According to former Ireland international Tony Cascarino, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold possesses qualities that are not far behind those of superstar Lionel Messi.
Alexander-Arnold is a defender, but manager Gareth Southgate experimented with him in midfield when England beat Malta 4-0 on June 16th. Cascarino believes Southgate should continue to field the Liverpool player in midfield in future matches, regardless of the strength of the opponent or the importance of the game.
Alexander-Arnold during England's 4-0 win over Malta at Ta' Qali Stadium on June 16, 2023. Photo: FA
"Because Alexander-Arnold has techniques that are not far behind Messi's," Cascarino said on talkSport . "At the 2022 World Cup, Messi was often just walking around, but when he received the ball he could make a difference. Alexander-Arnold also has the ability to create breakthroughs, but the question is whether he can improve even further."
Alexander-Arnold played as a right-sided midfielder in a 4-3-3 system, earning a 9-point rating from Whoscored , the highest in the win against Malta. He made his mark in the opening goal with a through pass, then scored with a long-range shot to make it 2-0. "Alexander-Arnold can really play as a number 10," Cascarino added. "Every World Cup champion has a talented number 10, and Alexander-Arnold has that potential. Give him a chance to show it at Euro 2024."
Cascarino played for several clubs in the English Premier League and made 88 appearances for the Ireland national team. He believes Alexander-Arnold had already shown his potential when he won the Champions League with Liverpool at the age of 21. "Before that, he also had some particularly impressive moments," he added.
The former player believes Southgate should use a three-man midfield setup: Declan Rice as a defensive midfielder, Jude Bellingham on the left, and Alexander-Arnold on the right. Rice would provide cover while the two players further up the pitch support the attack.
Key events of the Malta 0-4 England match.
England are leading Group C of the Euro 2024 qualifiers with three wins out of three matches. Malta are at the bottom of the table with three losses and are ranked 172nd in the FIFA rankings.
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