Arne Slot stored his playing cards near his chest when discussing the positional position that Trent Alexander-Arnold would possibly play at Liverpool over the approaching season.
The previous month has been dominated by dialogue as to the place the 25-year-old is only on the pitch, having began England’s first two video games of Euro 2024 in midfield earlier than being dropped for the next two matches.
The Reds’ new head coach spoke to the media for the primary time on Friday morning and he was requested about how he intends to make use of the vice-captain on the sector.
Slot replied (through Liverpool Echo): “I don’t choose gamers by their greatest positions with their worldwide groups as it’s totally different to right here. Completely different gamers, totally different roles. I do have my opinion about the place they will play [for LFC], however I’ll speak to them first earlier than saying it right here!”
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Trent made his identify as a right-back, turning into the most effective exponents of that place in world soccer, though Jurgen Klopp uncorked a bottle of debate and debate by utilizing Liverpool’s quantity 66 in a hybrid full-back/defensive midfield position.
A sure pocket of pundits proceed to push the mindset that the 25-year-old is defensively suspect, which maybe led Gareth Southgate to play him in the course of the park relatively than on the again for England.
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There’s an argument to be made that the West Derby native should be given licence to exhibit his game-changing qualities on the ball and exert his artistic affect on the workforce, however the query stays unanswered about how greatest to grant him that scope throughout the general 11-player unit.
There are robust rumours that Trent will play with no consideration wing-back for his nation in opposition to Switzerland on Saturday as a part of a swap to a three-man defence. If that involves fruition, Slot would get an early look at how Liverpool’s vice-captain performs in that position.
The brand new head coach talked about to the press right now that he doesn’t need his facet to be pigeon-holed right into a set formation, as a substitute stressing the significance of permitting gamers the ‘freedom to take totally different positions’ on the pitch.
That implies we might see the quantity 66 pop up just about wherever on the sector, however we belief within the boss to get the steadiness proper and extract one of the best out of one of many world’s most naturally gifted footballers.
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