England U19s begin their campaign in the European Under-19 Championship in Georgia this afternoon - but Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold will not be with them.
The West Derby teenager was not among the final 18 announced by coach Keith Downing on June 26 despite playing a key role in qualifying.
Alexander-Arnold played in six of the qualifying games for the tournament, scoring four goals and providing one assist from his right back position.
The 18-year-old would have been playing on the opposite side to Ryan Sessegnon, the Fulham teenager who was a summer target for Liverpool but who decided to stay at Fulham and signed his first professional deal there last week.
The lack of Alexander-Arnold with England is no slight on his performances however.
Liverpool and England had a discussion about the player’s availability at the end of the season and it was felt that the best thing for the youngster in the longer term was to rest this summer.
He has a huge year ahead and going away with England at this stage would have meant he would have missed a large part of the Reds' pre-season.
It is expected he will be used extensively as a back-up to Nathaniel Clyne as Jurgen Klopp looks to juggle his resources with the extra demands of European football.
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Seems like Klopp has realised that TAA is good enough to be Clyne's back up.
Could he be the next Liverpool-based star?
IMO he's more talented than Warnock, Kelly and Flanagan.
The West Derby teenager was not among the final 18 announced by coach Keith Downing on June 26 despite playing a key role in qualifying.
Alexander-Arnold played in six of the qualifying games for the tournament, scoring four goals and providing one assist from his right back position.
The 18-year-old would have been playing on the opposite side to Ryan Sessegnon, the Fulham teenager who was a summer target for Liverpool but who decided to stay at Fulham and signed his first professional deal there last week.
The lack of Alexander-Arnold with England is no slight on his performances however.
Liverpool and England had a discussion about the player’s availability at the end of the season and it was felt that the best thing for the youngster in the longer term was to rest this summer.
He has a huge year ahead and going away with England at this stage would have meant he would have missed a large part of the Reds' pre-season.
It is expected he will be used extensively as a back-up to Nathaniel Clyne as Jurgen Klopp looks to juggle his resources with the extra demands of European football.
----------------------------
Seems like Klopp has realised that TAA is good enough to be Clyne's back up.
Could he be the next Liverpool-based star?
IMO he's more talented than Warnock, Kelly and Flanagan.
