Paul Scholes weighs in on Trent Alexander-Arnold debate with completely new suggestion

Paul Scholes has suggested a radical solution to the Trent Alexander-Arnold dilemma. The Liverpool vice-captain has been causing Gareth Southgate something of a headache as he tries to accommodate him in midfield at Euro 2024.

After the draw with Denmark, Southgate inexplicably described Alexander-Arnold as an "experiment" designed to deal with not properly replacing Manchester City flop Kalvin Phillips, who has never really been an England regular anyway. The manager has started the Liverpool man in both games so far, but hooked him first on both occasions.

This is just the latest chapter in Alexander-Arnold's struggles with the national team. Southgate has previously shown a strange reluctance to field him at right-back, something Jurgen Klopp seemed baffled by, amid competition from the likes of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.

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Scholes' proposal would see Alexander-Arnold move out of midfield and back into defense. But the former Manchester United star still wouldn't be putting the Liverpool man into his natural position.

Posting on Instagram, Scholes put forward his proposal. It would see Alexander-Arnold move to left-back, where England is without a natural option for as long as Luke Shaw remains sidelined.

"Sunday am thoughts... TAA left-back, Kobbie Mainoo centre mid, Palmer on the right..." mused Scholes on Sunday. "Would give reasons but too many touchy f***ers out there.'

It's hard to engage too much with the proposal given Scholes' reticence to share his rationale. But while Alexander-Arnold has the technique to provide dangerous deliveries with both feet, a role on the left would again appear to inhibit some of his very best qualities, setting him up to fail from the outset.

Then again, even an inhibited Alexander-Arnold may well offer more from that side than Trippier. You could argue that Scholes is showing his Man United bias with the Mainoo pick, but any of the more natural midfielders could then take that slot, taking the Liverpool star out of the firing line to a certain extent.

As for the Palmer idea, his form going into the tournament does make it hard to fathom why he has played such a fringe role. But replacing Saka on the right would be a big call.

Liverpool.com says: It's not the worst idea in the world from Scholes. But one of these days, an England manager will just play Alexander-Arnold at right-back, and is bound to reap the benefits.

Even if Southgate is wedded to the midfield idea, that's fine, but he needs to actually commit to it instead of essentially making the Liverpool man a scapegoat. Alexander-Arnold can influence the game from anywhere, but England is yet to really entrust and empower him to do so.