Jurgen Klopp has already offered verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold's England replacement

Trent Alexander-Arnold's stint in the England midfield might be drawing to a close, and Jurgen Klopp has already weighed in on the man in line to fill those boots.

The Liverpool defender hasn't quite made his mark in England's opening Euro 2024 matches, leading to speculation that Conor Gallagher is set to take over against Slovenia. With Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice seemingly cemented in Gareth Southgate's plans, Alexander-Arnold's position is under the microscope.

Gallagher, aged 24, has previously replced the Anfield ace during clashes with Serbia and Denmark earlier in the tournament. And the substitution pattern suggests Southgate might be ready to trust the Chelsea midfielder should he decide to shuffle his lineup for Tuesday's match.

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Riccardo Calafiori agreement, Arda Guler contact, Nico Williams latest

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer stance on Nico Williams emerges amid Luis Diaz plan

Klopp once commented on Gallagher's abilities when assessing the threat he posed while on loan at Crystal Palace in the 2021/22 season. He said: "So that's incredible quality and now in midfield, [Cheikhou] Kouyate back in his position, [Conor] Gallagher I'm not sure you can still say he's a talent when he plays for [England] U21s, but he's a really, really good player."

Klopp's comments clearly indicate that he saw Gallagher as a player ready for the Premier League, having gained valuable experience on loan from Chelsea. Fast forward to now, and Gallagher has been a regular feature in Chelsea's midfield over the past two seasons under various managers.

It seems Southgate is also an admirer, despite the wealth of talent available in England's midfield. Alexander-Arnold has previously impressed in a midfield role for England, while there have been calls for young talents like Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton to be given a chance to start.

Gallagher made his senior England debut in 2021 and has since earned 15 caps, although only six of these have been starts. Moreover, just two of these appearances have been in competitive matches, so his experience in high-pressure situations with England - such as Tuesday's game in Cologne - is limited.

While Alexander-Arnold may have a technical edge over the Chelsea midfielder, a more defensive-minded player like Gallagher could help to get the best out of attacking talents like Bellingham and Foden. A draw against Slovenia might be enough to secure top spot in Group C for England, but Southgate faces a race against time to fine-tune his team ahead of tougher challenges in Germany.

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can read the original story in the Daily Mirror by clicking here.