Trent Alexander-Arnold could get England lifeline vs Switzerland after midfield axe

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold may be set for a recall for England's quarter-final clash versus Switzerland at Euro 2024 as Gareth Southgate looks set to gamble with a new-look formation for the tie.

The full-back was utilized in an unorthodox midfield role during the Three Lions' first two games in the group stages, with his deployment in the position proving divisive. The 25-year-old played 69 minutes for his country in the opener versus Serbia in a 1-0 victory but was hauled off after 54 minutes versus Denmark.

The experiment was shelved for England's next two outings at the tournament, with Conor Gallagher and Kobbie Mainoo preferred in midfield. While the former failed to make an impact in the 0-0 stalemate with Slovenia, the latter excelled from the bench in that game before getting the nod to start in the 2-0 victory over Slovakia in the last 16 - as Alexander-Arnold remained unused on the bench.

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The Manchester United youngster was one of England's brightest performers in a mercurial performance after being handed his first start of the tournament so far. While Mainoo is expected to retain his place in the side, it is possible that Alexander-Arnold could be handed a lifeline to return to the starting XI versus the Swiss.

According to the Telegraph, head coach Southgate is toying with the idea of starting with a back three in the quarter-final, with Ezri Konsa set to come in to partner John Stones and Kyle Walker in a backline trio. In a bid to provide some much-needed width, it is thought that England may start with wing-backs on either side of the pitch.

With Walker being used as a right center-back, that means that Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier are the standout candidates to be named at right wing-back. On the left hand side, Bukayo Saka and Luke Shaw are likely the two names Southgate will be mulling over to fulfil the wing-back role.

That would leave Mainoo to partner Declan Rice in a more withdrawn central midfield role, with Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden ahead of them in the No. 10 positions that they perform at club level. In terms of the forward line, Ivan Toney could partner Harry Kane after an impressive cameo off the bench versus Slovakia.

When it comes to the prospect of Alexander-Arnold returning to midfield, it appears that the experiment has been culled, however. Reflecting after the Denmark clash, Southgate confessed; "He's (Alexander-Arnold) had some moments where he's delivered what we thought he would. We know it's an experiment. We know we don't have a natural replacement for Kalvin Philips. We're trying different things and at the moment we're not flowing as we'd like."

Amid criticism from some detractors, superstar Bellingham was among those who defended his teammate, telling ITV Sport: "He makes it so easy for me because he can control the game so well defensively in that position.

"I know people talk a lot of rubbish but he's so aggressive with that back to goal pressure and it really helped me as well because it meant I got a breather when he went out. I think we understand each other well with the ball, he wants to play positive all the time, he wants to play forward all the time."