Gareth Southgate has decided against including Trent Alexander-Arnold in England's 23-man squad for Monday night's clash against Germany - just days after he was blasted for ignoring the Liverpool star by Gary Lineker.
Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute on Friday night as England slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Italy in the Nations League; a result that confirmed the Three Lions' relegation from Tier B.
And the 23-year-old will not feature at Wembley against Germany after it was confirmed on Monday that Southgate has opted to omit Alexander-Arnold, Jack Grealish (suspension), James Ward-Prowse, Fikayo Tomori and Jarrod Bowen from his matchday squad.
Reece James got the nod to start at right wing-back ahead of Alexander-Arnold, whose impressive club form has not been enough to help him nail down a starring role for his country. Kyle Walker is also ahead of Alexander-Arnold in the international pecking order.
Alexander-Arnold amassed a staggering 21 goal contributions for Jurgen Klopp's side last year - and in the wake of another toothless display from England, who have failed to score in open play for over 450 minute, Lineker lashed out at the decision to ignore Alexander-Arnold and Leicester midfielder James Maddison, another one of the Premier League's most creative players.
He tweeted: "A gentle reminder that England’s most creative midfielder, @Madders10 was not in the squad of 28. And England’s most creative footballer, @TrentAA sat on the bench getting splinters in his a***…"
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Lineker's verdict is similar to that of Klopp, who declared that Alexander-Arnold was 'irreplaceable' earlier this year when the full-back was ruled out of Liverpool's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Nottingham Forest.
Speaking in March, Klopp said: “We will see how long it will take but, of course, to replace Trent is difficult but possible. We always did it. [But] the way he plays, I don’t know any player who plays like Trent in the world. So it will be difficult to find a one versus one replacement.
“We have Joe [Gomez]. Theoretically we can change the system as well. These kinds of things, so we have a couple of options, but you are right he is very influential."
Klopp has also been critical of how Southgate has utilised Alexander-Arnold in the past, with the Reds chief hitting out at the decision to play the full-back as a No.8 against Andorra last year.
Klopp mused: "In this game, in a game where England are that dominant for example, or that we are that dominant that Trent could play in midfield, I would rather he was the six than in this case the eight.
"That is possible but why would you make the best right-back in the world a midfielder? I don't understand that really."
