Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville would both start Trent Alexander-Arnold over Kieran Trippier at the World Cup. England kick off their Qatar campaign next week and right-back provides one of Gareth Southgate’s most probing selection conundrums.
An abundance of riches means there are four world-class options on the right side of defence. However, a knee injury has ruled Chelsea’s Reece James out while Manchester City’s Kyle Walker is also a doubt for the opening game.
That leaves Newcastle United talisman Trippier and Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold in contention to start against Iran. The Magpies’ stand-in skipper has been instrumental in guiding Eddie Howe’s side up to third in the Premier League but the latter, once regarded as the best out of the four, has struggled for form.
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Despite a sluggish start to the campaign, Manchester United legend Neville thinks it would be criminal to leave Alexander-Arnold out of the first game. As the tournament progresses, the Sky Sports pundit would lean towards Trippier for his defensive capabilities.
“Foden is that (generational talent), Bellingham is that and I think, although we talk about him a lot, Trent Alexander-Arnold is that,” Neville said. “If you look at what he is in his position, there’s nothing like it in terms of delivery. Playing him as a right-wing-back gives you the opportunity to get him into the team, you’d never play him at right-back.
“I don’t think he’ll play in a knockout game. On that right-hand side, Trippier and (Kyle) Walker will come in for (Ben) White and Alexander-Arnold. This is unique; no international manager has ever had four days going into a tournament.
“I’d be amazed if Gareth went from three (at the back) in the last few games to a four. He doesn’t trust a pair… which pair would you put there and say you’d trust them? None of them are good enough.
“If you were going to play him (Trent), I’d play him against Iran, US and Wales. Playing him in that back five gives him the opportunity. He, Foden and Bellingham are generational talents, all three of them are out of this world talent-wise - they need to be given an opportunity.”
While Carragher agreed with including Alexander-Arnold, the former Liverpool defender would refrain from dropping him against superior opposition. At the Euros last summer, Southgate reverted to a back five when facing Germany and Italy.
“I think it’s more of a problem chopping and changing personnel,” he added. “Swapping between Trent, Walker and Trippier, that's a problem. When you talk about a luxury player, we normally associate it with being a winger or a number 10.
“He has come through as a full-back, he was a midfielder. He moved to right full-back as a luxury and Liverpool are that good of a team, you see the best of him. I’m with Gary, England aren’t as good as Liverpool - they will do more defending. So we’ll see less of Trent going forward and more defending, which is where he has problems at times.”
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