England manager Gareth Southgate is preparing to shake up his midfield for Tuesday’s decisive group stage match at Euro 2024, according to The Athletic.
Southgate is opting to introduce Conor Gallagher in place of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Three Lions currently lead Group C with four points from their first two matches and aim to secure the top spot when they take on Slovenia in Cologne.
Alexander-Arnold, typically deployed as a right-back for Liverpool, was played in an unfamiliar central midfield role alongside Declan Rice against Serbia and Denmark, a move that has sparked mixed reactions.
The 25-year-old was substituted after 54 minutes during the Denmark game, despite leading all England players with three chances created and five key passes in the final third.
Gallagher, who came on for Alexander-Arnold in both matches, is now set to earn a starting role.
A product of Chelsea’s academy and aged 24, Gallagher brings youthful energy and creativity to England’s midfield.
Gareth Southgate has a history of tweaking his starting lineup for the third group stage match in major tournaments, as well as adjusting it for the subsequent knockout rounds.
This suggests that his choice for the Slovenia clash may not necessarily reflect his strategy for future matches should England progress further in the competition.
Declan Rice has passionately defended Trent Alexander-Arnold, criticizing “half the country” for their negative remarks about the Liverpool star.
“It’s funny because people were calling for Trent to play in midfield,” he told ITV.
“Half the country are calling for Trent to play in midfield.
“You play him in midfield and then you want to bring him down. I don’t get it. I don’t get it at all.
“I’ll defend all of my boys until the day I never put on an England shirt. Trent is one of the best players I’ve ever seen.
“Don’t call for someone to play in a position and then backtrack, all because you think he’s had a bad game or something.
“I’ll tell you now, Trent can play in midfield. I’ve seen it at England; I’ve seen it for Liverpool. He’s unbelievable. That’s what I say to people that you see saying that type of stuff.”
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