5 players who should've made the England squad

#3 Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold may be the future of England's defence

When it was announced on Twitter last week that young Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold had earned his first England call-up, I was both astonished and excited at the courage of Gareth Southgate....that was until I realised he’d actually been called up for the U-21s for the first time.

That move probably makes sense given the defender hadn’t played for the England youth sides in the summer, but after such an impressive start to the season, it was still a little deflating.

Due to an injury to Liverpool’s usual right-back Nathaniel Clyne, Alexander-Arnold – still only 18 years old – was thrown in the deep end when he started Liverpool’s first Premier League game against Watford, and while the Reds did concede three goals, the youngster was still one of their more impressive performers and didn’t look out of his depth.

A start against Hoffenheim in Liverpool’s first Champions League qualifier followed – as did his first goal, a brilliantly taken right-footed free-kick that left the keeper standing.

Alexander-Arnold hasn’t featured in Liverpool’s last two Premier League games but he did play in the second leg against Hoffenheim and again impressed. As he’s not likely to be a regular starter for the Reds it’s clear that Alexander-Arnold is one for the future, but with England’s two qualifiers looking relatively easy, perhaps Southgate should’ve decided the future is for now and called him up into the squad, if only to give the youngster some valuable experience and to send a message to other young talents.