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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Charlotte Coates

'Absolutely ridiculous' - Trent Alexander-Arnold message sent to Gareth Southgate before England World Cup squad named

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler would be 'amazed' if Trent Alexander-Arnold is not selected in the England squad travelling to Qatar for the World Cup.

The squad is announced today at 2pm today with the Liverpool number 66 likely to be named in the 26-man strong contingent that will bid to improve on England's semi-final loss in 2018.

Alexander-Arnold has not been a regular under Southgate and didn't play a single minute for England during the last international break.

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But the 24-year-old has won every major honour at club level and has been backed by Fowler to make the squad despite many highlighting his defensive problems.

"Well, I mean, I'll be amazed if Trent is not in it! There's been a lot of talk that he may not make it because of his defensive lapses," said Fowler to Midnite.

"I'm hearing people saying that Gareth Southgate can't trust him because of his defensive liabilities if you like. Alexander-Arnold is a young player who’s won absolutely everything in the game. He's won one Premier League, but all the other trophies he’s won there, such as the Club World Cup, the Champions League, the FA Cup...

"If a manager can't guarantee Trent Alexander-Arnold to be focused on being the right-back for a knockout stage of a tournament, then it's absolutely ridiculous because the lad has won absolutely everything, including in knockout football. He’s a man who can be guaranteed to go out and perform.

"You need players like Trent because he's not an offensive player in terms of where he plays, but sometimes when you're in the knockout stages or competitions, they’re the types of players that you need who can open up little doors and a gap."

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