James Milner (second from left) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (proper)

Jordan Henderson (left) and Fabinho (proper) might comply with them out the door this summer time

There might be an elevated position in Liverpool’s midfield for Trent Alexander-Arnold this season

The second half of final season represented a watershed second when Klopp lastly succumbed to the temptation of using the 24-year-old’s vision and technical abilities in a central place.

Used extra as a hybrid, beginning in defence however stepping up when Liverpool have been in possession – similar to the way Pep Guardiola has deployed John Stones – Alexander-Arnold benefitted final season from enjoying in a extra superior place.

After serving to Liverpool climb to a fifth-place end, he then played in midfield for England towards Malta and scored in a 4-0 win.

Importantly, he seems to get pleasure from the brand new position and thrive on the accountability of impacting within the remaining third.

‘It’s actually an avenue the supervisor needs to discover and I need to discover. It’s one that’s thrilling for the longer term,’ he mentioned after being given the nod by Gareth Soutgate.

The query is how Klopp will play it.

When Liverpool received the Premier League and Champions League, Klopp needed his midfield trio to be runners. Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum gave the famed Liverpool entrance three of Mane, Salah and Firmino license to run riot and permit full backs Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to push on.

Towards Malta, it was Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson who sat deeper and Alexander-Arnold who supplied the inventive chain behind Harry Kane. 

Alexander-Arnold flourished in a newfound hybrid midfield position when used there final season

The precise again was additionally used within the new place for England towards Malta final month

Certainly, England have been stunned on the lack of defensive teaching Alexander-Arnold obtained although Klopp will level to the trophies his facet received and say sacrificing clear sheets for extra objectives was price taking.

However, as with most issues in soccer, Liverpool are evolving.

Personnel modifications at Anfield have additionally led to a change in model. The perfect performances for Liverpool final season got here after they managed the sport quite than relentless urgent, and Alexander-Arnold’s distinctive vary of passing is a giant asset.

It stays to be seen whether or not Jurgen Klopp makes use of Trent in midfield extra typically this time period

When he stepped into midfield throughout the 2-1 win towards West Ham, he was within the prime three for passes and touches within the opposition half.

Mail Sport columnists consider Alexander-Arnold is simply too restricted as a pure proper again.

‘He invariably performs the suitable move,’ says Keown. ‘One of many causes he can flourish is his bravery. He’s fearless together with his passing and crossing so as to be inventive,’ provides ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy.

All of it provides as much as a heady cocktail for Klopp to think about. It appears possible Alexander-Arnold will spend extra time in midfield. The query is that if he continues in a hybrid position or strikes full-time, leaving Liverpool to choose one other right-back.

The hefty £60million price paid for Szoboslai, a inventive participant who can hold the ball shifting on the half-turn, suggests Klopp needs him to be an essential a part of the Liverpool midfield.

In that case, Alexander-Arnold would step as much as give Liverpool another choice and additional physique when they’re dominating matches, quite than utterly forego his duties at right-back.

However in video games the place Szoboslai wants a relaxation, there’s a case for the Englishman to begin in midfield, with Conor Bradley, who has returned to Anfield after a profitable mortgage spell at Bolton, another at right-back.

In video games the place summer time signing Dominik Szoboszlai wants a relaxation there’s a case to place Alexander-Arnold in midfield

Klopp resisted giving Alexander-Arnold midfield duties for a very long time with some accusing him of stubbornness. In any case, the Liverpudlian had performed there up till he was 16.

However Liverpool’s inconsistencies final season led Klopp to tweak issues – and boy did Alexander-Arnold capitalise.

He arrange two objectives from a extra superior place in a romp at Leeds and his efficiency at West Ham, the place he assisted the opening purpose for Cody Gakpo, was labelled ‘completely insane’ by the Liverpool supervisor.

So whereas The Kop possibly frets that the membership have misplaced extra midfielders than they’ve gained on this window, they shouldn’t neglect Alexander-Arnold may be included in that record now, and never only a scuffler.