Trent Alexander-Arnold could line up in England’s midfield against Serbia (Picture: Getty)
Roy Keane has warned England manager Gareth Southgate that Trent Alexander-Arnold will get ‘ripped to shreds’ and ‘found out’ if he plays in midfield against the ‘real top teams’ at Euro 2024.
Southgate has experimented with Alexander-Arnold in a midfield three heading into this summer’s tournament and the Liverpool right-back is expected to line up alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in England’s Group C opener versus Serbia this weekend.
While Alexander-Arnold’s quality on the ball is undoubted, the 25-year-old’s frailties out of possession have come under the microscope in recent seasons and partly explain why he has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot under Southgate.
But Alexander-Arnold will win his 26th cap for his country should he be given the nod in Gelsenkirchen and Keane believes the Liverpool academy graduate will be ‘fine’ against lesser opposition like Serbia.
However, the legendary ex-Manchester United captain feels Alexander-Arnold’s defensive vulnerabilities will be exposed should he play in midfield against the likes of France, Spain or tournament hosts Germany, who kick-started their tournament in style in Friday’s curtain-raiser.
‘It’s all about getting the balance right in your team,’ Keane said on ITV Sport while previewing England’s group-stage clash with Serbia.
‘They’ve got some brilliant individuals, we’ve mentioned that many times before. There are four or five players that would walk into any of the teams in this tournament but it’s getting that balance right.
The Liverpool star has been capped 25 times (Picture: Getty)
‘Talking about the defensive side of it, they have players who can go and win you football matches but it’s the problem with defending against the better teams.
‘I think they’ll be fine in the group, I think Trent will be fine with his positioning in those matches, but it’s against the real top teams that I think he will be found out, very much so.
‘In fact, I think he would be ripped to shreds if he plays against one of the better teams in central midfield. I don’t think he’d be up to it.’
Alexander-Arnold will get ‘found out’ in midfield against the ‘top teams’, says Keane (Picture: Getty)
In response to Keane’s concerns surrounding Alexander-Arnold, Gary Neville suggested Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher could have a key role to play in Germany over the coming weeks.
‘I think Gallagher would come in in certain games and, to be fair, this idea of Foden going out to the left wing… this is not Paul Scholes being shoved out on the left wing,’ the former United and England right-back said.
‘Foden has played there before and he’s used to that position. It’s not like it’s something that is really weird.’
Southgate’s men open their group-stage campaign against Serbia on Sunday (Picture: Getty)
Keane has not been alone in raising doubts about Alexander-Arnold suitability in the middle of the park, with ex-England captain Wayne Rooney voicing his concerns on an episode of The Overlap earlier this week.
‘I think he’ll [Southgate] go with Trent. I think he’s probably the most gifted player with the ball at his feet we’ve got. Defensively, he’s all over the place. He can’t defend,’ Rooney said.
‘I wouldn’t have him anywhere near the middle of the pitch. I’d have no problem with playing him here (at right-back).
‘I think in here (midfield), I wouldn’t have him anywhere near there. And I love Trent, actually. I think on the ball, the stuff he can do, no one else can do it.’
Rooney suggested Southgate is likely adjust his tactics on a game-by-game basis, as has been the case in previous tournaments.
‘If we go into the quarter-finals and we’re playing France, Trent is not playing in midfield,’ he added.
‘For me, I don’t think Gareth trusts him enough to play him in midfield. And he has his doubts, the same way I do, about playing midfield.
‘That’s when you’re going to see Conor Gallagher or Kobbie Mainoo in there. I don’t think he trusts Trent defensively, which I think he’s right to. In the games where you think you’re going to dominate possession, I think you probably will see him in there.’
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