Full-back states Qatar case but door still closed

Alexander-arnold proves his point but England manager Southgate seems to have made mind up for World Cup

Welcome to the Trent Alexander-Arnold England hokey-cokey. In out, in out, in out… and make it all about him every fixture until Gareth Southgate picks his World Cup squad. Watching Alexander-arnold each week is rather like eating a fruit salad. There is a little something for everyone depending on your taste, particularly if you are partial to the occasional peach.

Last night, it was the turn of the Alexander-arnold fan club to assume the position of maximum smugness. You could almost hear the consternation of his champions as the youngster celebrated his goal.

“How can such a player be ignored by his country? He can do what many creative midfielders cannot, let alone defenders…”

But – for the naysayers – there is always a but. Last weekend, it was those indoctrinated with the idea that the full-back lacks defensive poise who could say “I told you so”, as if Brighton’s and everyone else’s attacking game plan is directed solely down Liverpool’s right. There is no escaping the fact there have been enough examples in previous games and previous seasons to ensure those cautious about Alexander-arnold’s selection at the World Cup will argue another defensive lapse is in the post.

Yet, even though there was a sense of inevitability that Alexander-arnold would find the top corner when he struck the seventh minute free-kick to ensure Liverpool’s confidence crisis did not extend into the Champions League, more reassuring was how Rangers’ former Liverpool winger Ryan Kent failed to land a glove on the defender. Any suggestion Alexander-arnold is a weak link was shattered every time he shrugged off his opponent. This, too, has been a common theme against more superior attackers in the past four years.

The rare blemishes – admittedly more common this season – have been magnified by the England debate. It was telling that Jurgen Klopp referenced his right-back’s excellence in defence before accepting an invitation to lavish praise on his goal. One could have been forgiven for thinking the reshaped line-up, introducing two midfielders and three deep attackers to form the defensive shield, was purposely designed to ensure Alexander-Arnold would not be so isolated.

The abiding image of the evening, however, was that free-kick. Such moments underline why – at the very least – many consider Alexander-arnold the perfect X-factor substitute for Qatar, even if Southgate can see him as no more than a (possible) understudy.

Southgate, like everyone else, will have learnt nothing new from the past few days. He has seen Alexander-arnold produce in the final third enough to know he possesses rare gifts. Evidently, he has never been able to overcome the doubts about the player’s powers of recovery and concentration at the other end. Ultimately, “the debate” is a distraction for all parties now. The England manager has been guilty of clumsiness with certain comments.

How would Eddie Howe react if Klopp suggested a swap for the more “all-round” Kieran Trippier, for example? With respect to a fine Newcastle player, he would think it is a wind-up. Such remarks surely prove Southgate’s mind is already clear and everyone would be wiser to move on. Given what the 23-yearold has produced in a Liverpool defence which – until the start of this season – has been among the meanest in Europe for the last five years, only injury can get him into the England XI now.

But we shall await the next verdict from the Emirates on Sunday, when Alexander-arnold versus Gabriel Martinelli will formally decide once and for all, beyond all reasonable doubt, if the Liverpool man can be trusted in Qatar. Except it won’t. Alexander-arnold dealt with the young Brazilian well enough on several occasions last year, so even if it goes wrong this weekend, there can be no definitive conclusions. For every example of him not getting close enough to a winger, there are 10 others of him delivering quality assists in a manner comparable to Kevin De Bruyne.

There was an element of choreography when – with 90 seconds left – Klopp asked the fourth official to raise Alexander-arnold’s number.

A standing ovation for sixty-six… one would have thought having that on his back would make him a shooin for the England team.