SAKIRI: WE CAN CATCH LIONS SLEEPING
The Anfield star crowned an assured display with a stunning goal – and now accepts that the only way he will become a regular Three Lions starter is by continuing to do the business in his new role.
“I need to be causing the manager headaches,” said Alexander-arnold, who was winning only his 19th cap and hopes to continue his development
NORTH MACEDONIA can catch England cold at Old Trafford tomorrow night – and continue their hot streak on English soil.
That’s the view of Artim Sakiri (right), scorer of perhaps the most famous goal in the country’s history.
The former West Brom against North Macedonia tomorrow night at Old Trafford. “It is now about putting questions into the manager’s mind, knowing that I can play there and bring qualities to the game that other players can’t.
“It’s not my decision, but I think there is definitely potential there.
“It’s obviously a new role for me and one that is going to take some getting used to, which means I have to play more games.
“This was a good foundation for me.
“There were good signs, good moments and stuff I can learn from – and I am sure I will when we go back through the game.
“I think, in the first half especially, that I found myself in positions where I was able to impact the game and bring the quality I do.
“To be honest, I know the qualities that I’ve got and the things I need to work on.
“Whatever position I play in, that will always be there. I am someone who is a perfectionist, striker sent a corner flying into David Seaman’s net when the two sides met in a European Championship qualifier at St Mary’s in October 2002.
Macedonia took the lead twice in that match before being pegged back by goals from David Beckham and who wants to be as close to perfect as possible, so although this was a good game there are a lot of things I can work on and improve.”
Klopp employed Alexanderarnold as an inverted full-back in the final weeks of the Premier League season.
Southgate went one step further by giving him the No.10 shirt ahead of Phil Foden and in the absence of Jude Bellingham.
It was only the third midfield start of a career that has stalled at full-back. Alexander-arnold is not afraid to face the reality that he has some defensive limitations.
But he has belief in his ability and a desire to become an Englnad regular.
He said: “For me, I want to make sure I am playing as many England games as possible – and that has always been the aim.
“I think this is a potential route we can go down that will help me get into the team.
“It is certainly an avenue that is clearly being explored and is something the manager wants to explore and I want to explore. It is one that is exciting for the
Steven Gerrard. England’s Group C rivals also secured a 0-0 draw in their last match at Old Trafford in 2006.
And Sakiri believes the Three Lions would be wise not to take the visitors lightly a year on from their 4-0 Nations League defeat to Hungary.“it should be a future, and who knows? I thought my positioning was good, being able to pick up second balls, interceptions were there as well.
“It’s like I am blowing my trumpet... there were aspects there other than just the goal.
“Overall my positioning was good and then it is just about finding that fluidity in there.
“With more games it will become more natural and I just find instinctively the right positions, rather than thinking about them a lot.
Creative
“It is early days, hopefully I get more minutes in the next fixture and be able to build on this foundation.
“There are a lot of interpretations of positions. It is very creative these days.
“Different teams play every position in different ways and there are different roles within those teams. I think it is very creative football at the minute and long may it continue.
“There were a lot of questions and I absorbed a lot of information about where I needed to be and how I needed to play the game.
“It’s also about me feeling natural, feeling like it is something I’ve always done and something I could do regularly.”
I am someone who wants to be as perfect as possible, I am a perfectionist... there are still a lot of things for me to work on
great occasion and another opportunity for North Macedonia to upset England in England. This is a side that has constantly upset some of Europe’s biggest sides. There’s no reason why we can’t get another one against England.”