Jamie Carragher reminds Jurgen Klopp of when he criticised Gareth Southgate for playing Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield first

Jamie Carragher has sent a reminder to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp of his previous criticism for Gareth Southgate over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role.

The Reds’ manager previously expressed distaste of the defender playing in midfield for England, but has recently utilised him in such a role.

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Alexander-Arnold featured in the middle of the park when England beat Andorra 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier 2021.

Klopp criticised the decision from Three Lions boss Southgate, saying: “In this game, in a game where England are that dominant for example, or that we are that dominant that Trent could play in midfield, I would rather he was the six than in this case the eight.

“That is possible but why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I don’t understand that really.

“As if the right-back position is not as important as the others. People who say that I struggle to understand how you could think that.”

Carragher was certainly not one to forget those comments, and believes Alexander-Arnold can continue to challenge for a midfield spot under Southgate.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “If I’m Southgate, and you’re [Gary Neville] talking about challenging right-backs, I’d almost be thinking he’s challenging midfield players as well.

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“Don’t forget, it was Southgate who put him in midfield before anyone, and Klopp actually criticised Southgate for it.

“When you’re talking about England’s midfield options we actually say, ‘you’ve got Declan Rice, you’ve got [Jude] Bellingham’, there’s not really that much behind that to be honest.

“I think he could be pushing that, forget a hybrid role and he could actually play a midfield role.”

He added: “I don’t think we’ve ever talked about any other full-back like we talk about him, no one else comes up in conversation more than him.

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“The reason being is because we’ve never seen anyone like him, where you’re looking at him and thinking, ‘how can he be that good on the ball, the free-kicks, crossing ability’.

“He’s now this hybrid role in terms of going into midfield, running games, creating chances from almost like the halfway line. Not even like a no.10 who’s turning and slipping a little pass, he’s making 40/50 yard passes to put people through.

“And because at times he gets caught out defensively you can’t deny that, but he’s probably the most talked about full-back of probably all time, certainly in the Premier League era.”

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Liverpool’s trip to Leicester saw Alexander-Arnold drift into midfield areas once again, with the 24-year-old turning on the style.

He scored a superb free-kick to help the Reds to a 3-0 win that boosts their chances of a top four finish this season.