Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp once slammed ex-England manager Gareth Southgate's use of Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, saying the "best right-back in the world" should stick to his position
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09:52, 26 May 2025
Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised to join Real Madrid soon(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images/Getty Images For The Premier League)
Jurgen Klopp previously made it clear he opposed the use of Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, stating that the "best right-back in the world" should play where he is best suited. This rant, surrounding the player's role with England, from the former Liverpool manager may give Alexander-Arnold's expected new club, Real Madrid, some food for thought as he looks set to join up with the Spanish giants this summer.
The 26-year-old announced earlier this month that he would be leaving the club he has spent his entire 20-year career at in favour of a widely-reported move to Los Blancos.
Speculation gathered speed over this season surrounding Alexander-Arnold's future as his contract ran down, while fellow team-mates Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk sealing extensions to their deals in recent weeks.
The right-back decided against continuing his career with his boyhood club, and will depart from Anfield to begin a new journey. Now, new Madrid boss Xabi Alonso may have a dilemma on his hands, as Alexander-Arnold has plenty of scope as to where he could play on the pitch.
The 2024/25 Premier League champion has spent the majority of his career at right-back, scoring 23 goals and assisting 92 times from this position with Liverpool. However, Alexander-Arnold's stint in the midfield under ex-England boss Southgate did reap some rewards.
Alexander-Arnold scored two goals and assisted four times across various games in midfield, including against San Marino, Malta, North Macedonia and Bosnia. But one person wasn't in agreement with how he was being utilised, as former Liverpool manager Klopp made his feelings clear following an international break in 2021, where he slammed the decision to play Alexander-Arnold out of position.
Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has spent his entire 20-year career with Liverpool, but he will leave this summer
At the time, the German ranted: "In this game, in a game where England are that dominant for example, or that we are that dominant that Trent could play in midfield, I would rather he was the six than in this case the eight.
"That is possible but why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I don't understand that really. As if the right-back position is not as important as the others. People who say that I struggle to understand how you could think that.
"If you watch our games then you will see that Trent's position has already changed. Not in all the games but in games where it is possible, so there is no need to now make him a midfield player.
"It is a little bit a shame that we talk in 2021 like this about football. Players play everywhere, especially good players."
Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp was once critical of Alexander-Arnold's positional change at international level
Klopp hailed the right-back's influence on the game from his original position, and stated he would use Alexander-Arnold in the "right position" wherever he can during his time at Anfield.
He added: "Trent on the right wing was already everywhere on the pitch. Some people think that because he plays 10 yards further up the pitch he would be more influential.
"Being more influential than Trent Alexander-Arnold in the last, I don't know, how many years he has played for me is really tricky.
"It would mean I would have to have a proper look to find somebody. He plays the right position, we adapt and try and use his skills absolutely, but in the end the right-back is the one who defends the right side and he is doing that really well. All the rest when we have the ball, we use him as good as we can."
Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The highly-talented right-back has also played further up and more central on the pitch
Alexander-Arnold's successes across the pitch give new boss Alonso some big things to think about, as he is reportedly planning to join Madrid in time to figure at the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off in June.
Many would assume that the star will compete with Dani Carvajal at right-back, but the choice of a wing-back role in the squad may be on the table too.
Alonso tended to favour a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 structure at his old club, Bayer Leverkusen, so Alexander-Arnold may well be suited to a more advanced role in Madrid.
Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool as a Premier League champion
As well as this, the 26-year-old's time as a central midfielder with England resulted in goals and assists, so this may well be an option considered by his new club.
While the move to Madrid is yet to be confirmed by either Alexander-Arnold or the club, the Premier League champion leaves Anfield with a lot of success - and silverware - under his arm.
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