Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold plays his way into Gareth Southgate’s next England evolution

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Gareth Southgate is in no mood to settle. After three years as England manager and two semi-finals, he wants to keep improving the team, even if that means dropping the men who starred at the World Cup in Russia last year.

Speaking after England secured third place in the Nations League on Sunday in Guimaraes, Southgate sounded a ruthless note about the next year of his tenure, between now and Euro 2020. He has spent enough time relaxing the players, freeing them up, removing the old burdens of the shirt. Now it is time to put some burdens back on them. “There now comes a point where we have to demand more, we’ve got to find another edge,” Southgate said. “I’ve got to make sure I’m constantly raising the bar.”

Managers have no better lever to pull than team selection. Southgate has no clearer way to convey this message than by dropping the heroes of the World Cup for the next generation of players. And no lesson emerged clearer from the Nations League than this: Liverpool’s brilliant young defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez must be first choices for England, if they are not already.

Alexander-Arnold and Gomez both started against Switzerland on Sunday and both looked instantly ready for the demands of senior competitive football. Not that there was any doubt that they would: just take a look at what they have achieved for Liverpool over the last two seasons.

Alexander-Arnold was England’s best attacking player, taking advantage of the space provided by the 4-4-2 diamond system. He put in perfect crosses for Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli and Callum Wilson, and with better luck he would have finished with a hat-trick of assists. He does not have the explosive running of Kyle Walker but he has shown that he can be even more dangerous in his own way. Southgate was delighted, and when he discussed Alexander-Arnold afterwards, it sounded as if he was the new first choice right-back.

“He was very good in terms of his use of the ball,” Southgate said. “His technique for his crossing is fantastic. There’s still a bit to do defensively on positioning and awareness, but he’s had some fantastic experiences already in a very short career. He’s heading in a really good trajectory.”

The fact that Alexander-Arnold has a club manager in Jurgen Klopp who spotted his potential early and immediately promoted him to first choice certainly helps. He was only 19 when he became a regular and has not looked back since.

“His manager has shown great faith in him to put him in the team at Liverpool, keep him in the team when he’s had a few difficult moments,” Southgate said. “That faith has been repaid. He knows the quality he brings, and the way Liverpool like to play by turning teams, and the quality of his forward passing in behind opposition is a huge asset for them. It’s great that he has a manager with that faith in him.”

It helps that Southgate has also known Alexander-Arnold for years, all the way since their time in the England Under-17 set up four years ago. He is an example of a player who Southgate has seen come up through all the groups, understanding how England are meant to play from the start.

“His mum came to the hotel the other day, and I’ve met here before, and she’s wonderful woman,” Southgate said. “I think they feel part of the England family. I went to the US with him when he was U17s a few years ago. He’s a lovely kid. He’s very proud of his roots and he’s given a lot to his own community as well. He’s matured in that time. He got sent off in that tournament. When he was younger he had lapses of that. He’s 20 years old, played in two Champions League finals, it’s an amazing stat.”

Now England are trying to get to a final for themselves, and it feels as if Southgate has decided Alexander-Arnold is the man to take them there.