Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp have clashed over the former's stance that Trent Alexander-Arnold cannot play for England in a knockout game at the World Cup.
The Liverpool right-back has been named in the England squad that will head to Qatar this week, but his inclusion has proved contentious. Pundits are especially divided over whether he should be a starter for the Three Lions, with some arguing he isn't good enough defensively whilst others insist his experience with the Reds debunks that theory.
Alexander-Arnold, 24, has enjoyed huge success at Anfield after come emerging from the club's academy, shifting to a right-back role having previously been a midfielder. His lack of defensive awareness has been highlighted on numerous occasions amid suggestions that is why Gareth Southgate has been reluctant to pick him.
Neville has previously pointed out Alexander-Arnold's flaws as a right-back but named him in his starting XI for England's opener against Iran. The pundit doesn't believe he will feature in the knockout stages, however, prompting Redknapp to challenge him.
"If you look at what he is in his position, there’s nothing like it in terms of delivery," Neville said on Sky Sports of Alexander-Arnold. "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, in a knockout game for England."
Redknapp responded: "With Trent, he’s played won Champions League finals, he’s won big games." Neville pointed to the absence of Reece James, who would be his pick at right-back, and the potential return of Kyle Walker, who would appear to be above Alexander-Arnold in the pecking order.
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"Trent will have to defend more than he does for Liverpool," the former Manchester United man added. "I think he has his problems potentially when the balls in the centre or up the pitch, he’s not quite got his distances or positioning right. If you were going to play him, I'd play him against Iran, US and Wales."
Walker is still battling to be fully fit, which leaves Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier as England's only fit natural right-back options, although Benjamin White has excelled in the role for Arsenal this season. Newcastle defender Trippier has been a huge favourite of Southgate's and has excelled in a Magpies defence which is amongst the Premier League's best.
Jamies Carragher weighed in on the debate and sided more with Neville. The Anfield legend said of Alexander-Arnold: "He moved to right full-back as a luxury and Liverpool are that good of a team, you see the best of him, crossing positions, getting on the ball, he does less defending - I’m with Gary in England aren’t as good as Liverpool. But 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."
