‘Babysitting' - Roy Keane sends Arne Slot message about Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes Trent Alexander-Arnold has “come up short” in midfield across England’s two games at Euro 2024, suggesting that Declan Rice is “babysitting” him in the role.

Over the past 18 months, the Liverpool ace was often seen drifting into the position from right-back under Jurgen Klopp, but Keane believes that this instruction is far different to starting a game in midfield.

Alexander-Arnold was one of many England players criticised for a lacklustre display in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Denmark, which keeps the Three Lions top of the group with four points. Boss Gareth Southgate described the player’s midfield outings as "an experiment” after full-time, having taken him off in both group games so far.

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It remains to be seen whether new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot will try Alexander-Arnold in midfield next season. When it comes to the national team, Keane believes the 25-year-old’s days in the position are numbered.

He told ITV: “When you’ve been taken off in the two games that’s not a good sign. I thought it was always a huge gamble to play a player who doesn’t play that week-in-week-out for his club.

“I know people say he drifts in there for Liverpool, but drifting into a position and starting in it is completely different. I played in midfield, it’s a tough position. Physically, getting your distances, and he’s come up short in the two games.

“It’s not all down to him, you’d probably have to put this on Gareth. This is not against the French or the Spanish or a Germany - this is against two teams where you’d think England would be fairly comfortable and have lots of possession.

“But it’s a big ask for him and he’s not up to it.” Keane went on to add of Alexander-Arnold: “Rice is almost babysitting him in there and you will get found out, and he has been.”

Meanwhile, Gary Neville has indicated that England could rue not using Alexander-Arnold to his maximum capacity. He fears that fans may look back on this era of talent and regret not utilising the full-back’s assets should the Three Lions falter at Euro 2024.

“We’ll look back in 20 years and regret that we couldn’t get Trent Alexander-Arnold in the England team at right-back,” Neville added to ITV.

“Kyle Walker needs to play somewhere, and in the past Kieran Trippier was right wing-back and Walker was right centre-back [in a back three]. To not have Alexander-Arnold in our team in the position he plays best, we’ll look back and think ‘what were we doing?’”