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Jamie Carragher says Liverpool defender is “markedly improved” in one area

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Jamie Carragher has claimed he’s spotted the defensive side of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s game improve in recent Liverpool games.

Alexander-Arnold, who is an amazing success story to come out of the academy, is under the spotlight after being left out of the England squad yesterday.

The 22-year-old hasn’t been named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers later in March.

He’s earned 12 senior international caps in the past, but will remain on Merseyside during the break.

Alexander-Arnold is an attack-minded full-back that has built up a reputation as one of the world’s elite right-backs in recent seasons.

But the Liverpool-born star is one of several individuals to see their performance levels drop this season, with most of the squad underperforming compared to the standards they’ve set.

Carragher still has massive faith though in the youngster, who he rates as an “incredible talent”, and feels he is getting better defensively.

“Over the course of the last few months, the defensive side of Alexander-Arnold’s game has markedly improved,” Carragher wrote in the Telegraph.

“Some of his recent performances have been his most solid this season. He could have been named Liverpool’s man-of-the-match against RB Leipzig and Wolves, when the team kept back-to-back clean sheets.”

On the defender’s exclusion from the the England squad, Carragher added:

“This feels like one of those moments he will look back upon as firing him up to unlock more of his incredible talent,” he said.

Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League
(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

TBR’s View:

If Alexander-Arnold is performing at his best, then most would have him as England’s best right-back without thinking twice.

Chelsea’s Reece James looks like being his direct rival for years to come, while right now there is also the experienced duo of Manchester City’s Kyle Walker and Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier around the camp.

Alexander-Arnold is so effective going forward, but just brushing up on his one-on-one defending and decision-making is going to make him unstoppable.