Alan Shearer believes that there is not much difference in quality between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier.
Both full-backs have been named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup and the Match of the Day pundit has explained who he thinks should start when the Three Lions begin their campaign against Iran on November 21.
Former Atletico Madrid right-back Trippier has impressed for Newcastle since returning to the Premier League in January, while Reds favorite Alexander-Arnold experienced a slow start to the campaign.
“I don’t see much of a difference between Trent and Trippier,” he told LADbible TV on YouTube (via Football365).
“In terms of set pieces, it’s fantastic. I know he scored last season, this season, he set up some. In terms of assists, centers.
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“He’s a better defender. I think as a complete package what you are looking for I think [Trippier] is better than each of them.”
Chelsea defender Reece James has missed the squad entirely after sustaining a serious knee injury against AC Milan in the Champions League last month.
Concerns around the defensive ability of our No. 66 have been raised recently, but the threat the 24-year-old poses going forward is something Southgate clearly feels he cannot ignore.
However, we certainly feel that Alexander-Arnold is a bit difficult in terms of his critical defense.
He has won every major trophies possible at club level and has been one of Jurgen Klopp’s most important players since he debuted in 2016.
Trippier, meanwhile, is solid defensively and parallels the Scouser in the quality he delivers from wide-area with his impressive cross and set-piece ability.
The 32-year-old has previously operated as a left-back for his national team and that could be an option the England manager considers while in the Middle East.
The Liverpool Academy graduate has scored three times in 19 appearances this term (in all competitions) but is yet to register an assist, while the Newcastle full-back has a goal and four assists in 16 appearances for the Liverpool side. Eddie Howe.
Both players are impressive in their own right and with the heat and humidity in Qatar, we are sure both players will be called up at some point.
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