A compilation of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance for England against Australia has gone viral.
Ollie Watkins netted from close range as a much-changed England side laboured to a 1-0 victory over Australia.
Watkins, who was given the nod up front ahead of Eddie Nketiah, hit the post in the first half but came up with a vital touch to tap in Jack Grealish’s cross on 57 minutes.
It was the Aston Villa star’s first appearance since scoring against Ivory Coast in March 2022.
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Elsewhere, Brighton and Crystal Palace stars Lewis Dunk and Sam Johnstone also impressed respectively while Alexander-Arnold’s performance caught the eye.
Alexander-Arnold technically operated at right back, but from the very first whistle it was obvious that he was stepping into midfield in the hybrid role he has performed for his club this season.
A compilation, which you can check out below, has gone viral of the right-back’s performance.
The Liverpool star’s ability and confidence on the ball gave Gareth Southgate something to think about ahead of next summer’s European Championships. While England failed to click into fifth gear, Alexander-Arnold was always looking to get on the ball and dictate play.
Moreover, it was the right-back’s switch which allowed the space for Jack Grealish to set up Watkins’ goal.
That was Alexander-Arnold’s last involvement at right-back, before shifting into the middle permanently for the final half hour of the tepid encounter.
After the game, England boss Gareth Southgate told Channel 4: "We made a lot of changes, that made it really difficult for the players. It is tough playing international football when you haven't got a lot of caps behind you. We were not cohesive, so I gave them a really tough challenge. Australia were good, they were athletic and well organised. I am pleased for the win after putting them in the position.
"We have given two debuts, very pleased with Ollie Watkins. There were some positives, we know we can play better but it was tough for the players. We saw a lot of things we knew. You need to give players the opportunity on this stage.
"We were too narrow as a back three when we were building. The most joy we had was getting the ball to the feet of our wingers and get in from there.
"In some positions, we have huge depth and in others, we haven't. We have to constantly keep looking. We have an under-21 team who are playing very well. We need that competition for places and of course, there are some senior players who are injured."
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Topics: Football, Trent Alexander-Arnold, England, Liverpool, Australia
Chris Byfield