Roy Keane delivers worrying assessment of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of England’s opening Euro 2024 game

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Roy Keane has expressed his concerns about Trent Alexander-Arnold, saying that the top teams in Euro 2024 may exploit the Liverpool man’s weakness

Roy Keane is working as a pundit on ITV's coverage of Euro 2024.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Roy Keane believes England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold will get "found out" at Euro 2024 when the side face the bigger teams in the competition.

The Liverpool star is all set for his fourth major international tournament in Three Lions’ colours despite being just 25 years old. 

He was listed in England’s squad as a midfielder even though he traditionally plays as a right-back for the Reds, just coming into the middle when his team are in possession.

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Alexander-Arnold was initially believed to be a central midfielder and was developed in the role in Liverpool’s academy, but his main position is as a full-back.

But England have the likes of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier in the squad as right-backs, so it’s thought that Alexander-Arnold could be deployed in midfield next to Declan Rice.

But former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland man Keane has voiced his concerns, stating that playing Alexander-Arnold in the centre of the park will only work in the group stages, but against better sides, he could get ‘ripped to shreds’.

Trent Alexander-Arnold of England in action during the Euro 2024 warm-up match against Iceland at Wembley in June 2024.

Trent Alexander-Arnold of England in action during the Euro 2024 warm-up match against Iceland at Wembley in June 2024. (Image credit: Alamy)

Keane told ITV Sport: “It’s all about getting the balance right in your team.

“They’ve got some brilliant individuals, we’ve mentioned that many times before. There are four or five players that would walk into any of the teams in this tournament but it’s getting that balance right.

“Talking about the defensive side of it, they have players who can go and win you football matches but it’s the problem with defending against the better teams.”

Roy Keane has been critical of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was listed as a midfielder for England's Euro 2024 squad.

Roy Keane has been critical of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was listed as a midfielder for England's Euro 2024 squad. (Image credit: PA Images)

Keane continued: “I think they’ll be fine in the group, I think Trent will be fine with his positioning in those matches, but it’s against the real top teams that I think he will be found out, very much so.

“In fact, I think he would be ripped to shreds if he plays against one of the better teams in central midfield. I don’t think he’d be up to it.”

More Euro 2024 stories 

We have a guide on how to get Euro 2024 tickets if you're still looking to go to the tournament. Can’t make it out there? Don’t worry: here’s how to watch Euro 2024 live streams from anywhere in the world

Plus: a more detailed look at what Scotland need to book passage to their first-ever knockout game

Jacque Talbot
Jacque Talbot

Jacque Talbot is a freelance football journalist who predominantly specialises in transfer stories and exclusives. He began his career in 2016 covering the world-renowned Sandbach United, of North West Counties fame, before earning a spot on the sports desks of national papers, where he bounced between several outlets such as Sportbible, the Express, Mirror, and Daily Star. An NCTJ graduate of the News Associates who swapped investigative journalism in the Costa del Sol for football reporting in Northern England, he first wrote for FourFourTwo in December 2023.