Liverpool players are commencing duties with their national teams ahead of the summer tournaments.
The Reds are set to have a fairly large portion of the squad in action over the next weeks as the Euros and Copa America get underway.
For Arne Slot, newly installed as Liverpool head coach, it will give him the first look into the Reds squad as ‘his’ players.
It may be a frustration for the Dutchman that he will not have key players back at the AXA Training Centre until they’ve finished their respective call-ups.
But it does allow Slot to get a sense of where some of his players are at ahead of his tenure. And if the 45-year-old was watching on Monday, he’d have seen a top performance from one of his big stars.
Media give verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool have become unused to having so many players in the England squad. Over recent years the Reds’ involvement in the Three Lions teams has become less.
But after Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones were called up by Gareth Southgate, and with Joe Gomez having a renaissance, Liverpool look to be back.
One player who has regularly been with his country throughout his career has been Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, the Liverpool academy graduate has often still been on the fringes of the squad.
To give some credit to Southgate though, he has also often been willing to chuck Alexander-Arnold into his midfield. And that’s exactly what happened at St James’ Park on Monday. Trent started the game with a number eight on his back.
READ MORE: Wayne Rooney explains why he doesn’t think Trent Alexander-Arnold should play in midfield
It turned out to be a success, with the 25-year-old capping an assured display with a crisp, volleyed finish for his third international goal. Reacting to Alexander-Arnold’s quality performance, the English national media were keen to praise him.
The Telegraph hailed Trent for his ‘perfect technique’ for the goal, while also asserting that his passing got better as the game progressed.
The Independent were also impressed with the Liverpool man’s passing, labelling it as ‘clever’ and raving about one ‘dangerous’ cross-field pass which released Jack Grealish.
Meanwhile Sky Sports noted that Alexander-Arnold’s passing range was on ‘full display,’ with the Scouser now ‘easing’ doubts about his midfield role in a ‘player of the match’ display.
Should Arne Slot play Alexander-Arnold in midfield?
As he begins work at Liverpool, one of the biggest questions Slot has to answer is over Alexander-Arnold’s long-term position.
Having not employed the tactic with Feyenoord, we don’t expect to see Slot line Liverpool up with an inverted full-back, as Trent had been playing under Jurgen Klopp.
As a result, it’s either back to being a more conventional right-back, or a permanent move into midfield.
On this basis, Slot will no doubt have concluded that Alexander-Arnold certainly can play a more advanced role if needed.
Should the No.66 continue in that position over the summer – as seems likely – perhaps the new boss will have all the evidence he needs. It could well be a tipping point.