Trent Alexander-Arnold was dropped for Real Madrid’s starting line-up against Atletico Madrid in La Liga for being late to training this week
Liverpool duo Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold with the Premier League trophy
Liverpool duo Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold with the Premier League trophy(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images))
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Trent Alexander-Arnold has endured a difficult couple of days. Alexander-Arnold was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s bumper 35-man England squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
Tuchel would then say that the defender’s World Cup hopes are not over, but he did admit he is down the pecking order. Then, on Sunday, the former Liverpool man was dropped from Real Madrid’s starting line-up against Atletico Madrid for being late to training last week.
The right-back would come on in the 64th minute as Real fought back to beat derby rivals Atletico 3-2 at the Bernabeu and keep in touch with LaLiga leaders Barcelona.
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And taking to Instagram after the game, Alexander-Arnold wrote: “Madrid. Y nada mas.”
The defender received plenty of responses to the post, with former Liverpool team-mate Andy Robertson writing: “What a player”, while Vinicius Jr replied: “My guy, T.”
Asked on Friday whether Alexander-Arnold’s World Cup hopes were over, Tuchel replied: “No. I know that it’s a tough decision for Trent, as it is for, I guess, Ollie Watkins at the moment, and for Luke Shaw.
“These tough decisions come with a job. It is a sporting decision to stick with Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento and with Djed Spence, who can all play for us in the right full-back position.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thomas Tuchel
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thomas Tuchel(Image: Urbanandsport/NurPhoto)
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“I know it’s a big name. I think he’s a huge talent and has a big career but I feel that I know what Trent can give us and decided to stick to the players who were in camp with us.
“They offer a slightly different profile, I would say. But it is more the evidence that we have that we were good in September, October, November, than anything to do with what Trent cannot offer us.
“I know very well what Trent can offer us. I played many times against him and suffered when he played against my teams with Liverpool. So I know very well about his strength and what he can give.”
Alexander-Arnold was handed a further blow to his England hopes on Monday when Arsenal defender Ben White received his first Three Lions call-up since the 2022 World Cup.
White has not featured for the national team since leaving the squad in Qatar for personal reasons and then making himself unavailable for selection for the remainder of Sir Gareth Southgate’s spell in charge, but he is back in the fold after Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah withdrew due to injury.
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