Trent Alexander-Arnold, considered by many to be the best right-back in the world during his time at Liverpool, had to spend most of that period on the bench or watching England at home as manager Gareth Southgate preferred the defensive quality of Kyle Walker, Kieran Tripper and Reece James.
Southgate has been heavily criticized for his failure to utilize Alexander-Arnold properly and his unparalleled ability to supply crosses and defense-splitting passes from right-back, but the snub from Thomas Tuchel is likely to prove even more frustrating for the 27-year-old.
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He only came on as a substitute in Tuchel’s 1-0 win against Andorra in June, but he has yet to play for England as a Real Madrid player.He was absent in September because Tuchel did not like him, was injured in October, and was unable to make the Real Madrid team in November.
Having played just 172 minutes for the La Liga giants this season, nine of those minutes being booed by his admirers at Anfield, things may not really go to plan. We suspect he took his head off his shoulders while watching right-back Jarrell Quansah play against Albania.
“Of course I have a lot of faith in Jarrell,” Tuchel said when asked about Quansah ahead of Alexander-Arnold.
“I understand his talent, but I also understand his package. He is tall, fast, strong in the build-up, strong in the air. He has high ability.”
“He’s played every minute for Leverkusen since the Under-21 Euros, so we’re just a little bit ahead at the moment.”
Quansah had to leave Liverpool to play football, but Alexander-Arnold won’t begrudge him a place in and even within the team after impressing at Bayer Leverkusen. But he’s not a right-back.
He started just two games in that position during his senior career. That’s simply because his influence in that position paled in comparison to Alexander-Arnold’s (and still does).
And if Quansar lines up at the World Cup, the Whites star will now not be the only one to whisper insults at Tuchel. Because, despite the England manager’s strange suggestion that he played “as if he had already won 50 caps” on his debut, he is clearly not a right-back.
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It makes perfect sense for James to play ahead of Alexander-Arnold – the Chelsea man is probably the most complete right-back in the world. Tino Libramento is great because he is a decent right-back. And Jed Spence is at least a full-back.
Quansah is not only a centre-back, but also a centre-back who, along with Alexander-Arnold, failed to break into Liverpool’s squad. More frustrating, we imagine, would be, say, the Liverpool midfielder who didn’t make it when Alexander-Arnold was still at Anfield and playing as a right-back for England.
Who was Alexander-Arnold replaced after playing one game under Tuchel? Curtis is bleeding Jones.
