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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Liverpool star previously used in midfield</li><li>Now being asked to operate on left of back four</li><li>Questions asked of Three Lions coach</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

‘How has this clown been given the England job?’ - Trent Alexander-Arnold left-back experiment leaves fans questioning whether interim boss Lee Carsley is taking role seriously

<p>Under-21s coach Carsley has been handed managerial reins at senior level by the Three Lions following Gareth Southgate’s decision to walk away on the back of a second successive European Championship final defeat. A <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/gary-lineker-explains-why-pep-guardiola-might-be-interested-england-job-man-city-boss-final-year-contract-premier-league-champions/bltf05d81be236d51ad" target="_blank">permanent appointment will be made at some stage </a>in the near future.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Carsley has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lee-carsley-applied-england-job-permanent/blt0d895f747e57402e" target="_blank">ruled himself out of the running</a>, leading some to question how seriously he is taking the role. England did open their latest UEFA Nations League campaign with back-to-back wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/stupid-lee-carsley-slammed-garbage-jude-bellingham-experiment-england-greece/blt21d90d83bab22ad9" target="_blank">suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Greece when starting the game with no recognised striker</a>.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>News of Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold being asked to switch to left-back has caused more confusion, with <a href="https://x.com/Tom_Som08/status/1845434977317540050 " target="_blank">@Tom_Som08</a> saying: “How has this clown been given the England job? Best right back in the world but yeah let’s play him at left back.”</p><p>Another disgruntled fan, <a href="https://x.com/robhall372/status/1845435040534086098 " target="_blank">@robhall372</a>, added: “Carsley shouldn’t be anywhere near the senior England team, the game the other night proved that. And now going to play Trent at left back? Unbelievable.”</p><p><a href="https://x.com/RealTomHoskins/status/1845437614075048333 " target="_blank">@RealTomHoskins</a> went on to say: "Another silly experiment that really isn’t going to work.” <a href="https://x.com/mfwic1865/status/1845435018866225355 " target="_blank">@mfwic1865</a> has suggested that Carsley “really doesn't want the job then”, with many more echoing those sentiments.</p>

WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

<p>It is not the first time that Alexander-Arnold has formed part of an experiment in the England set-up. After several years of facing fierce competition for places at right-back, the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/why-make-the-best-right-back-in-the-world-a-midfielder---alexander-arnold-experiment-puzzles-liverpool-boss-klopp/13g0nu03lbd4y1n0l26biws8uc" target="_blank">Liverpool star was asked to line up in midfield</a> by Southgate at the start of the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 campaign, before this short-lived plan was abandoned after only two games.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

‘How has this clown been given the England job?’ - Trent Alexander-Arnold left-back experiment leaves fans questioning whether interim boss Lee Carsley is taking role seriously | Goal.com United Arab Emirates

Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to line up for England at left-back against Finland, leaving fans questioning how “clown” Lee Carsley got interim post.