Trent Alexander-Arnold’s display against Malta was one of the more blatant Man of the Match performances you’ll see, but he almost had it taken away.
That was thanks to some crafty Newcastle fans who turned the voting on its head to try and give Kieran Trippier the honour.
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Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold was the Three Lions ‘standout player’ in the 4-0 win according to England legend Stuart Pearce, who praised him for setting up the first goal and scoring the second.
The right-back by trade took the no.10 shirt for the Euro 2024 qualifier and started in midifield where he shone after playing a similar role for Jurgen Klopp last season.
Harry Kane and Callum Wilson scored a penalty each, while Bukayo Saka’s pass into the box was put into his own net by Fedinando Apap.
None of them made it into England’s shortlist for the Player of the Match award, though, with Alexander-Arnold and Trippier joined by Declan Rice and Marc Guehi.
Twitter user Toon Polls then posted the count with Alexander-Arnold leading by a whopping 96.89 per cent, and added the message, ‘Could be funny to see how high we can get Trippier’s vote just for laughs’.
Soon the right-backs were neck-and-neck, before the poll closed, and the England website read, ‘This experience is currently unavailable’.
No one knew who had won until the next day, when England tweeted a picture of Alexander-Arnold and his Player of the Match award, saving their media team from embarrassment.
