Liverpool fans are furious at what Gareth Southgate has done to Trent Alexander-Arnold. He’s going to regret it! 👀
England’s hopes for an early qualification into the knockout stages were dashed after a lackluster 1-1 draw, marked by Gareth Southgate’s decision to substitute his most creative player shortly after the start of the second half.
Despite Harry Kane’s initial goal, the Three Lions were unable to secure a win as Morten Hjulmand’s impressive long-range strike leveled the score. Southgate’s unchanged lineup from the previous win against Serbia included Trent Alexander-Arnold in the midfield alongside Declan Rice.
Throughout the game, England struggled with balance, particularly in the midfield, where Christian Eriksen’s dominance was evident. The experiment of placing Alexander-Arnold in midfield did not yield the desired results, and he was replaced by Conor Gallagher eight minutes into the second half.
Despite a generally poor showing, Alexander-Arnold stood out as England’s most statistically creative player. However, given his early substitution in consecutive matches, it seems unlikely Southgate will continue pairing him with Rice in the midfield.
Southgate acknowledged the experimental nature of Alexander-Arnold’s midfield role, expressing concerns about trying new tactics during a major tournament. He admitted to the BBC that the team is yet to find a suitable replacement for Kalvin Phillips and is still searching for the right formula.
England’s final group stage match against Slovenia on Tuesday will be crucial, requiring a significantly improved performance to build momentum for the knockout rounds.
