Rio Ferdinand pinpoints what Trent Alexander-Arnold needs to play in midfield

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been one of Liverpool’s best players ever since he made his debut in 2016. Known for his great passing and creativity from the right-back position, he has established himself as one of the best fullbacks in the world. 

However, as football develops, so do the roles of players, and there has been increasing talk about whether Alexander-Arnold should switch from his traditional role at right back to a central midfield position.

Liverpool fans will be worried due to the 1-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest. It was their first home defeat to the club since 1969. They will nonetheless stick to their beloved team and support them by purchasing Liverpool tickets from an online resale store. 

Among those sharing their thoughts on this debate is Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand. The 45-year-old football legend, who knows a thing or two about playing at the top level, has pinpointed two critical areas where Alexander-Arnold needs to improve if he is to make a successful transition to midfield. 

Ferdinand believes that, while the move can be possible, it will require careful adjustments from both the player and his team to get it right.

Trent as a playmaker from Right Back & how he can play in the middle 

At just 25 years old, the Liverpool star has already made 313 appearances for the club, primarily playing as a right-back. But unlike most right-backs, Alexander-Arnold has a unique ability to control the tempo of games, deliver pinpoint crosses, and create scoring chances from deep positions.

With 81 assists to his name, Trent isn’t just a defender he is also a playmaker. His vision, passing range, and ability to pick out teammates from long distances have got many thinking that he could thrive in a midfield role, where he could have more opportunities to impact the game. Both former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and former England manager Gareth Southgate have occasionally experimented with playing him in central positions.

While many people are excited about the prospect of Alexander-Arnold playing in midfield, Rio Ferdinand has pointed out that this change isn’t as simple as it seems. Speaking on his podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents, alongside Jody Morris and Joel Beya, Ferdinand emphasized that for Alexander-Arnold to truly succeed in midfield, Liverpool needs to make some important changes to their system.

According to Ferdinand, one of the biggest things that would determine Alexander-Arnold’s success in midfield is having players around him who are willing to make runs behind the defence. As a midfielder, Alexander-Arnold would need his teammates to constantly move into space and make themselves available for his passes.

Ferdinand explained: “It’s pointless having him move into midfield if no runners or good movement are penetrating the opposition’s back lines because he is the one that can play those balls.”

The second issue Ferdinand brought up is Alexander-Arnold’s body positioning when receiving the ball in midfield. Playing as a midfielder is very much different from playing as a right-back. In defence, Alexander-Arnold usually has the field in front of him and can see everything that is happening. However, in midfield, things move a lot faster, and players often receive the ball with their backs to the opposition goal.

Ferdinand further explained: “Coach him or sort the system out so that he does not receive the ball with his back to play. That is the biggest problem in his game at that position. If he goes into the ball with his back to play… that’s alien to me.”

The transition from full-back to midfield is not as simple as it seems

Moving a player from defence to midfield is not just a simple change, it requires a complete shift in the way they think and play. Right-backs typically have more time on the ball and can operate in space, while midfielders are constantly surrounded by opponents and need to be faster with their decision-making.

For Alexander-Arnold, who has spent most of his career playing as a right back, transitioning to midfield would require him to develop new skills and habits. For example, in midfield, he would need to improve his awareness of players around him, make faster decisions, and adjust to receiving the ball in more crowded areas of the pitch, and he would have to be more disciplined with the ball.

On top of that, Liverpool would also need to adjust their tactics. As Ferdinand pointed out, it is not just about where Alexander-Arnold plays, but also how the rest of the team moves around him. With the right movement and tactical adjustment, Liverpool should be able to take full advantage of his passing abilities in a central role.

Alexander-Arnold has already had some experience playing in midfield, both for Liverpool and England. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp occasionally shifted him into more central positions to give the team more creativity in attack. Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate also experimented with Alexander-Arnold in midfield during his time as England manager, especially in games where England dominated possession.

These experiments have shown glimpses of what Alexander-Arnold could bring to the midfield, his passing from central positions has opened up defences on more than one occasion. However, the challenges Ferdinand mentioned such as the need for runners and adjusting to receiving the ball in tight spaces are real problems for many teams. How Arne Slot and Lee Carsley will use this to the advantage of their sides, remains to be seen.

Conclusion 

At just 25, he has plenty of time to adapt and improve in a new position, and his versatility could make him even more valuable to Liverpool and England.

Whether or not new Liverpool manager Arne Slot or England’s current interim boss, Lee Carsley, decides to give him more time in midfield remains to be seen. But with voices like Rio Ferdinand providing insight into what it will take for Alexander-Arnold to succeed in this role, there is certainly a way to make it work.

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