Chris Sutton implores Southgate to start Trent Alexander-Arnold for England

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Chris Sutton believes England manager Gareth Southgate should be thinking of playing Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold at the expense of Kieran Trippier.

The Atletico Madrid full-back, who transferred to the Wanda Metropolitano for £20 million from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer (BBC Sport), started the last two matches against Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

The 29-year-old has been rewarded for a fine start in Spain, but Sutton reckons it isn’t enough for him to be starting over Alexander-Arnold.

Writing in his latest Daily Mail column, he said: “Alexander-Arnold is clearly in form and flying for his club, so use him.

“Does Southgate think he is too gung-ho? I don’t think that would be a particularly fair assessment. Alexander-Arnold is lethal going forward but competent at the back, too.”

Alexander-Arnold has been ever-present for the Reds in the Premier League in 2019/20, and has featured in all but two Carabao Cup games in total.

TBR’s view – Alexander-Arnold should be England regular

Trippier has most definitely turned a corner working with Diego Simeone at Atletico, and deserves to be back in the England picture.

But Southgate should be turning to Alexander-Arnold as his starter, as Sutton suggests.

He’s been sensational for the Premier League leaders this season and continues to prove how much of a weapon he can be from an unassuming position on the pitch.

He should be the man to supply the ammunition for captain Harry Kane.

Trippier is solid back up, but it’s about time the Champions League winner was a regular for his country.