Kyle Walker has undergone surgery and that might put Trent Alexander-Arnold into the England team. The Liverpool man is a doubt for the XI.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is in a unique position as a player regarded as world-class but who can’t get a game for their national team. The Liverpool right-back has won every major trophy by 23, while picking up several individual awards.
He’s even broken records along the way. No right-back, after all, has ever been as productive going forward as the Scouser.
Yet, Gareth Southgate isn’t particularly a fan. He left him out of England’s squad to face Germany recently and there’s a real doubt that Alexander-Arnold goes to the World Cup. Even more ridiculous is the fact that England effectively use two right-backs.
Southgate’s back-five system has a right-wingback playing in front of a right-sided centre-back. That player is typically Kyle Walker – another right-back. Alexander-Arnold is considered good enough for either role, however.
But perhaps that changed this week.
Alexander-Arnold could be in the England team
Walker underwent surgery this week and is now a doubt for the World Cup. That would open up a spot in defence and we imagine Reece James would drop back to play on the right of the centre-backs. It’s a role he’s played for Chelsea and one he’s very good at.
With James dropping back, the wingback spot is open. The race for it would be between Alexander-Arnold and Keiran Trippier – a longtime favourite of Southgate.
But it’s difficult to see why you wouldn’t take advantage of having both James and Alexander-Arnold in the team. The threat that pairing could offer going forward would be remarkable and we believe they’d mesh very well. Both are comfortable running the channel off the flank and both offer incredible delivery from wide.
While Liverpool may not want to see it, we wonder if this injury to Walker is what puts Alexander-Arnold into the England team.
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