Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher embraced during full-time following England’s Nations League victory over Ireland, and the two also swapped jerseys after the game in Dublin.

The Liverpool right-back did not start any of England’s final five European Championship matches, despite appearing in the Three Lions’ opening two games against Serbia and Denmark in Germany.

However, he returned to the team – and started at right-back – for England’s first game since Southgate’s resignation, and he produced one of his best international performances in a 2-0 victory over Ireland, claiming Player of the Match.

Alexander-Arnold was not joined in England’s starting lineup by any of his Liverpool teammates, but there was another Reds star on the other team, with Kelleher in goal for the hosts.

Following the game, the two exchanged warm embraces, smiling and laughing as they approached.

A few seconds later, the two reconvened and swapped their match jerseys.

Alexander-Arnold was utilised as a central midfielder at the Euros, but Gareth Southgate chose Conor Gallagher and then Kobbie Mainoo over the 25-year-old in the tournament’s final stages.

Interim England manager Lee Carsley said before of Saturday’s game against Ireland that Alexander-Arnold was deemed a right-back rather than a midfielder.

“I think for me, for this camp especially, he’ll be a right-back playing in defense,” Carsley said of Alexander-Arnold. “Trent, especially modern-day full-backs, have all-round attributes that almost turn them into midfielders, very comfortable receiving the ball, great range of passing, as has Rico (Lewis) and Kyle Walker-Peters, who I watched at Southampton the other day.

“At some point I imagine we’ll see Trent arriving into that kind of [midfield] area, but I see him as a right-back.”