Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England role has become crystal clear after the 1-0 win against Serbia.
Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate started the Anfield man in midfield alongside Declan Rice for the Euro 2024 opener.
The decision came following a lengthy debate over his best position on the pitch, with Gary Neville correctly predicting a start in midfield for Alexander-Arnold in the Group C clash.
The Liverpool right-back played a crucial role for the majority of the match before being substituted for Conor Gallagher with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Their fellow midfielder Jude Bellingham was the hero in Germany, with the Real Madrid ace heading in the only goal of the game in the 13th minute.
Cesc Fabregas shares Trent Alexander-Arnold verdict after England vs Serbia
But as is the nature of major international tournaments, discussions about the next game have already taken place.
And Alexander-Arnold has unsurprisingly been heavily mentioned in such talks, with former Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas now sharing his opinion on whether he would start the Liverpool star against Denmark and in big games.
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“I think so,” Fabregas said on BBC One. “They have to take that 30 or 35 minutes in the first half and build on that.
“I think they need to grow from that, they have too much talent to play defensive players. I like it that they have the bravery to go forward.”
Will the Liverpool right-back continue in midfield at Euro 2024?
Fabregas is undoubtedly of the very opposite opinion of his fellow former midfielder Roy Keane, who believes England simply cannot start Alexander-Arnold in his current role against the big teams.
But perhaps given the relatively kind nature of Group C, Southgate can continue with the Liverpool man in midfield, allowing him to build up confidence before England’s likely appearance in the knockout stages.
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The manager has taken plenty of criticism over the years for being too defensive, but playing Alexander-Arnold in midfield shows that a more attacking approach can be expected in Germany.
A 1-0 win over Serbia won’t have Three Lions fans too excited, but the team should grow as the tournament progresses.
Alexander-Arnold will certainly be hoping for progression, but at the same time the Anfield ace won’t want too much change in terms of the starting XI.
A midfield role may just be the best he can hope for given the competition at right-back, with both Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier in the squad.