"Fantastic player" - Gareth Southgate praises Trent Alexander-Arnold

England manager Gareth Southgate has praised Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The 23-year-old has been terrific for the Reds over the years. Alexander-Arnold is a defender by trade, but he is terrific going forward.

The England international has scored 12 goals and registered 62 assists in 226 appearances for Liverpool's first-team.

Alexander-Arnold is coming off a superb 2021-22 season. He averaged a WhoScored player rating of 7.43 across the campaign.

Therefore, we weren't surprised to hear Southgate wax lyrical about Alexander-Arnold. He also touched on why he finds it difficult to select the full-back on a consistent basis for England.

As quoted by Anfield Watch on Twitter, he told the Liverpool Echo the following: "Trent’s a fantastic player, I don’t think anybody has ever heard me say differently. We could only really play him in one game this camp. He pulled out in March. He wasn’t fit for the Euros.

"Because he’s a great footballer, I tried him in midfield - there was some validity in looking at that.

"The way Liverpool play gets the best out of him and that’s to do with the pressing, it’s to do with the way they defend. They get him into those forward areas - that is what we tried to do with him from the wing-back position (against Hungary).

“But I have three amazing right-backs. Kyle Walker is one of the best in the world, so is Reece James and so is Trent, they’re different profiles. So I’m always going to have those situations where people disagree with the selection.

"That noise over the last two, three years does seem to have been extremely loud, and I’ve had to ride that and get on with it. That’s what I’ve got to deal with. I’m sure the manager of Brazil has the same. I know the manager of France does."

Anfield Watch Verdict

Alexander-Arnold is arguably the best right-back in the world. Therefore, we believe that he should always be starting for both Liverpool and England.

Alexander-Arnold is a generational talent. Yes, the Scouser is not the best defender. But, his positive attributes outweigh the poorer aspects of his game.

Alexander-Arnold is also a leader on the pitch. He could be Liverpool's next captain.