‘Would be lovely’ - Gary Lineker outlines first task for Arne Slot with Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool

Gary Lineker has implored Arne Slot to play Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield upon becoming Liverpool head coach next season.

The right-back has operated there a number of times over the past 18 months under Jurgen Klopp, albeit usually he is told to invert from his traditional full-back position. The 25-year-old has been effective in the quarterback-like role, spraying balls forward from deep.

Gareth Southgate has named him as a midfielder in his last few England squads, having had a stint in the role last year. Conor Bradley’s emergence allows Alexander-Arnold more scope to play in midfield with Arne Slot usually preferring to play a double-pivot.

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Whether the Dutchman will continue using the academy graduate as an anchor is not yet clear as he brings his own playing identity. However, Lineker believes it would be a shame not to continue using Trent in such a manner.

He told on The Rest Is Football podcast: “He’s still playing right-back for Liverpool. Occasionally he has played in midfield, but it’s kind of the inverted full-back role, he goes and does what he wants.

“I hope the new manager when he comes in plays Trent in midfield at Liverpool. I think that’s his position, I really do, I always have. It would be lovely to see him play there regularly."

Outgoing assistant manager Pep Lijnders admitted to being the man who insisted on Alexander-Arnold playing in midfield, and this week described how he gave Klopp an ultimatum on the tactic.

He said: “What I said constantly to Jurgen was: 'We have to do it'. 'But Pep, blah blah blah’ [Klopp complained]. 'We have to do it'. Until I was so sick of it that I went to Jurgen in this office and said, ‘Jurgen, next year you can f****** have all my f****** salary.

"If we don't do it in the next game, it's done for me. I can't. We need the extra player, we need Trent there. I tell you it will work, it will work.”

Alexander-Arnold started two of his 37 games in midfield this season, but was most commonly seen coming inside when starting at right-back.