The world’s best right-back in December is only England’s fourth finest in March. Arguably, anyway, because both were a matter of opinion.
Rewind to the end of last year and Trent Alexander-Arnold was voted a member of the FIFPro XI for 2020. He had been the only full-back to figure on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or in 2019, the last year it was held. He was entitled to call himself the best in his position in the game.
Gareth Southgate presumably disagrees. He selected three right-backs for England’s triple header against San Marino, Albania and Poland. Alexander-Arnold was not among them. Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker and Reece James were preferred.
Southgate can be England’s mild-mannered revolutionary, the eminently polite man who took the bold decisions to drop Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart, but this was a controversial call. Criticism has followed, most notably from Steven Gerrard. The presumption has to be that the Liverpool prodigy will miss Euro 2020.
Perhaps a pioneering force, the trailblazer for the right-backs who double as playmakers, the first full-back to register 25 assists over two Premier League seasons, came around too late. This was England’s problem position.
Glen Johnson was the only specialist right-back they took to either the 2010 or the 2014 World Cups. This, in contrast, is a period of rare riches. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is that anomaly, an uncapped Manchester United player. Tariq Lamptey was generating rave reviews at Brighton until he was injured. Southgate has namechecked Aston Villa's Matty Cash and Luke Ayling at Leeds.
And his views have changed. Trippier and Walker have both been dropped from the squad in the past, despite being stalwarts of the side who came fourth in the last World Cup. Each may owe his current status to a reversion from a back four to a back three and his versatility.
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Player ratings: Wolves 0 Liverpool 1
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SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 8: The 22-year-old had a busy night and emerged with credit. He made a number of important saves to keep his team in the game and could do nothing about either goal. Reuters -
Ethan Ampadu - 4: A poor night for the 20-year-old on loan from Chelsea. He struggled defensively and was wasteful in possession. One misguided pass across the face of goal allowed Alexander-Arnold a good chance. Reuters -
Phil Jagielka - 6: The 38-year-old used all his experience to marshal the defence and blocked what looked like a certain goal but time is catching up with the centre back. Withdrawn after 56 minutes for Osborn. Reuters -
Kean Bryan - 6: The 24-year-old tried his best to stop Firmino shooting and was unfortunate to deflect the Brazilian’s wayward effort into the net. He defended well overall. AP -
George Baldock - 5: The right back tackled effectively but was less confident going forward. He did not worry the opposition with his crossing and passing. Reuters -
Oliver Norwood - 6: The Northern Ireland international created United’s two best chances and constantly urged his team forward. He was often overrun by Liverpool’s quick breaks. Reuters -
John Lundstram - 4: The midfielder was diligent in helping Baldock to stop the threat of Mane and Robertson but was unable to create any traction going forward. His poor clearance started the move that led to the first goal. Reuters -
John Fleck - 5: The Scot made a number of timely interceptions and grew more assured on the ball after a shaky start. He was replaced by Sharp with 10 minutes left. PA -
Enda Stevens - 5: The Irishman had a job on his hands against Salah but kept to his task. He remained resolute even when it looked like he was being overwhelmed. Reuters -
Oli McBurnie - 7: The big striker used his physical presence cleverly. He had his side’s best chance but could not get the header on target. The Yorkshireman will never be a prolific scorer but he disturbs defences. Reuters -
David McGoldrick - 5: The 33-year-old tested Adrian twice in the first half with a header and a shot. He ran tirelessly until he was replaced by Burke with 34 minutes left. AFP -
SUBS: Oli Burke - 6: The winger came on for McGoldrick with 34 minutes left and helped raise the danger levels by getting behind Kabak. He might have done better with a late chance -
Ben Osborn - 5: The 26-year-old replaced Jagielka after 56 minutes as United changed their shape. His mobility gave the team more options to press the ball. PA -
Billy Sharp - 5: The 35-year-old was introduced in place of Fleck with 10 minutes to go but the veteran striker was unable to influence the game. PA -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Adrian - 7: Two early saves from McGoldrick bolstered the goalkeeper’s confidence. The Spaniard was sharp off his line and took no chances when the ball was in the air. PA -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8: Another excellent display from the full back. He sent in dangerous crosses, forced Ramsdale into a good save and set up Jones to score the opening goal . Reuters -
Nathaniel Phillips - 7: The 23-year-old was powerful in the air and unworried by the opposition’s physical power. His positioning was occasionally questionable but he was rarely exposed for pace. AP -
Ozan Kabak - 5: The Turk is adjusting to the speed and power of the Premier League. He was caught ball-watching a number of times and let forwards get behind him. He was targeted by McBurnie and will improve for that experience. AP -
Andrew Robertson - 7: The Scot was initially circumspect going forward but asserted himself as the game went on. He could have scored twice in the second half. Reuters -
Georginio Wijnaldum - 7: The Dutchman does the unglamorous jobs in midfield and can go unnoticed but it is essential work. Once the central areas were under control he joined the attack and forced Ramsdale to save. Reuters -
Thiago Alcantara - 6: The 29-year-old’s passing was crisper and his tackling was more restrained. He showed signs of getting on the same wavelength as the front three. Taken off for Milner with 14 minutes left. AP -
Curtis Jones - 8: The 20-year-old took his goal beautifully and was full of menace throughout. His directness scares defences. Substituted for Keita with 10 minutes left. Reuters -
Mohamed Salah - 7: A frustrating night for the lively Egyptian. He got into good positions but was either foiled by Ramsdale or had shots blocked by defenders. He will rue a late miss from Robertson’s cross. AP -
Roberto Firmino - 7: The pressure was on after the Brazilian missed a golden opportunity when one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He had a stroke of luck for the second goal but deserved the change of fortune because he never stopped working. Reuters -
Sadio Mane - 7: The Senegalese popped up across the pitch in a wide-ranging role and did not allow the United back line to relax. He created space and danger whenever he got on the ball. PA -
SUBS: James Milner - 6: Introduced for Thiago with 14 minutes left to help see out the game. The 35-year-old was as dependable as ever. Getty -
Naby Keita - 6: The midfielder was given the last 10 minutes when Jones was substituted. He looked rusty but was keen to get involved. The more playing time the better for the Guinean. Getty
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Walker is in effect included as the right of three central defenders. Trippier was surprisingly deployed as a left wing-back in autumn. The emergence of James has felt a gamechanger: neither his red card for dissent against Denmark nor his lesser role since Thomas Tuchel took over at Chelsea has discouraged the England manager.
James’ and Trippier’s prowess as crossers mean they can offer some of the same attributes as the omitted Liverpudlian: the Atletico Madrid man’s set-pieces proved particularly productive for England in the World Cup.
Alexander-Arnold presents a puzzle: the outstanding attacking right-back of the last three years yet without having the same impact as a wing-back. Perhaps he is simply less accustomed to the role.
It is wrong to say, as some have, that he has never played well for England, but his outstanding display came against Switzerland in the 2019 Nations League as a right-back and it did not render him an automatic choice.
It is also wrong to suggest that Alexander-Arnold has been poor of late and indeed Southgate did not. "He's taken steps in the right direction," he said last week; performances against Leipzig, Sheffield United and Wolves have brought an improvement even if the depths of winter were the first extended blip of a precocious career. Southgate's was a reasonable assessment.
“Trent's very unfortunate but I don't think he's played to the level he has done for the past couple of years,” he said.
Discarding him, however, is a decision that could define England’s summer. It feels a waste of a wonderful talent, even if that has rarely seen in an England shirt.
But one way or another, it appears an indictment of Southgate, even if Alexander-Arnold’s sudden fall from grace is a reminder that many a Jurgen Klopp footballer looks a lesser player in another side.
