Carragher hints Klopp is to blame for Alexander-Arnold’s England axe

Jamie Carragher has claimed that the style of football Liverpool play under Jurgen Klopp, means Gareth Southgate may not see him as a starter for England.

The Reds full back was a shock omission from Southgate’s latest squad, with the England boss suggesting he has yet to find his form for the national side.

“I don’t think that Trent has played at the level that he found in the last couple of years but he’s getting very close to that now,” Southgate said.

“In the last couple of weeks, he’s definitely taken steps in the right direction. It’s simply that we think Reece James and Kieran Trippier have had exceptional seasons with their clubs. Kyle Walker is in great form, too.”

Alexander-Arnold has endured a slump for his club side, one of many players at Anfield to have failed to find their best form in a disappointing campaign for the champions.

However, the 22-year-old was still widely expected to be named within the squad and his snub puts his place at this summer’s European Championship in doubt.

But Liverpool legend Carragher believes that the differences between playing under Klopp and Southgate have played a major role in his axe.

"What we have to realise is playing for England under Southgate is never going to be the same as for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool,” he wrote in his Telegraph column.

“Since he made his Liverpool debut, Alexander-Arnold has been a midfielder converted into a full-back.

"He has flourished by growing in a side which wants domination with the ball, thriving when Liverpool had its usual back four and covering midfielders who have enabled him to play as much like a wide midfielder than defender.

“Strange as it sounds for a full-back, defending has never been his strongest asset. He has sometimes struggled in one-on-one defensive or man-marking situations. Naturally, when Liverpool’s back four and midfield was destabilised by injuries at the start of this season, that became more apparent.

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He added: “Trent has often cited Barcelona’s Dani Alves as his hero. That’s perfect when Liverpool are swarming all over the opposition.

"That has not been the case for the last eight months, and never will be for England in an international tournament.

“Southgate knows that when England face tougher nations in a knockout round at the Euros, his side will go long periods without possession.

"That is why he is more inclined to pick a full-back he believes is more geared to defending rather than attacking."

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