For the first time in goodness knows how long, there was no debate regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion in an England squad as Gareth Southgate recalled the Liverpool defender ahead of Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
The right-back has admittedly struggled for most of this season in what has been a difficult year for the Reds. He was left out of the last Three Lions squad back in March because of his poor form, while his place at the 2022 World Cup had been in serious doubt.
In truth, only an injury to Reece James, which ruled him out of the tournament, and a two-month lay-off from Kyle Walker heading into Qatar ensured Alexander-Arnold’s place on the plane. He would ultimately feature for just 33 minutes as a substitute in England’s 3-0 group-stage win over Wales, when they were already comfortably ahead and heading to the knockout stages.
READ MORE: Andy Robertson and Real Madrid talk raises transfer question Liverpool can no longer dodge
READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp gets his wish as Jorg Schmadtke arrival signals big Liverpool change
Of course, such scrutiny has dogged the Liverpool’s man international career long before the World Cup and his loss of form this season.
He was dropped from the matchday squad for England's last Nations League group clash with Germany last September, despite the fact that the Three Lions had already suffered relegation. And while he would report for two of four internationals last June, after the Reds’ Champions League final appearance, he was withdrawn early after starting against Hungary before being left unused against Germany.
Prior to that, injuries had ruled him out of international camps in March 2022 and October 2021, as well as Euro 2020. Alexander-Arnold had been included in Southgate's initial squad, only to withdraw with a hamstring injury.
Yet, like had been the case heading into the World Cup, his inclusion was in major doubt after surprisingly being dropped by the England boss in March 2021, as it first became clear his international manager just didn’t know what to do with him.
Southgate had publicly admitted in the past that he considers Walker, James and Kieron Trippier to all be superior all-round options compared to Alexander-Arnold, prompting widespread disbelief across English football.
Admittedly, the 24-year-old has never replicated his best Liverpool form for his country, with the Three Lions’ contrasting style and formation perhaps not suited to his strengths. But it is not just those of a Reds persuasion who regularly urge Southgate to find a way to make Alexander-Arnold crucial to his country.
One of England’s most-gifted players, it has become far too easy for his international manager to just overlook him rather than even attempt to solve what only Southgate considers an unwanted headache.
Yet a change of role for Alexander-Arnold has seen him back to his absolute best for Liverpool over the past two months. Utilised as an inverted right-back, pushing central into midfield when the Reds are on the ball, he has been the standout player in the Premier League with his return of one goal and six assists from his last nine appearances just the tip of the creative iceberg.
As a result, Southgate’s headache is about to get even worse. After all, how can you overlook a player in such incredible form? The intense scrutiny the England manager has managed to side-step this season, due to Alexander-Arnold’s temporary loss of form, is set to be greater than ever.
Winning 18 caps for England to date, he has won just five caps since missing Euro 2020 through injury. He has started 14 of his caps at least, but that reiterates how Southgate has little faith in sending on one of his most-creative players to win him a game.
Meanwhile, a look across his international career as a while and you’ll regularly see him only handed significant game-time when the stakes are lower, be it World Cup group-games when essentially already qualified, a Nations League finals third place play-off, qualifiers against the likes of footballing giants of Kosovo, Montenegro, Andorra and San Marino, and nothing international friendlies. Southgate, seemingly, simply just doesn’t trust him.
Yet he could have little choice but to hand Alexander-Arnold a prominent role for England’s latest international outings, against Malta and North Macedonia respectively, gifting the unfancied Liverpool man a solid platform to finally win over his international manager.
The Three Lions will be without James during the June international break because of injury. Meanwhile, West Ham United’s Declan Rice and Manchester City quintet John Stones, Walker, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips will all report late for international duty due to their respective continental exploits in the Europa Conference League final on June 7 and Champions League final on June 10.
England face Malta in Ta' Qali on June 16, before hosting North Macedonia at Old Trafford three days later. In the past, Southgate has tended to spare his players involved in European finals from some of the Three Lions’ end-of-season internationals. This was demonstrated by Alexander-Arnold only being required for two fixtures last June, and Jordan Henderson being left out entirely.
With Trippier and Luke Shaw the only other full-backs in the squad, and Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher and Eberechi Eze the only other midfielders, the door is open for Alexander-Arnold to potentially start as a result.
Should Walker be spared from part of international duty, Trippier is his only competition at right-back. Meanwhile, the Man City man could start at centre-back when part of the camp, while the Newcastle United man could even be selected at left-back.
Southgate could also turn to Alexander-Arnold in midfield, given his recent rise in a hybrid role, if Rice and Phillips are absent. And there is also an argument for the Three Lions to implement an inverted full-back themselves, given both the Liverpool man and Stones’ success in such a role this season, with the England boss referencing both roles when speaking after the latest squad was announced.
"He is a super footballer and he's obviously playing in a slightly different role which I think has invigorated him in the last few months," Southgate said. "He has always, of course, been in advanced areas of the pitch with the ball. He is just a little bit more central now.
"That's interesting for us, no question. It's something I've talked with him about in the last couple of weeks and again we are looking forward to working with Trent and we'll see how that all plays out."
Rightly or wrongly, Alexander-Arnold still has a long way to go to make himself first-choice for England under Southgate. But after untimely injuries, loss of form, and favoured competition, Lady Luck might finally be about to smile down on him on the international stage.
READ NEXT
Arthur Melo sends two-word message after Jurgen Klopp admission ahead of final Liverpool chance
Frank Lampard sends blunt Mason Mount Chelsea future message amid Liverpool interest
'I have to say' - Erling Haaland doubles down with admission over Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool's player of the season award details as four-man shortlist drawn up
Join the Liverpool ECHO's LFC transfer news and top stories WhatsApp community
