A move to perennial Champions League winners Real Madrid was supposed to afford Trent Alexander-Arnold a new start, yet just over three months after departing Liverpool, familiar questions about his position and role are resurfacing. Is he more effective in midfield rather than defense? What is his place with England?

The latter question has gained prominence as Thomas Tuchel chose not to call upon Alexander-Arnold for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and away to Serbia. This decision was framed not as a demotion but as “the moment for him to settle and find his rhythm” in Spain. Tuchel has acknowledged that bringing Alexander-Arnold into the June camp may have underestimated the challenges of a player’s first major transfer.

Despite the encouragement from Tuchel, it’s evident that the manager grapples with how Alexander-Arnold fits into his squad for significant matches. Historically, he has balanced defensive shortcomings with creativity and assisting capabilities, having only been bettered by Bruno Fernandes in expected assists over the past five Premier League seasons.

However, in knockout settings, the strategy changes. Tuchel, known for his defense-oriented approach, understands that maintaining clean sheets is crucial to winning major tournaments. Consequently, despite recent affirmations regarding Alexander-Arnold’s abilities, he had previously favored players like Kyle Walker and out-of-position Curtis Jones in decisive matches.

In Tuchel’s words, “This major impact that he had for Liverpool over so many years … if he wants to have this impact on the English national team, then he has to take the defensive part very seriously” because crucial mistakes can have significant consequences. This has happened to Alexander-Arnold before when he allowed Vinicius Junior to score during Liverpool’s 2022 Champions League final.

Similarly, Alexander-Arnold has faced challenges at Real Madrid. He has already been on the bench, which comes as no surprise given that Madrid’s other right back is captain Dani Carvajal. Nonetheless, he’s shown potential to reclaim his starting position after a solid performance against Mallorca, where an assist was ruled out by a VAR offside from Kylian Mbappe.

His manager, Xabi Alonso, has quashed any concerns, declaring the competition with Carvajal as beneficial for the team’s overall quality. Yet, coming off a whirlwind of personal and professional transitions last summer, how will Alexander-Arnold navigate his adaptation to a new squad and maintain his ambition of winning prestigious individual awards like the Ballon d’Or?

For now, last season hasn’t relieved the scrutiny surrounding him. With the England manager seemingly reflecting the doubts of many, Alexander-Arnold faced an uphill battle to address the recurring inquiries into his performance.

England vs. Andorra Viewing Information

• Date: Saturday, September 6 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
• Location: Villa Park, United Kingdom
• TV: FS2 | Stream: Fubo (Start watching, save $20!)
• Odds: England -3300; Draw +1800; Andorra +12500