Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a late equaliser for Liverpool at Manchester City on Saturday (Picture: Getty Images)
John Barnes believes Trent Alexander-Arnold is still most effective at right-back, despite his continued presence in midfield for Liverpool and England.
The 25-year-old has been playing a hybrid role for the Reds, lining up at right-back out of possession but moving into midfield when his team have the ball.
England boss Gareth Southgate has an embarrassment of riches at right-back and has been naming Alexander-Arnold in his squads as a midfielder instead.
The man himself has said that he believes he is best suited to play in the middle of the park, but Barnes is not convinced, believing the threat he provides from right-back is greater than from central midfield.
‘I still believe that Trent is more effective when he plays at right back,’ Barnes told mybettingsites.co.uk. ‘When you look at the crosses that he delivers and the goal threatening opportunities he creates from a right back position.
‘When he comes into midfield he does make a few good passes forward and great crosses in areas but I think Liverpool needed that extra quality last season.
‘This season when you look at the quality that we’ve brought in it’s not as necessary.
Alexander-Arnold wore the number 10 shirt for England in the recent international break (Picture: Getty Images)
‘The downside is unless you’re going to keep possession it’s difficult for Trent to get back into position. The centre back is then forced into the right back area and we can get caught short.
‘Arsenal do it with [Oleksandr] Zinchenko and City do it with [John] Stones and [Rico] Lewis because they don’t lose the ball. Liverpool are still tinkering with it.’
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Where is the England man’s best position?