Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Andrea Pirlo: they are not names the average right-back cites as an influence. But then it has long been apparent that Trent Alexander-Arnold is not the average right-back. He is the playmaker, the revolutionary with the passing range of a quarterback, not a right-back. He still tends to start in a back four for Liverpool but he is now listed among the midfielders when England squads are named: if Alexander-Arnold long appeared the conundrum Gareth Southgate could not solve, now he has found what to do with a full-back who suffered from being the antithesis of Kyle Walker.
Jurgen Klopp was initially a sceptic when Southgate tried Alexander-Arnold in a central role against Andorra two years ago. “Why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I don’t understand that, really,” he said then. Yet he has facilitated Alexander-Arnold’s evolution. If it stems in part from a shift in Liverpool’s tactics, beginning with April’s draw against Arsenal, to enable them to build up with two men in front of the defence, his recent international appearances, apart from against Australia, have been as a bona fide midfielder. The 25-year-old feels he actually occupies similar parts of the pitch for club and country, just from different starting positions.
