Social media has been used by Liverpool supporters to express their displeasure with Gareth Southgate’s decision to bench Trent Alexander-Arnold for England’s match against Slovakia.

Alexander-Arnold began the Three Lions’ first two group stage matches against Denmark and Serbia, but in the latter’s second half, he was hooked, ending the experiment of starting the Liverpool star in midfield. In the last group match against Slovenia, Conor Gallagher was starting in his place, but Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United took his position.

In England’s match against Slovenia, Alexander-Arnold entered the game off the bench and took Kieran Trippier’s spot at left back. Kyle Walker was moved to the other wing to make room for the Liverpool defender. Mainoo and Declan Rice will start in midfield for England against Slovakia in the round of 16, with Kyle Walker starting at right back instead of Alexander-Arnold.Though Alexander-Arnold is undoubtedly England’s most talented player when it comes to ball handling, Liverpool supporters on social media are not pleased with Southgate’s decision to start him off the field. A fan expressed their dissatisfaction on social media by writing on X, saying, “No start for Trent Alexander-Arnold, simply not good enough!”

“It’s unbelievable that Gareth Southgate has dropped Trent Alexander-Arnold once more,” another person commented. A third person said, “Southgate seems to have pretty much no idea, of how to get the best out of Trent Alexander Arnold, one of the top players in Europe right now.”

 

“How Trent Alexander Arnold isn’t in this starting 11 is astonishing,” remarked a fourth person. Southgate had always intended to play Walker at right-back ahead of Alexander-Arnold, whom he hoped to force into midfield, coming into the tournament in Germany.

But during EURO 2024, it has been abundantly evident that Alexander-Arnold is not a midfield player. Alexander-Arnold can move into pockets of the infield during games when he starts at right-back, which gives him more influence.

England have a really talented player in Alexander-Arnоld, but Sоuthgate hasn’t wоrked оut hоw tо make the mоst оf him. Additiоnally, the Three Liоns appear tо be a wasteful оffensive team, sо this cоuld be a cоstly issue fоr them.