Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp told to apologise to Gareth Southgate after England humiliated Malta

England beat Malta 4-0 on Friday when Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was asked to contact Gareth Southgate.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been told by Andros Townsend that he must apologize to Gareth Southgate after he previously questioned the England manager’s decision to use Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield.

The Reds star was in the center of the pitch in the Three Lions’ 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Malta and played the starring role in the win.

Thiago Alcantara

Alexander-Arnold made the first breakthrough with a superb pass to Bukayo Saka, who drove in Ferdinando Apap’s own goal in the eighth minute and then scored his country’s second goal with a loop from the edge of the box .

He looked comfortable on the right side of a midfield three with Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice after the Channel 4 commentator and former England winger urged Townsend Klopp to apologize to Southgate. Before the match, he said:

“I’m still waiting for Jurgen Klopp to apologize to Gareth Southgate, because Gareth tried [playing Alexander-Arnold in midfield] a few years ago and was criticized by Jurgen Klopp who said: ‘Why put in midfield the best right back in the world?and a few years later he played here week after week in that midfield position.

“But it’s interesting to see how he starts in midfield because it’s one thing to start in your natural position and drift and pick and choose your moments, but it’s another thing to be a starter in midfield and control your backs and have to be on the side.” .” -on as a tenacious midfielder.

After Southgate used Alexander-Arnold in midfield against Andorra in 2021, Klopp claimed the England manager was abusing his right-back.

“In this game, in a game where England are so dominant, for example, or where we’re so dominant that Trent could play in midfield, I would have preferred it to be six rather than eight in this case,” he said. said Klopp. .

“It’s possible, but why make a midfielder out of the best right-back in the world? I really don’t understand it. As if the right-back position wasn’t as important as the others. People who say I find it hard to understand how you can think something like that.

Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher tweeted: ‘Andros Townsend will want Klopp’s apology at half-time!’ He follows Alexander-Arnold’s impressive display in the opening 45 minutes, then explains why the 24-year-old’s new role will become normal.

“This midfield role for TAA will eventually become the norm for club and country!” Carragher added. “He plays a lot as a full-back, like he will at CM, but the goal he just scored will happen a lot more in midfield.

He could have double-figure goals and assists if he plays more up front.”