Arne Slot told how to use Trent Alexander-Arnold effectively at Liverpool by Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker has made a bold suggestion for Liverpool’s incoming manager Arne Slot, advising that Trent Alexander-Arnold should be shifted into a midfield role permanently. The former England striker believes the time is ripe for the 25-year-old, who has been pivotal in redefining the full-back position alongside Andy Robertson, to transition into the heart of the action.

The Match of the Day presenter shared his insights while discussing his Premier League team of the year with Alan Shearer on The Rest Is Football podcast. Lineker highlighted Alexander-Arnold’s versatility and his occasional midfield appearances for both club and country, including being listed as a midfielder in England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad.

“He’s still playing right-back for Liverpool isn’t and he occasionally played him in midfield but he’s kind of the inverted full-back, he goes and does what he wants,” Lineker remarked. “I hope the new manager when he comes in plays Trent in midfield at Liverpool, I think that’s his position I really do, lovely to see him play there regularly.”

Alexander-Arnold’s shift into midfield this season was prompted by former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders’ belief that the Englishman could help fill the void left by Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian’s knack for dropping into midfield and winning the ball needed to be mirrored.

“My idea constantly was: the best number six I had in the U16s was Trent Alexander-Arnold,” Lijnders revealed to The Redmen TV. “It’s not to only have extra players inside, to have four here (in the midfield), to have the same as what Bobby Firmino did.”

Lijnders, who is set to take over at Red Bull Salzburg next season, was so convinced it would work, he even offered Klopp his entire salary to position Alexander-Arnold in midfield.

“But it’s also to have Trent in a position where the ball can fly from left to right,” the 41 year old explained. What I said constantly to Jurgen was: ‘We have to do it. But Pep, blah blah blah’ [Klopp complained]. We have to do it.

“Until I was so sick of it that I went to Jurgen in this office and said, ‘Jurgen, next year you can f****** have all my f****** salary. If we don’t do it in the next game, it’s done for me. I can’t. We need the extra player, we need Trent there. I tell you it will work, it will work.'”

Alexander-Arnold’s season was disrupted by injuries and the English star only managed to register four Premier League assists – well below his usual standards. But Slot will be hoping he’ll be back to his best for his first season in charge of the Reds.