Trent Alexander-Arnold hasn't had the best of seasons.
Normally a pillar of consistency in a very good Liverpool side, he has struggled in this campaign as the team around also found it difficult to rediscover their form. You'd imagine that this will change sooner rather than later, although that might not help him all that much at international level.
Gareth Southgate has always been wary of including Alexander-Arnold in his England teams. Even during periods when he was the most in-form right back in world football, the English boss was hesitant to start him over other options in that position.
That was always unlikely to change now that he is in the midst of a fallow period, with Alexander-Arnold left out of the matchday squad for the game against Germany earlier this week.
There has now even been some speculation as to whether he will be included in the squad for the World Cup.
Jurgen Klopp on Trent Alexander-Arnold England situation
Jurgen Klopp who is someone who has consistently backed Trent Alexander-Arnold, putting him into the Liverpool team as a teenager and helping him develop into one of the biggest stars in the Premier League.
Speaking to the media ahead of the game against Brighton tomorrow, he was inevitably asked about the player's situation at international level.
While everyone knew what his opinion on the matter would be, he took the opportunity to point out that the media portrayal of issues such as this one are often reasons why England teams feel like they are under massive pressure heading into major tournaments.
🗣️ “If you ask me for my honest opinion, it will create headlines. You want that? It helps Germany maybe, but it doesn’t help England. I don’t know why we do that.”
Jürgen Klopp responds to a reporter asking about Trent Alexander-Arnold not being picked for England. pic.twitter.com/o378wEr6s6— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 30, 2022
Do you really want to open this box? I mean it.
You are an English journalist and now we can discuss selections until the World Cup starts. That is one of the reasons, why you make massive stories out of these kinds of things, that the team cannot prepare properly.
If you ask me for my honest opinion we will create headlines, that is clear. Do you want that?
It helps Germany maybe, but it doesn't help England. It's a situation where a manager picks a player or not, which I would obviously decide differently, but I'm not in charge of this team. That's the way it is.
If you want to discuss it I have a lot of things to say, but I'm really not sure that it makes sense.
He has a point.
The English media have a tendency to cause division with issues around the national team, especially when it comes to things such as team selection. As Klopp points out, this often serves only to add unnecessary pressure to what will already be a very high stakes environment at a World Cup.
When pushed further, the German said that while he respects Gareth Southgate's stance, he himself would include Alexander-Arnold in team in world football.
🗣️ “I see him differently, that’s clear. There are stories saying he [Trent Alexander-Arnold] is not a good defender. That’s not true.”
Jürgen Klopp on managing Trent Alexander-Arnold following disappointment regarding his England appearances over the past year. pic.twitter.com/LmspbTMnXO— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 30, 2022
His offensive impact is so extreme for us, it could be for each team in the world I would say. From my point of view it's easy, whichever team I would coach I would sign him...
It's Gareth's decision. He made the decision. The only thing I can say is that I see it differently, but that doesn't mean it is right or wrong. I just see him everyday.
For Trent, he came back in and was not in a party mood, but he accepts the decision of the manager as well. He understands football, he is an extremely smart boy.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will be very much focusing on club duties for the time being, with Liverpool facing into a difficult run of fixtures.
Regardless of how he performs in the weeks ahead, this debate certainly isn't going anywhere.
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