Micah Richards has insisted Trent Alexander-Arnold must start for England at the upcoming World Cup and would suit the 'slower' nature of international football.
The Liverpool right-back played no part in the Three Lions' UEFA Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany at the end of September and has long been overlooked by manager Gareth Southgate despite elite-level performances by the Reds' right-back at club level.
A dip in form this season has done little to increase Alexander-Arnold's chances of being named in Southgate's World Cup squad, but recent injuries to both Kyle Walker and Reece James may well have changed the dynamic.
READ MORE: Liverpool could solve injury crisis with cut-price January transfer thanks to Xabi Alonso
READ MORE: Jeff Stelling sends on-air apology after comments about Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Regardless of whether the aforementioned duo recover in time to feature for the Three Lions, Richards has no doubt in his mind Liverpool's No.66 should be on the plane to Qatar.
"Trent is my favourite - I love him," he told the Mirror. "Obviously, he has gone through a difficult patch at Liverpool but what he possesses going forward is ridiculous. I played at right-back - and what these boys are doing in that position now is just amazing. Gone are the days when your full-backs tried to keep things tight defensively and then got forward when you could.
"They start in forward positions now and are expected to create chances like wingers. Trent doesn’t only have to go - he has to play. International football is slower than the Premier League, so I think that will help him from a defensive point of view. England don’t press like Liverpool. They drop off and get into shape, so that would really suit Trent. It isn’t great going into a tournament with so many injuries.
“I just hope we don’t play three at the back because when England play that system, we always get pushed back and it becomes five at the back. Gareth also likes two defensive midfielders - so that would give us seven defensive players. I really don’t think we can win the World Cup playing like that."
READ NEXT:
- Liverpool lose seven-goal thriller as son of Premier League icon scores on debut
- Gary Neville makes X-rated Liverpool jibe before brutal TV dressing down by Ian Hislop
- Endrick's father addresses transfer rumours amid Liverpool 'interest' in Palmeiras wonderkid
- Liverpool 'big talent' who Jurgen Klopp loved was sold for £15m and now finds himself without a club
- 'People don't understand' - Trent Alexander-Arnold slams critics with impassioned defence of Liverpool form
