Trent Alexander-Arnold discusses the 'path' he is on over future position

Trent Alexander-Arnold has admitted he is on 'the path' to becoming a midfielder and that he enjoys taking a central role in games.

The 25-year-old has largely performed a hybrid inverted full back role for Liverpool since the spring – operating in the midfield when in possession.

It's a tactic that has enjoyed a lot of success for the Reds, with the role switch coinciding with a sharp upturn in the Reds' form after a poor start to the 2022/23 season.

However, there is still much debate around Alexander-Arnold – who has four goal contributions in his last five outings – and his best position in the long term.

England manager Gareth Southgate has utilised the Liverpool star in midfield in recent outings, with many advocating for a permanent position change for club and country, in order to get the best out of his creative talents.

While Jurgen Klopp has been more reluctant to use Alexander-Arnold in a pure midfield role, he did notably move his number 66 into a central three for the dramatic second-half comeback in the 4-3 win over Fulham – during which he scored the late winner.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Alexander-Arnold hinted that the plan is for him to ultimately transition into becoming a midfielder positionally.

"I think that's probably the path and the route that I'm on," he said if he sees himself playing in the middle of the pitch more often.

"Ultimately, not my decision, but I enjoy playing in the middle of the pitch and just want to help the team win games, to be honest.”

The response tallies with what Alexander-Arnold said during the October international break when asked a similar question over his future.

"With the conversations I've had, particularly with the manager here [at England], playing centrally in the middle of the pitch is something we want to look at going forward," he said.

"That's something that really excites me and I feel will get the best out of me in the [England] set-up. This is the most exciting time for me at England."

With fixtures – and injuries – mounting during the festive season, Alexander-Arnold may yet get more chances to play in midfield soon.

Asked about the Reds' strong start to 2023/24 and a potential title challenge, he said: "I mean, so far so good. We’re in a decent, decent position right now, but it's still early days.

"It's a busy time of the season. We need to keep winning games, keep the momentum up, but it's one that we're excited about."