Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker has admitted that he’d love to be able to cross a ball like Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Playing a game of ‘If I Could’ with England Football at the Three Lions World Cup camp, Walker was asked which of his England teammates he would like to take part of their game from.
“Trent, Trippier or Ward-Prowse’s delivery of a football,” said the City defender. “They are unique players in that they can put it on a six-pence. Nine times out of ten it leads to a goal.”
Alexander-Arnold has often come in for criticism of the defensive side of his game, but his quality on the ball can’t be questioned. While Walker has his obvious qualities as a full-back, he can’t come close to his Liverpool rival in terms of attacking output.
Trent and Walker the perfect full-back combined
Disregarding the fact that Walker calls something that three players can do ‘unique,’ this is still good praise.
Obviously, while the players are away with England club rivalries are put to one side. But it’s still nice to hear such a prominent City man speak so highly of a Liverpool player.
The two are likely to be rivals for the England right-back slot, and Gareth Southgate will have to weigh up their strengths and weaknesses.
However, perhaps it doesn’t have to be that way. A world should exist where Southgate can play both Walker and Alexander-Arnold in the same team.
The England manager has often utilised City’s £45m man on the right of a back three. While Reece James has often then been the man to play in the wing-back role, why couldn’t this be delegated to Trent?
His defensive shortcomings are wildly exaggerated, but they are certainly there. With the security of a decent, and more importantly rapid, defender behind him in Walker, this would be counteracted.
In theory, that would also give the Liverpool star the freedom to do pretty much as he pleases going forward.
It’s surely a plan worth looking at for Southgate. As James is injured, it would seem like a smart option. But, then again, this is the England manager we’re talking about. So, don’t count those smart options being put into practice.
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