Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has expressed his concerns over the likelihood of Trent Alexander-Arnold playing for England in their upcoming Nations League fixtures. This follows an injury scare that the right-back experienced during a match against Aston Villa.
During Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, 26-year-old Alexander-Arnold was withdrawn early due to a suspected hamstring problem. This incident has cast doubt on his participation in this week's international double-header with Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Slot did not provide much information regarding Alexander-Arnold’s condition. However, he indicated during his press conference that he would be "surprised" if the vice-captain risked playing in England's forthcoming Nations League games due to what could potentially be a serious issue.
Arne Slot, Liverpool manager, said:
“It is difficult to say how serious it is but it is always serious if a player goes out in the first half. Not because I didn’t like him but he asked for it himself, he asked for it because he felt something. So that is first of all not a good sign. It is always difficult so close after the game to tell you exactly what it is but let’s wait and see. I would be surprised if we will see him playing for the England national team this week but hopefully he can.”
Impact on international duties
Despite being behind Kyle Walker for most of his career in terms of international selection, Alexander-Arnold has started all four games under interim manager Lee Carsley following Gareth Southgate’s departure last summer.
However, given the recent developments around his fitness status, it seems unlikely that he will play any further part under Carsley before Thomas Tuchel officially takes over as England's new head coach in 2025.
Controversy around player selections
Carsley is already facing criticism this week from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after calling up Jack Grealish for international duty despite him being absent for three weeks due to an unspecified issue.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, said:
“No. It's a question for the England manager. I'm not involved. They can select who they want. But no, he's not fit. It's [Carsley's] decision. In 17 days he didn't train once. Today [Thursday] was his first training and he trained for 20 minutes. This is the reality.
“It's always has been like that. National teams always play in this period and I'm always pleased for players to go. When they are fit, and they haven't struggled for the last one, two, three, four weeks. They love to play with their national teams. When they are fit and don't struggle in the last month. I have the opinion they have to recover.”
This situation highlights some potential tensions between club managers and national team selectors when it comes to player fitness and selection for international duties. It also underscores the importance of effective communication and collaboration between all parties involved to ensure the best interests of players are prioritized. While sports fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming Nations League fixtures, they will have to wait for further updates on whether key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold will be fit enough to participate.
