Alexander-Arnold had to switch to left-back on Sunday night after appearing to have finally found his natural position at right-back for his nation.
The Liverpool playmaker would not be playing in an established role, as interim head coach Lee Carsley made clear before kickoff that he was short on specialized options on the left wing.
Rather, Alexander-Arnold frequently found himself inverting into midfield, where his ability to slip inside onto his right foot allowed him to influence play.Midway through the second half, Jude Bellingham was brought down outside the box, and he stepped up to curve a superb free-kick into the top corner with his right foot, making the difference.
Alexander-Arnold scored his fourth goal for England, capping a fantastic performance on a night that also featured goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.
According to FotMob, Alexander-Arnold had 130 touches of the ball more than any other player. The 26-year-old also completed the third-most passes (95 of 110) and the second-most long passes (six of 10).
Not surprisingly, given his reputation, he was chosen Man of the Match—something that happens every time he pulls on an England shirt.”I believe Trent’s caliber speaks for itself,” Carsley said to ITV following the match.
He has more than earned his spot, therefore I don’t see me finding one for him.
We often struggle with left- and right-back placement, but as long as they are in productive roles, they are a valuable asset.
“It’s critical that we have players of that caliber who play to their strengths, and Trent is one player who does just that.”