Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of England’s squad to face Germany on Monday, and one reporter believes Gareth Southgate’s latest comments show he “doesn’t believe” in Liverpool’s right-back.
The 23-year-old is one of five players who have been omitted from England’s final matchday squad before the World Cup.
AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori, Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen were also left out, while Man City’s Jack Grealish is also missing due to suspension.
However, Alexander-Arnold has been overlooked internationally for some time, with the likes of Kyle Walker, Reece James and Kieran Trippier clearly ahead of him in the Southgate pecking order.
Prior to the news about Liverpool no. In the latest international snub of 66, Southgate was asked about Alexander-Arnold’s capabilities at his last press conference.
The England manager was quick to praise his passing range, but quickly moved on to attributes possessed by his other right-backs.
“I think he is a fantastic footballer and of course he adds, like many other players, different qualities to the game,” Southgate told reporters.
“He has fantastic passing range. We are blessed with different player profiles at that position.
“If we play full-backs, Trippier and Reece James are also exceptional on the ball, in different ways, and we always have to look at the whole package with everything and assess the players in all their attributes.
“They have all been to Champions League finals, some of them have been to the latter stages of major tournaments with us. Trent won the league, Trippier won the Spanish league, Walker won the English league.
“There are so many good attributes about them, it’s a really difficult position to make decisions, but we have to go with the ones we believe in and ultimately I will be judged by the result, as we know.”
When asked about Trent Alexander-Arnold, Southgate praised him, “fantastic passing range,” and immediately mentioned others. “Trippier and James are also exceptional on the ball, in different ways.” Sadly Southgate clearly doesn’t believe in Alexander-Arnold #ENG #LFC
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) September 26, 2022
The Times’s Henry Winter believes Southgate’s latest comments – and his reluctance to dwell on the qualities Alexander-Arnold can bring to his side – show the England boss “doesn’t believe” in the Liverpool defender.
Despite his insistence that Alexander-Arnold is “a fantastic footballer”, Southgate’s decision not to include him in his team’s last game before the World Cup speaks volumes.
If Alexander-Arnold, a player who has recorded 66 assists in his six years as a Liverpool player, is unable to make the squad at a time when England are struggling to score goals and create chances, then the writing seems to be on the wall. . .
However, England’s loss is undoubtedly Liverpool’s gain.
