Alexander-Arnold unsure over future position: "It's not my decision"

Having been used in a variety of positions for club and country this season alone, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted that he doesn't know which position he sees himself playing in the future.

In keeping with his recent cameos for the Three Lions, and having been listed as a midfielder in Gareth Southgate's squad announcement for this round of international fixtures, Alexander-Arnold was expected to continue as an 'eight' against Australia at Wembley on Friday night. However, the 25-year-old was in fact employed as an inverted full-back - a position he has been playing all season so far for the Reds.

Friday's friendly was seized by Southgate as an opportunity to experiment with a new shape. The rest of the defensive unit on the day was made up of AC Milan's Fikayo Tomori, Brighton's Lewis Dunk and Chelsea's Levi Colwill.

Meanwhile, ex-Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson was chosen to captain the team and was booed by the home fans following his controversial move to Saudi Arabia.

However, despite Southgate and Jürgen Klopp seeming to now be on the same page - for one game at least - the man himself remains unsure about his future position.

"The most exciting time"

Having been overlooked on multiple occasions by Southgate, Alexander-Arnold told Channel Four: "This is the most exciting time for me at England."

"People are seeing potentially I'm more effective in the middle of the pitch. That's maybe the route going forward. But who knows? It's not my decision. I can only get played in the position I'm told to."

That position will be dictated by the shape played by Liverpool and England, respectively, but the Scouser believes that the set-ups aren't as different as they may appear: "For Liverpool, as a full-back I have the freedom to get into central areas and to create from the right-half space and get down the touchline and put crosses in, create chances and get assists."

He explained that "the set-up at England is different for what the manager wants from full-backs. Although technically it's two different positions on the pitch, I think both systems allow me to get in the same positions".

"Having a licence to get the ball, dictate the game, control the tempo is the most important thing for a player like me. That's something that really excites me and I feel will get the best out of me in the [national team] set-up."

A unique talent

The reason the conversation over Alexander-Arnold's best position continually resurfaces is because of his unique talent. And the player himself agrees: "I'm not being big-headed, but it's hard to find people who play the game the way I play it."

"I've always felt I've been different from everyone else. I play the game a little bit differently; there's not many that have the same skill set as me as a player."

"I don't actually know what my best position is," he admitted.