Trent Alexander-Arnold only had 24 hours to prepare for a first audition in the hybrid role assigned to him by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Having struggled alongside the collective earlier this season, Alexander-Arnold has been a shining light since Klopp asked him to pick up a central position whenever the Reds are in possession. Since then, Liverpool have recorded seven wins and two draws from nine Premier League matches.
In that sense, the experiment has been justified, even if Klopp only gave the Reds' right-back one day to prepare before meeting Arsenal last month! Alexander-Arnold, though, is embracing the tactical change with six assists and a goal to show for his outings since then.
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During an interview with The Athletic, the England international said: "We were on the training pitch when the gaffer got out the tactics sheet and showed me it. Everything was normal defensively.
"And then with the ball, he wanted me as a second number six. The idea around it - as it was explained to me - was about improving our inside play. Controlling the centre, getting an extra player in that area. He trusted me to be able to do what I needed to do to make it work.
"I was excited. I saw it as an opportunity. It's a position I'd not played before. I just wanted to go out there and prove that I could do it."
Alexander-Arnold, 24, added: "We couldn't prep much around it if I'm being honest. With it only being the day before the game, it was only a brief session. For [the 2-2 draw with] Arsenal specifically, it was a case of trying to learn it as we played it.
"It feels natural for me and I feel like I'm able to perform in there. I'm able to affect games, change games, and dictate games. I want to keep doing it. I want to help the team to keep winning games."
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