Trent Alexander-Arnold was often miscast or just not used during Gareth Southgate’s England tenure, but back in his best position under Lee Carsley, it could bring an end to the Three Lions career of veteran full-back Kyle Walker
There are two words that might be key to Trent Alexander-Arnold finally becoming the number one tenant in England’s right-back slot.
Rico Lewis.
Of the many traits that make Pep Guardiola the greatest coach/manager of his generation, ruthlessness is right up there and the early-season form of Lewis for Manchester City is an ominous sign for Kyle Walker. And while Walker has a club contract that runs until the summer of 2026, Guardiola will not shy away from limiting the 34-year-old’s game-time if he believes 19-year-old Lewis is the better option on the right side of what passes for a City defence.
As talented as Liverpool’s Conor Bradley is, Alexander-Arnold is a certain starter for Arne Slot’s side, even though it could be his final season at the club. And that is just one of the reasons why Alexander-Arnold should be in the box-seat for being the go-to right-back in this new England era.
If, because of Lewis’s outstanding form, Walker is not a regular starter at City, Lee Carsley will have another reason to prefer Alexander-Arnold.
Carsley might not even need another reason because he has plenty already, a basic one being that Alexander-Arnold is more than eight years the City defender’s junior.
You get the feeling Carsley will want a young, vibrant squad. But the obvious reason why Alexander-Arnold now looks certain to usurp Walker is that he is, arguably, the most creative full-back in European football, possibly even world football.
His involvement in the creation of chances over Carsley’s first two games has been immense, the national team seeing the Alexander-Arnold that Liverpool fans have been seeing for so many years. His short, medium and long passing has not been faultless but has almost always been adventurous.
In terms of England’s high xG (expected goals) numbers against Ireland and Finland, Alexander-Arnold is at the heart of them. But there you have two words that those who believe Walker should remain as the number one choice for the number two position will seize upon.
Ireland and Finland.
These have hardly been stern tests of Alexander-Arnold’s defensive capabilities and if you wanted someone to counter, say, Kylian Mbappe, Walker’s backers would still contest there is only one option. And considering Walker appears to be losing none of his pace, they might be right.
But Walker’s last international appearance was in the Euro final and it is fair to say the 91-cap veteran was not exactly where he should have been for both of the goals England conceded in the 2-1 defeat to Spain.
There is absolutely no suggestion Walker might consider international retirement – even though he had to be talked out of it twice by Southgate – but his below-par performance in that game in Berlin in mid-July felt significant.
On the field, Walker was England’s second-in-command at the Euros, meaning both captain and vice-captain were in their thirties. No problem with that but even in his interim role, it feels like Carsley is bringing in a new era.
That will mean there will be some casualties amongst what might be considered the old guard.
And with Alexander-Arnold back in his best position after the doomed midfield experiment, one of those casualties looks likely to be Walker.
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