Liverpool urged to not make Trent Alexander-Arnold change amid debate

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been one of the most talked about Liverpool players this week.

Ahead of his 100th appearance for the Reds against Aston Villa tomorrow, it's fair to say that the right-back has courted a lot of attention.

Former Liverpool player Jason McAteer has been latest to discuss the 21-year-old in depth on behalf of FredNathan, with whether the England international should switch to the midfield under debate.

It has been something touched on by pundits and fans, while Alexander-Arnold himself insists that he is open to ideas. McAteer, however, was quick to shut down the suggestion that the defender could be better suited in the midfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on October 27, 2019 (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"There are many commentators and ex-pros who believe Trent Alexander-Arnold has a future in midfield for both Liverpool and England and I don’t doubt that the youngster could star in the Anfield engine room," McAteer, who was speaking on behalf of FredNathan, explained.

"Yes, Trent could play in midfield – indeed he started off as a central midfielder when he came through the academy. But nowadays he is very much a wing-back and the system Liverpool employ is perfect for him. He’s got quality when he puts balls into the box and he can get back and defend when required to do so.

"When you are a midfielder you need awareness both sides, in front and behind. You need a range of different attributes to play in that position and I just think he’s set up to play on the right. There’s a danger you would get less of a player if you played him in midfield.

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"He’s in the most perfect role to learn his craft, playing with and against some of the world's finest players in the best competition and in an elite team. If you can’t improve in that setting you never will.

"He’s learning from all these experiences. In time he’ll add a bit more versatility – I think he could play on the left, for example, and the manager won’t be frightened of playing him in midfield if he needs to. But I would want to see him mature into the best full-back in the world and that’s surely going to happen.”