The Liverpool fullback was dropped for England’s qualifying matches
With Virgil van Dijk there to do the dirty work at the back for him and compensate for his defensive inabilities, Trent Alexander-Arnold managed to get away with too much at the back across the last couple of years.
However, Virgil’s injury this season has unravelled Trent’s ineptness. The rightback has endured a horrid season for Liverpool, one where his failure to properly nullify attacking plays and take up proper positions has come to the fore.
Also, with him failing to recompense his sorry defending with his pinch perfect balls across the face of the goal, the defender has made for dismal showing. His regressing form this season has cost him his place in England’s setup with coach Gareth Southgate deciding to drop him for the country’s upcoming qualifying encounters.
Southgate Opens Up On Trent’s Wavering Form
Speaking about the decision, Southgate alluded the move to Trent’s floundering touch. Chelsea’s Reece James has been drafted in place of Trent at the spot.
“There are areas where we have incredible competition for places,” Southgate said. “Trent is very unfortunate but I don’t think he’s played at the level that he found in the last couple of years. He’s getting close to that now. In the last few weeks he’s definitely taken steps in the right direction.
“It’s simply we think Reece James and Kieran Trippier have had exceptional seasons with their clubs and Kyle Walker is in great form with Manchester City. We have other players in the league who are also playing well in that position – Cash at Aston Villa, Ayling at Leeds – and we’ve got two very good right backs in the Under-21s.
“It’s a remarkable position of strength and what I said to Trent earlier today was I have made the same call to Kyle and Kieran in the past. Their response was a good one. They took up the challenge and found themselves back in the squad.”
England face San Marino, Albania and Poland later this month as they get their FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign underway.
