Is Trent Alexander-Arnold Starting Tonight for England vs Serbia in Euro 2024? 3 Reasons Why Gareth Southgate Should Include Him in His Starting XI

Nerves will be high in the English camp as the Three Lions prepare to take on Serbia in their opening Euros fixture. A lot of pressure will be on Gareth Southgate, with fans expecting the manager to turn England’s fortunes around. The Three Lions have just picked a single win in their last five games and have to give their best to get a result against Serbia. With a lot riding on the game, there has been a lot of discussion over England’s playing XI, mainly revolving around Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s place in the team.

The Liverpool star has made major changes to his game recently, with the player now operating in the midfield. This has caused a tactical dilemma for Gareth Southgate who has to think hard about his midfield picks. With Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice already being the certainties in the XI, it will be interesting to see Alexander-Arnold get the nod over Conor Gallagher.

Despite the recent criticism against his defensive work, Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the best players in the English camp, and leaving him out of the team would have been a massive injustice.

Why Gareth Southgate is banking on Trent Alexander-Arnold?

Surprisingly, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s place in the English team is up for debate. The Liverpool star would be a far-suited choice to play an inverted left-back over Kieran Tripper. While there’s no doubt over Tripper’s abilities, Alexander-Arnold provides more versatility to the team as he can push onto the midfield according to the team’s requirements. Also, with Jack Grealish not being a part of England’s squad, Gareth Southgate needs someone to dictate the pace of the game on the left flank.

If Southgate picks Tripper, it doesn’t mean Trent Alexander-Arnold can’t have a role in England’s midfield. The English head coach has supported Trent’s transformation into a midfield player, but he reckons the 25-year-old hasn’t done the role enough.

Southgate addressed the media ahead of the game against Serbia and stated, “Everybody’s more than entitled to opinions. I spoke to Trent about playing this role over a year ago. It’s not something he’s been doing for the last five years. There is an element of the unknown. But I think it’s an opportunity that’s worth grasping because he could be incredibly special.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold also provides a lot of depth to the team during set pieces with the player known for his free kick and corner-taking abilities. While Tripper and Foden could be good options to take the long-ranged shots, there’s none better than the Liverpool star in curling the corners into the box.

Do you think Trent Alexander-Arnold should start for the Three Lions against Serbia? Sound off in the comments below.