Trent Alexander-Arnold: Peter Crouch urges Gareth Southgate to rethink England selection for Euro 2020

Crouch compared full-back’s absence to Sven Goran Eriksson’s decision to overlook Jermain Defoe in 2006

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of England’s squad (Getty Images)

Trent Alexander-Arnold would be a glaring omission from England’s Euro 2020 squad if he is not selected by manager Gareth Southgate this summer, according to former England and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch.

Liverpool right-back Alexander-Arnold was not included in England’s 26-man group for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland, with Southgate saying that his decision was due to the 22-year-old’s form, which he said has dropped this season.

Chelsea’s Reece James, Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier and Manchester City’s Kyle Walker were the right-backs picked ahead of Alexander-Arnold, in what is a position of strength for the England manager, but Crouch said that Southgate has to make room for the Liverpool man ahead of the Euros this summer.

“The selection, or should that be ‘no-selection’, that surprised me most of all involved Trent Alexander-Arnold,” Crouch said in his column for the Daily Mail.

“I like James, he’s had an outstanding season but if Trent doesn’t go to the tournament it will remind me of the time Sven Goran Eriksson overlooked Jermain Defoe for Theo Walcott in 2006.

Read more:

• Alexander-Arnold’s absence is a familiar story Liverpool fans
• Why Oxlade-Chamberlain may need to leave Liverpool
• Who will make it into England’s Euro 2020 squad?

“Trent is a top player and surely you have to find a place for him in the squad?”

Alexander-Arnold has regularly featured in Southgate’s England selections since breaking into the national setup ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and played a key role in Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side that won the Champions League in 2019 and Premier League in 2020.

The defender’s pre-season was hit when he contracted Covid-19 and he was sidelined in November after injuring his calf in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

His form, along with that of his Liverpool team-mates, then dipped at the turn of the year, culminating in the Premier League champions losing six consecutive league matches at Anfield.

But the 22-year-old’s performances have improved since, and Southgate has not closed the door on selecting Alexander-Arnold ahead of the rescheduled Euros in June.

“The challenge now for Trent is to continue the form he’s starting to show with his club,” Southgate said when the squad was announced last week.

“That door is definitely open. I realistically did not think I would be sitting here today picking a squad with John Stones and Jesse Lingard in it. Trent is closer to this squad than they were to our autumn squads four months ago.”