Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold has been the focus of much attention this week.
The Scouser is finally being given his run in the England team at Euro 2024, but not everyone is convinced.
While Alexander-Arnold has largely played a hybrid midfield and right-back role for Liverpool over the past 18 months, he is being utilised as an out-and-out midfielder by Gareth Southgate.
This has led to a backlash in some sections of the media. Following his display against Serbia on Sunday, for example, pundit Jamie O’Hara slammed Alexander-Arnold’s performance.
Thankfully though, Trent appears to have the support of his teammates. And according to Anthony Gordon, there’s one in particular who never leaves the Liverpool academy graduate’s side.
Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘always’ with Jude Bellingham
Now 25, Alexander-Arnold is one of the relatively senior players in Southgate’s England squad.
Only 10 of the 26-man group have played for England more than Liverpool’s No.66. As the vice-captain back at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold is growing in responsibility for club and country.
Nevertheless, with criticism often unjustly raining down on him, Trent is still young enough to need a helping hand.
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And speaking to TalkSPORT, Newcastle winger Gordon – who has himself been linked with Liverpool – said that Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has often been the man to provide it.
“They get on really well,” said Gordon when asked about Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham.
“They are always together at breakfast and lunches, you always see one with the other. It’s a good relationship and obviously it’s helping, as Trent has gone into midfield,” adds the former Everton man.
“It benefits Jude because they are friends and can help each other through it and Trent is new to the position so he is going to need Jude’s help sometimes, and having that friendship and relationship is going to help.”
Should Liverpool be worried about Trent and Jude?
In the past, Liverpool fans have celebrated the close relationship between Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham.
To some, it was a potential sign that Bellingham would be on his way to Anfield.
However, with the 20-year-old having since joined Real Madrid, there’s now no longer a prospect of that happening.
Instead, the shoe is now on the other foot. With his contract situation a bit of a mess, Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Given the closeness between the pair, there has to be a worry from Liverpool fans that Bellingham is attempting to persuade Trent to join him at the Santiago Bernabeu. Until the 25-year-old puts pen to paper on a new deal with the Reds, that anxiety will remain.
It’s great to see that one of the best players in the world recognises and celebrates Trent’s quality. But we’d be lying if we said this didn’t make us nervous.