sport news Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold hasn't been good enough - England should leave him ... trends now

sport news Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold hasn't been good enough - England should leave him ... trends now
sport news Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold hasn't been good enough - England should leave him ... trends now

sport news Liverpool: Alexander-Arnold hasn't been good enough - England should leave him ... trends now

Trent Alexander-Arnold stood alone, grappling with the situation. Hands on his hips and head bowed, he was clearly inconsolable as the pain of it all took hold.

Elimination from the Champions League stings but there seemed more to this scene than just the frustration of another lost football match and the aching realisation this campaign will close without Liverpool collecting any silverware.

Alexander-Arnold had said last February Liverpool had reached a level where one pot a season was the minimum requirement, so for everything to be off the table with two months to play brought a crashing sense of failure. The squad knew this moment was coming but, still, it hurt.

There was, however, something else at play. Alexander-Arnold had endured a challenging night, one in which he had made mistakes and seen Vinicius Junior dribble past him six times; footballers don't need it spelling out when standards are not met and he knew his evening hadn't been good enough.

This, of course, meant one thing. Liverpool's number 66 has been the subject constant debate over the last seven months but it reached a new height when Jamie Carragher gave a powerful critique on CBS Sports.

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold was inconsolable after their Champions League exit

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold was inconsolable after their Champions League exit

The Reds were knocked out of Europe 6-2 on aggregate by Real Madrid on Wednesday

The Reds were knocked out of Europe 6-2 on aggregate by Real Madrid on Wednesday

Right-back Alexander-Arnold, 24, has endured a season of struggle amid disappointing form

Right-back Alexander-Arnold, 24, has endured a season of struggle amid disappointing form

It would not be a surprise if England boss Gareth Southgate (centre) dropped him in Thursday's announcement of his latest Three Lions squad

It would not be a surprise if England boss Gareth Southgate (centre) dropped him in Thursday's announcement of his latest Three Lions squad

During the course of a four-minute monologue, Carragher made some legitimate arguments. Alexander-Arnold's displays have been a cause for concern for a considerable period and not even his biggest fan would attempt to suggest otherwise.

Too often he has not chased after opponents with the right intensity. Aggression is a quality Jurgen Klopp demands from his players and it has jarred to see the 23-year-old either not making challenges or looking on helplessly as Liverpool's goal has been threatened.

He is not at the right level of form and it would not be the worst thing in the world if Gareth Southgate

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