GARETH Southgate is awash with excellent right backs, but this hasn’t stopped the England manager from facing criticism for his stance on Trent Alexander-Arnold. As things stand, the 23-year-old is a long way down Southgate’s pecking order and might even be fighting for a seat on the plane to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.

This is remarkable given Alexander-Arnold’s quality. Andy Robertson is the only active defender to have registered more Premier League assists than the 23-year-old with Alexander-Arnold crucial to the way Liverpool operate under Jurgen Klopp. The Reds wouldn’t be the same team without the crossing and creativity of their right back.

Southgate, however, sees glaring defensive flaws in Alexander-Arnold and his recent performances for Liverpool vindicate the England manager in his stance. Liverpool have kept just two clean sheets in nine matches this season with Alexander-Arnold’s decision-making coming under intense scrutiny. By Klopp’s own admission, his right back has struggled at times.

Opponents have started to target Alexander-Arnold. This was most brutally demonstrated in Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Napoli when the Serie A side tore Klopp’s team to pieces, most notably down Alexander-Arnold’s wing – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was rampant against the Englishman. Brighton also exposed the right back in their 3-3 draw at Anfield on Saturday – Alexander-Arnold couldn’t handle Pascal Gross and Leandro Trossard.

Alexander-Arnold’s game has always been lopsided, but this isn’t such an issue for Liverpool. Klopp likes his team to press from the front and this comes with a risk. Liverpool, however, make the gamble that not many opponents will be able to play through their press, giving them the reward of having Alexander-Arnold high up the pitch when they win the ball back. From there, he can influence Liverpool’s play in the final third.

“When we do a high press Trent is often the highest of all those at the back. That is the way we play football,” Klopp said when asked when recently asked to explain Alexander-Arnold’s role for Liverpool. “Now, you can say: ‘You should defend better,’ but you cannot have everything because if you want to play high press you need players in specific positions.”

For England, Alexander-Arnold is required to play a more passive way. Southgate doesn’t just need an outlet down the wing, but someone who can recover well and close off opposition passing channels. This is where the likes of Reece James, Kyle Walker and even Kieran Trippier are well ahead of Alexander-Arnold.

Some have pondered whether Alexander-Arnold could be used in a different position for England. His technical level and influence for Liverpool is so great that it seems greatly wasteful not to play the 23-year-old, but Southgate’s system doesn’t have much room for an attack-minded creator who doesn’t offer much on the defensive side of the ball in his own half.

A back three would offer Alexander-Arnold some protection with James and Walker both comfortable playing as a right-sided centre back, but this would come at the cost of a midfield creator in an advanced position. Southgate would likely have to sacrifice Phil Foden or Jack Grealish to make this system work.

England are fortunate to have good options all over the pitch and they are better-equipped at right back than in any other position. Alexander-Arnold might be perfect for Klopp’s Liverpool, but his game isn’t aligned with that of Southgate’s as Three Lions boss. This has been highlighted by his recent performances. Just because Klopp is right doesn’t mean Southgate is wrong.