Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to play in midfield alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice when England takes on Serbia in their opening Euro 2024 match on Sunday.
It will be a tough decision for Gareth Southgate to decide who should start in third place in central midfield before his team travels to Gelsenkirchen for their Group C opening due to a number of fitness issues. After dropping Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips from their roster, England lacks experience, so whomever is selected to start alongside Bellingham and Rice will have a lot to prove.
Despite being given the No. 8 shirt for the competition, Alexander-Arnold has not yet cemented himself into England’s starting lineup. However, Southgate is eager to make use of the vice captain of Liverpool’s passing range and is really considering starting the Euros with him in the lineup.
Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace, Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United, and Conor Gallagher of Chelsea are England’s other alternatives. Southgate is enthusiastic about the youthful potential of Mainoo and Wharton, who made his debut as a substitute in last week’s friendly victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Gallagher’s enthusiasm is sure to come in handy at some point.
Following his start against Bosnia in center midfield, Alexander-Arnold also made an impression. After switching to right-back in the second half, he scored a fantastic goal, and there’s a decent chance he’ll finally make an impression at a major event.
The 25-year-old missed Euro 2020 due to an injury he sustained during a warm-up match and played a little part in the World Cups in 2018 and 2022. Due to concerns about his defensive instincts, Southgate has been hesitant to choose him above Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker for the right back position.
Alexander-Arnold was initially trialed by Southgate in midfield after England’s September 2021 World Cup qualification victory against Andorra. Alexander-Arnold eventually started playing as a hybrid full-back for Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp. Shifting Alexander-Arnold into midfield highlighted the quality of his passing.
Following their Monday flight to Germany, England, who will also play against Denmark and Slovenia in the group stage, is wrapping up their tournament preparations. They have not had an easy build-up, and last Friday’s loss to Iceland served as a wake-up call.
Southgate is concerned about a number of important players, having to omit the injured Harry Maguire. Luke Shaw is expecting to return from his hamstring injury for England’s match against Denmark. Following his right ankle injury against Iceland, England is optimistic that John Stones will be ready to play against Serbia. Following their injury recoveries, Harry Kane, Marc Guéhi, Bukayo Saka, and Kieran Trippier have been gradually returning to full match fitness.
