Trent Alexander-Arnold’s relationship with England has been a difficult one.
The Liverpool star has flirted with the idea of having a full blown romance with the Three Lions. While on other occasions, he has felt nothing but rejection.
But in the space of just a week, interim boss Lee Carsley has achieved what Gareth Southgate failed to in eight years, by making Alexander-Arnold fall in love with representing his country.
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And the news will not be music to the ears of Kyle Walker or Kieran Trippier.
RIP on the international stage you two, because England’s right-back now, and for the foreseeable future, will be Alexander-Arnold.
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(Image: Getty Images)
Picking him here, with that license to drift into midfield when necessary, does two things.
It leaves him less exposed than in midfield, when it comes to defending, while also allowing him to contribute to the creative side of England’s attacking game.
Make no mistake, Walker in particular has been one of the outstanding full-backs of his generation and a fine servant to England. But time is no longer on his side.
Carsley has accepted this and looked forward, instead of settling for the status quo. In the game against Finland on Tuesday, Alexander-Arnold was a revelation. Much like he was in the win over Republic of Ireland three days earlier.
(Image: PA)
Bigger tests lie ahead. But he created the most chances (five) in the 2-0 win over the Finns which, since the start of 2019, is the third time he’s created five or more in a game for the Three Lions.
No other player has achieved this on more than one occasion in that time. He was instrumental in both goals for Harry Kane, and had a pass completion rate of almost 85%.
In short, Carsley gave Alexander-Arnold the backing and platform to go out and do for England what he does on a regular basis for Liverpool. And got his rewards.
(Image: Getty)
He said: “You have seen Trent’s array of passing, and ability to control a game. It’s not a surprise as we have seen him do it for Liverpool.”
What is a shock is how Southgate continued to neglect Alexander-Arnold for so long. He never trusted him. He won just 29 caps under Southgate, since making his debut in 2018.
But this figure is about to rise at a more rapid rate, along with England’s chances of breaking down stubborn defences when it matters most.