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    Soccer News: Klopp “struggles to understand” Southgate’s decision to carry on Alexander-Arnold

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has expressed his confusion over England who fielded Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield against Andorra.

    Alexander-Arnold occupied a first-half midfield position for Gareth Southgate’s men in the 4-0 win before returning to his usual second-half full-back role.

    The right-back has created more chances than any other player in the Premier League this season (15), while no player has delivered more successful crosses (six) than the 22-year-old.

    As Liverpool look to extend their unbeaten streak to 14 games when they face Leeds United on Sunday – the second longest streak in England’s top four after Brentford – Klopp wondered if the change was necessary.

    “If you look at our games, Trent’s position has already changed when possible,” Klopp replied at Friday’s pre-match press conference.

    “[There is] there is no need to make him a midfielder now. Too bad that we talk about it in 2021, good players play everywhere, Trent plays right, everywhere.

    “Some people think he could be more influential in midfield. How is it possible to be more influential than Trent Alexander-Arnold? We use it in the best possible way.

    But why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I find it hard to understand how you can think that. “

    The Liverpool academy product admitted after the match that he found passing against Andorra difficult, recording a passing accuracy of 81%, which increased to 87.1 by the end of the second half in his usual position.

    He also produced a maximum of six crosses and two key passes – only improved by Jude Bellingham (three) – suggesting his performance wasn’t as bad as his self-reflection suggested.

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