It appears almost certain that Trent Alexander-Arnold will be used as a midfielder at Euro 2024.
England have released their official squad numbers for the tournament and it has given a huge hint of the role he’ll be given by Gareth Southgate.
The Liverpool right-back has been given the No.8 jersey – traditionally given to a central midfielder.
Reds fans have seen Alexander-Arnold step up from right-back to midfield on a few occasions before, but he really showed his potential in England’s 3-0 warm-up win over Bosnia, where he scored a goal and was named Man of the Match – wearing the No.8.
There are suggestions he could make the move permanently in the Liverpool team under new manager Arne Slot next season, and it appears he’ll get his first real taste of a full-time position change at the Euros this summer.
England released the final squad numbers of Saturday morning, and news of Alexander-Arnold being handed the No.8 has caused quite a stir.
It’s the number legendary midfielders Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard proudly wore for the Three Lions and, like that duo, talkSPORT columnist Henry Winter believes Alexander-Arnold will be key for England’s attack at Euro 2024.
Former England star and midfielder maestro Glenn Hoddle also rated the Liverpool man alongside Kevin De Bruyne and expects him to make a major impact at the tournament – which England will kick off against Serbia on June 16.
And it looks like they’ll need it, after losing 1-0 to Iceland in their final warm-up match with a dismal performance which ended to the sound of boos from the Wembley crowd.
“Trent and [Kevin] De Bruyne are probably the best passers in the division, in the Premier League,” Hoddle told talkSPORT Drive this week.
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“He hits balls, he hits world-class balls that nobody else can pass, half of them, half the people can’t even see those passes let alone perform them and pass them.
“So to have such a talent like that and not use him… don’t forget, this Euros will be won by a team that’s got the deepest and the best squad. Not necessarily the team that starts, and I think Trent’s going to have a massive say in it, I really do.
“Because of his passing, because of the defensive side that we’ve got and the movement that we’ve got, the cleverness that we’ve got going forward, I think he’s looked at him in that central midfield.”
talkSPORT’s England correspondent Faye Carruthers was on air to react to the squad numbers and, while admitting they don’t necessarily confirm Southgate’s starting XI, she believes it’s a huge hint.
“Trent as No.8 is the key one,” she said. “We were all unsure about what Southgate might potentially do – and this might change, the numbers aren’t necessarily the indication that this is the starting XI – but it gives you a hint perhaps about what he’s thinking, playing him in midfield.
“No.3 is Shaw’s number but it goes to show his role in this squad. He might not be fit now, but Gareth Southgate said to me the other day that he thought Shaw would be available for the second group game against Denmark.
“Marc Guehi is No.6, which you’d expect is him getting the nod to replace Harry Maguire and start at centre-back alongside John Stones.”
Predicted England starting XI at Euro 2024 based on squad numbers:
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