Trent Alexander-Arnold had a standout September international break, earning Player of the Match awards in England’s games against Ireland and Finland. However, he was unable to replicate that form in his third consecutive start for the Three Lions.
While the Liverpool right-back wasn’t primarily at fault for England’s Thursday night defeat, with much of the blame falling on Lee Carsley’s unusual tactical setup, Alexander-Arnold was still part of a back line that was frequently exposed by Greece. Few England players escaped criticism after the loss, and national media weighed in on Alexander-Arnold’s performance.
The Guardian gave him a 4/10, criticizing his positioning and passing, saying: “Kept inverting, but his positioning gave Greece space when they attacked down the left. Passing was off too.”
In contrast, The Daily Mail rated him 6/10, tied with Jude Bellingham as the top performers for England. They noted: “Tried to make things happen, delivering a few lovely balls over the top. Too passive for Greece’s opening goal, but England’s best.”
The Independent also gave him 5/10, highlighting his defensive errors, particularly in allowing Vangelis Pavlidis to score: “Not as inventive or involved offensively as in previous games, and too lax defensively. One good defensive recovery run late on, and a few decent balls into the box.”
The Telegraph, which rated him 5/10, observed how high up the pitch he played in Carsley’s experimental system, remarking that his best moments came before being moved to left-back in the second half:
“At times, the furthest-forward player in the ‘Carsball’ system. Delivered a lovely cross for Gordon’s chance, and his best work came on the flank, not when inverted.”
Goal also handed him a 5/10, noting his attacking efforts but lack of defensive cover: “Produced a couple of teasing crosses but no assists. Greece exploited the space he left when pushing forward.”
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