Gabriel Agbonlahor has reignited the debate over whether Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold or Chelsea’s Reece James should start at right-back for England.
The Reds recorded a 1-0 victory over West Ham on Saturday, with Alexander-Arnold providing the assist for Sadio Mane’s decisive goal.
Earlier in the day, Reece James scored and assisted a goal apiece in Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Burnley as he made his first start since December after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Despite spending just over two months on the side-lines, it did not take long for the familiar argument to reoccur, with Agbonlahor stating he would pick the Chelsea man over Alexander-Arnold .
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“I’d choose Reece James, only because he’s better defensively,” the former Villa striker told talkSPORT on Saturday.
“If you say Trent Alexander-Arnold is a ten out of ten on the ball, Reece James is a nine out of ten so that’s enough that you need in that position that Reece James offers.
“Look at Reece James today, scored and assisted, he’s giving out assists and goals as well just like Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Reece James is a lot better defensively, he looks quicker as well.”
Alexander-Arnold equalled his best-ever assist tally of 16 across all competitions this weekend, despite there still being two months of the season remaining.
The 23-year-old also demonstrated his defensive prowess with an impressive goal-line clearance against the Hammers to record the 14th celan sheet he has been part of in 24 league games this season.
With England having a wealth of options in his position, Alexander-Arnold was memorably one of four right-backs to be selected in Gareth Southgate’s provisional Euros squad and has previously played in midfield for the Three Lions.
The topic is set to be up for discussion once again later this month when England face Switzerland and Ivory Coast in two friendlies at Wembley.
And though Agbonlahor said he would favour James ahead of Alexander-Arnold, the 35-year-old did still praise certain attributes of the Liverpool defender’s game.
“His all-round play has been amazing, ever since he made his debut to be honest,” he continued.
“He has been questioned about his defending but sometimes it’s harder to work on that than your natural ability on the ball and for me he’s the best right back in the world on the ball but defensively it can sometimes let him down.”
