Alexander-Arnold shines as England rout Malta in Euro qualifier

England boss Gareth Southgate sprang a surprise as he deployed Liverpool right-back Alexander-Arnold in central midfield at the Ta'Qali National Stadium.

Alexander-Arnold responded to Southgate's show of faith by helping set up England's opener - a Ferdinando Apap own goal - before scoring only his second international goal with a long-range rocket.

Harry Kane's penalty took him to 56 goals for England as the Three Lions' record scorer reached 50 competitive goals for his country. Callum Wilson converted a late penalty for his second England goal to ensure the margin of victory more accurately reflected his side's dominance.

England sit top of Group C after a third successive victory following their wins against Italy and Ukraine in March. With the top two guaranteed to advance to the European Championship in Germany, Southgate's men host North Macedonia at Old Trafford on Monday looking to move closer to qualification.

Just 19 days after the Premier League season finished and less than a week after Manchester City won the Champions League, England's weary players had to forget their holiday plans to focus on two more matches at the end of a gruelling campaign.

City stars Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips and John Stones were on the bench after their treble celebrations. But Southgate's Alexander-Arnold experiment gave England a vibrancy in midfield they might otherwise have lacked in the absence of injured Real Madrid new-boy Jude Bellingham.

Alexander-Arnold often shifts into midfield for Liverpool when they have possession, proving a constant danger with his pin-point crossing and accurate passing. Despite those qualities, Southgate had rarely trusted the right-back to play in his club position for England.

Faced with limited opposition in Malta, Southgate gave Alexander-Arnold a chance in a midfield berth he had filled only once before for England.