Gareth Southgate ‘set to AXE Trent Alexander-Arnold and replace him with Conor Gallagher’ for England’s final Euros group game against Slovenia tomorrow – after midfield ‘experiment’ misfired
- Trent Alexander-Arnold started both of England’s first two group games
- But Conor Gallagher is expected to perform alongside Declan Rice in Cologne
- Listen to It all starts! Are Harry Kane and Declan Rice right to undermine Gary Lineker’s criticism?
Gareth Southgate will end his muddled experiment in England’s midfield by dropping Trent Alexander-Arnold and starting Conor Gallagher in the final group match of Euro 2024 against Slovenia, reports suggest.
A natural right-back for Liverpool at club level, Alexander-Arnold was named in Southgate’s starting XI for the win over Serbia and the draw against Denmark, but he is now expected to leave the midfield and Gallagher will take his place.
Chelsea’s Gallagher had replaced Alexander-Arnold for both of the Three Lions’ opening group games The Athletics claiming he will get the nod for tomorrow’s match.
Southgate and assistant manager Steve Holland are said to have worked with Alexander-Arnold for a number of months to prepare him for his unfamiliar role, but his performances alongside Declan Rice divided opinion among supporters and pundits.
England lead Group C by four points and will aim to finish top in Cologne.
Conor Gallagher will start in midfield for England in their final group match at the 2024 European Championship
Trent Alexander-Arnold started the first two games but will be dropped against Slovenia
Southgate openly admitted that playing Alexander-Arnold further forward was an ‘experiment’
Southgate had openly targeted the lack of balance in his squad after the lackluster stalemate with Denmark and lamented the lack of a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips – a comment Gary Lineker said was ‘insulting’ to his players.
Southgate, who withdrew the full back after 54 minutes on Thursday, pushed Alexander-Arnold into new territory and said the tactical gamble was an ‘experiment’.
“I wanted to get Conor going; we needed some energy and more pressure,” Southgate admitted after the match. “He (Alexander-Arnold) has had moments where he has delivered what we thought he would do. We know it’s an experiment.
‘We know that we have no natural replacement for Kalvin Philips. We’re trying different things and right now we’re not flowing the way we want to.”
But Rice insisted ahead of the match against Slovenia that Alexander-Arnold has the necessary tools to play in midfield and beat the 25-year-old’s doubters.
Alexander-Arnold is a natural right-back for Liverpool and opinions are divided in midfield
Alexander-Arnold (left) was replaced by Gallagher (right) in Serbia’s win and Denmark’s draw
“It’s funny because people were calling for Trent to play in midfield,” Rice said ITV. ‘Half the country is calling for Trent to play in midfield, and then you play him in midfield, and then you want to bring him down.
‘I don’t get it, I don’t get it at all. I will defend all my boys until the day I never put on an England shirt again. Trent is one of the best players I have ever seen.
‘Don’t call on someone to play in a certain position and then back off because you think he’s had a bad game or something like that.
‘I’ll tell you now: Trent can play in midfield. I’ve seen it with England, I’ve seen it with Liverpool, he’s incredible. That’s what I say to people who say things like that.’
The inclusion of Gallagher will likely be the only change to the England squad, despite Kieran Trippier taking the left-back position in Germany and picking up a calf injury.
In a major boost, Luke Shaw was seen training with the rest of Southgate’s squad on Monday after missing the first two games.