Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out of Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad and a former coach was taken aback by the call
Joleon Lescott speaks on In The Mixer
Joleon Lescott was surprised by Trent Alexander-Arnold being left out of the latest England squad(Image: In The Mixer)
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Ex-England assistant coach Joleon Lescott was surprised to see Thomas Tuchel leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his latest squad. The former Liverpool defender was not called up for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.
Tuchel selected a 35-player squad for the international break just passed and while ex-Reds stars Jarell Quansah and Jordan Henderson earned a spot, Alexander-Arnold did not.
The West Derby-born right-back left Anfield in the summer of 2025 for Real Madrid. He has just started featuring more regularly after suffering from hamstring and thigh injuries that limited his minutes.
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Nevertheless, despite him earning 34 senior caps, Tuchel opted to snub the 27-year-old. Ex-Everton defender Lescott, who worked as an assistant under Lee Carsley before the German took over, was astonished by the decision.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thomas Tuchel are present during the match between the national teams of Andorra and England, corresponding to Matchday 3 A of Group K of the World Cup Qualifying
Alexander-Arnold wasn't called up to Tuchel's squad(Image: Getty)
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Speaking on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, Lescott said: "The Trent one surprised me. It surprised me more because of the injuries to others.
"I don't know how you can play for Real Madrid and not be considered as one of the top four in your position in the world? That was the surprise for me. If everyone were fit and Trent doesn't get in there, I'm like, 'Okay.' I can half understand it if Reece James is there, but with him being injured and he's still not getting in…
"I just know if you're playing for Real Madrid you warrant being in the top four or five in your position in the world. That's the thing for me. But also, his requirements for England are going to be totally different.
"England aren't going to have to rely on Trent's offensive ability the same way Liverpool did to win. That isn't going to be the outcome [at a World Cup].
"I think it's less likely to be like that later in the competition because the early teams are going to sit deeper than when you get to the latter stages. I believe it becomes more of a man for man game.
"Where your best XI is our best XI. Regardless of how you impact that, it might be an offensive outcome. But I think, when you get to the latter stages, when the teams are more balanced against each other, defenders need to defend and attackers need to attack.
"If Reece James is fit I don't think there's an argument really. I think he's the most well-rounded right back. But in regards to Trent, like I say, I don't think the game's going to require changing the right back, and that isn't going to be the requirement for England to win the World Cup final."
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