Gerrard Criticizes Alexander-Arnold’s Omission
The England squad call-up was not without controversy. Thomas Tuchel decided to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out, a decision that caused a stir among fans and analysts in English football.
One of those who didn’t understand the coach’s choice was Steven Gerrard, Liverpool legend. “Stevie G” expressed his disappointment over the absence of the fullback and made it clear that, for him, this is a hard-to-justify decision.
Gerrard’s Take on Alexander-Arnold
Gerrard explained his stance, pointing out that while there are other options at right-back, Alexander-Arnold remains one of the best English players today. He also reminded that he can perform on the left flank, so from his perspective, there’s no strong reason to leave him out.
It’s true that Trent is coming back from an injury, but for Gerrard, that doesn’t change the situation much. In his eyes, the defender should be in the squad, especially ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Tuchel and Alexander-Arnold’s Recovery
It’s worth noting that Tuchel has commented on the defender and made it clear that he knows exactly what Alexander-Arnold can bring to the team. However, his plan seems to be to let him fully recover and regain competitive rhythm with Real Madrid before considering him again.
Everything indicates that the coach has him in mind for the next squad, which will be key for the World Cup, as well as for the upcoming friendlies: June 7 against New Zealand and June 10 against Costa Rica.
In the Madrid derby, the British defender played 26 minutes and had a discreet performance in Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Atlético. Alexander-Arnold is gradually regaining his rhythm, and Tuchel’s decision seems focused more on safeguarding his recovery than excluding him permanently. Pushing him now could be an unnecessary risk and even jeopardize his World Cup participation.
Gerrard wants to see him wearing the Three Lions jersey, and his opinion makes sense given the player’s quality. However, he might be jumping the gun thinking that Alexander-Arnold isn’t in Tuchel’s plans. Everything suggests the coach is simply waiting for the right moment.
