You’re giving him real confidence and you’re investing in him something very specific where he will have a different feel about it,” Southgate says. “I’m sure he will probably have enjoyed this England game more than any other. I’ve always said he’s a talent we’re trying to find a way with. It was only Malta. It is a constitutional requirement to say so. But it was easy to become lost in how it all went for Alexander-Arnold in the role of right-sided No 8, overtaken by the idea of him there, Declan Rice holding and Jude Bellingham to the left: the dream 4-3-3 midfield with a bit of everything, plenty of everything. The feeling only intensifies when Alexander-Arnold offers his thoughts. Southgate talks about how the transition into the role was easier than against Andorra because of how Alexander-Arnold has been “playing in those areas for his club”. He talks in detail about what he did well and what he needs to learn; the new reference points. But above all, he just talks about him as a midfielder. It is as if he truly sees him as such. The England manager Gareth Southgate talks to Trent Alexander-Arnold at Carrington training ground the day after England’s 4-0 win over Malta. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/The FA/Getty

It is certainly an avenue [into the team], one that is clearly being explored. It’s something the manager wants to explore and I want to explore. It is one that is exciting. I want to make sure I am playing as many England games as possible. That has always been the aim.” Jürgen Klopp has done everything at Liverpool to create the platform for Alexander-Arnold, also playing him up and across more this past season – fast, elite-level centre-halves, a hard-running midfield. But the fit, and this is the best way to put it, has not been there with England. I enjoyed it. For a new position and new role in a system I’ve not played in before, there were good signs, good moments and stuff I can learn from. I am sure I will. Especially in the first half I found myself in positions where I was able to impact the game and bring the quality I do. There is definitely potential there,” he says. “It is just about putting questions into the manager’s mind – knowing that I can play in there and bring qualities to the game that other players can’t. Hopefully causing headaches [for Southgate] is what I need to be doing. Definitely, I’ve always felt it,” Southgate says. “I had a chat with him four weeks ago about it and he was excited. We talked real detailed specifics. He was curious and he asks intelligent questions. We know he has played a bit deeper for Liverpool but we wanted to get him in those higher areas for the reasons that we saw.

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There are two bits he’s having to learn. One is receiving in those tight areas, which he did really well – it’s very different to receiving with the touchline at your side and most of the play in front of you. And then the out-of-possession is different. He’s used to going forward to press so that bit’s fine. But the angles and the covering for second balls and those things which you still have to do – they’re the bits we just don’t know yet.”

I know the qualities that I’ve got and the things I need to work on. Whatever position I play in, that will always be there. I am someone who is a perfectionist, who wants to be as close to perfect as possible.” iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, 2017 iPad, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 4, 9.7" iPad Pro: 2048x1536, 1536x2048 MacBook Pro 13.3" Retina, MacBook Air 13" Retina, MacBook Air 13.3"(2020, M1): 2560x1600 Dual monitor: Trent Alexander-Arnold impressed Gareth Southgate with his vision and precision of passing against Malta. Photograph: Matthew Mirabelli/AFP/Getty Images

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