Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold sent England warning before squad named

Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool are in ‘a difficult period’ after Napoli humbling

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Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been sent a blunt message by former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy as England manager Gareth Southgate prepares to name his final squad prior to the World Cup selection. The 23-year-old has come under criticism this season for his defensive performances, and there have been questions over whether he will be included in the games to face Germany and Italy in the Nations League.

Southgate has a plethora of right-backs to choose from as he names his squad on Thursday if he opts against Alexander-Arnold, with Kyle Walker, Reece James, Kieran Trippier, James Justin and Kyle Walker-Peters all recently receiving international caps. Murphy has told Alexander-Arnold that although he would pick the Liverpool man for the tournament in Qatar, he does not think Southgate will do the same.

“I don’t think he goes,” Murphy told talkSPORT. “I don’t think Gareth will pick him. Would I pick him? Yes, in terms of the quality of right-backs we have got everyone will have different choices we are blessed with them.

“The thing that Trent gives you that none of the others will do, and even if you don’t start him, he can do things from an attacking point of view that the others can’t. He sees passes they don’t see, and he can cross the ball better than any of them.

“Now I am not suggesting that Tripper and Reece James aren’t good crossers of the ball, but Trent is a creative player. That’s why he wouldn’t start [his defensive solidity], that’s why he won’t go. I don’t think he will go, no.”

Despite Liverpool’s win over Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday, the England full-back was lamented for his part in the goal Jurgen Klopp’s side conceded. A ball was sent into the right channel where Mohammed Kudus went on to equalise, before Joel Matip got the winning goal late on.

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Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand explained a communication issue between Alexander-Arnold and Matip which allowed the goal to happen. “The only thing I would say in protection of Trent, if I’m playing here [right centre-back], I’m Trent’s eyes and ears and I’m saying to Trent ‘Anything to feet, you go and get it and stay in that position’, my thing has always been communication,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

“If these two players say before the game this area behind the full-back, this is my area. I say to the full-back: ‘You got to the ball, the player, if the ball goes over your head and I’m not there then you can shout at me, it’s my fault’, but are they having those conversations?

“Has that been said before or during the game? I don’t see Trent going to Matip ‘Where was you?’ maybe that’s the conversation that has to be had.”

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