According to ESPN, Liverpool superstar Trent Alexander-Arnold will be one of the seven players cut from the England squad as Gareth Southgate needs to trim down to 26 players for the Euros.
ESPN report that should Chelsea star Reece James and Man City ace Kyle Walker both pass fitness tests and indicate they have no issues after the Champions League final, Trent will be sent home.
It’s reiterated that there’s no indications of any issues with James and Walker, who are expected to be joined by Atletico Madrid’s league winner Kieran Trippier – meaning Trent will be left out of the squad.
ESPN note that Alexander-Arnold’s hopes of making the cut had been ‘raised’ as a result of the 22-year-old’s inclusion in the preliminary squad, having been dropped for the March international break.
Alexander-Arnold battled back from that embarrassment to end the season strongly, contributing four assists and a goal in the nine Premier League ties after the break, helping Liverpool finish in the top four.
Here is how some Liverpool fans have reacted to the expected decision:
Southgate obviously knows that Trent thinks he’s a fraud. Rightly so
— IBU (@IbuKonate) May 31, 2021
We already knew Southgate was brainless , this just reinstates it.
— LFCTobyM ? (@tobym4353) May 31, 2021
Disgraceful he needs sacking just for this decision. Trent has been outrageous the last 6 months
— Ryan (@Rwhittaker_17) May 31, 2021
Hardly surprising. Southgate is a boring, functional, risk averse, one dimensional coach. He could coach until he’s 100 and he’ll never be able to work out how to utilise a player as talented as TAA.
— Brian Savin (@Crofton_Parker) May 31, 2021
It just goes to show Southgates mentality going into this tournament. He’d rather be careful not to lose the game as opposed to go out and win the game. Imagine another top nation doing this ?
— Christopher (@b00chris) May 31, 2021
There will be a slight satisfaction when England fail now.
Southgate should have been sacked a while ago, useless.— @RAB360 (@RAB360) May 31, 2021
Embarrassing decision. He’s been the best RB in the league ever since Southgate dropped him.
— D.E (@Auxanooo) May 31, 2021
That’s me hoping they get leathered then. Southgate shouldn’t be manager of Carlisle nevermind England.
— Ash McNally (@ash_mcnally90) May 31, 2021
It’s a real shame that a talent like Trent will be left at home for the major tournament, but perhaps it’s the ace’s performances for England that have sparked this decision from Southgate.
Alexander-Arnold, who has was 12 caps since his debut in June 2018, has struggled to make the kind of impact or show the defensive reliability that Southgate seeks, unlike James, Trippier and Walker.
Do you think that Southgate could’ve trimmed in other areas, like using Walker as one of the dedicated backup centre-backs or cutting in attack or midfield to make space for Alexander-Arnold?
Southgate is never going to lead England to a competition win. He copies off other managers styles, such as Klopp. The FA are never going to do any good for English football, not that their bothered. Southgate is another yes man who won’t question the FA, just like all the rest. I understand Trent wants to represent his country but if the manager is too dumb to not want him, Trent should just rest in the Sumner .
I have always said lfc players who are English are treated horribly compared to every other club. I’ve noticed this the last 40 years. I’ll give an example. When liverpool had so many steller players in the 80s and were supplying the likes of Wales, Scotland, Ireland with great players in leading roles guys like john barnes were playing supporting roles to the likes of Bryan Robson lol…Bryan Robson was captain in England and he was from united sounds familiar? So many united players have captained England England on some pretext or the other despite most being spite, while we needed Gerrard to grow wings and fly to have a short spell as captain….same as the knighthood being given to mancs for wearing the shirt or underwear where’s as an lfc player would need to win 10 leagues titles before a clown like Southgate will consider including him….Trent is a champions league and title winner ffs…that experience alone…the bias against lfc continues why am I not surprised
With less than two weeks to the championship, Alexander-Arnold was forced to come off, with Chelsea defender, Reece James, watching on after being rested due to the Blues’ Champions League final victory against Chelsea last weekend.