Jack Grealish has joked he owes Trent Alexander-Arnold £500 after the latter’s free-kick in England’s 3-1 Nations League win in Finland.
England bounced back from Thursday’s defeat to Greece with a professional performance at The Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Grealish opened the scoring with his fourth international goal, before Alexander-Arnold doubled the lead with a special set-piece.
Declan Rice added a third after arriving into the box to turn home Ollie Watkins’ cross, though England squandered a clean sheet late on when the unmarked Arttu Hoskonen headed home for the hosts.
Grealish was pleased with the performance of the side and said England were allowed to play with freedom under interim boss Lee Carsley.
The 29-year-old also revealed how he now owes Alexander-Arnold £500, after jokingly offering to pay up the money if the Liverpool right-back scored his free-kick.
“We could have had a few more but it was difficult at times,” Grealish said, speaking to ITV.
Grealish says Carsley has given England players ‘freedom’
“The goal came from the manager letting us play with that freedom. I play with Angel Gomes in training and I know what a top player he is. The celebration was for my little daughter.
“I joked to Trent [Alexander-Arnold] before the free-kick ‘score this I will give you 500 quid’ and he slapped it in top bin.
“Whatever happens with the England manager, people will always say negative stuff.
“Before people were crying out for all attacking players to play and it didn’t work. I don’t get it, it can happen in games. I love coming here, a top, top manager and I love playing for him.”
