Trent Alexander-Arnold would have been better off staying at home than going to the World Cup in Qatar with England.
That's the view of former Reds defender Glen Johnson after the Liverpool right-back was limited to just one group-stage substitute appearance during the tournament.
Alexander-Arnold's inclusion in Gareth Southgate's squad had been in question until Chelsea's Reece James was ruled out with an injury. But despite making the final 26-man squad, the Kop hero was limited to just one 33-minute second-half outing against Wales, with the game already won.
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Speaking to Midnite, Johnson said: "As a player like Trent Alexander-Arnold who wants to help the team and be successful but does not play any minutes, it's heartbreaking. Looking at it now, it might've been better for Alexander-Arnold to have stayed at home.
"The way he is, Alexander-Arnold will turn this negative into a positive, coming back he will be fired up and he'll want to show people what he can do. I'd expect Alexander-Arnold to take these next few months very seriously."
Alexander-Arnold will be expected to return to action for the Reds this week, when Jurgen Klopp takes his side to Manchester City on Thursday evening for a mouth-watering Carabao Cup tie.
The crunch fixture is followed by a trip to Villa Park on Boxing Day, when Liverpool's faltering Premier League campaign resumes against Aston Villa, but Johnson believes that his former team can use the World Cup reset to their advantage.
He said: "Man City still have players coming back from the World Cup and Liverpool have been playing friendlies. If Liverpool players are feeling fitter from being back longer from the World Cup, they can field a good side and nick the win against Man City.
"I do see Liverpool struggling to get top four this season. But we don't know the effect this World Cup is going to have on domestic sides. The World Cup might slow the league down and hinder some of the big teams, this gap might help teams like Liverpool who have been struggling. Liverpool will need to turn it around as soon as possible.
"Not many players from Aston Villa would have gone to the World Cup so they will be more rested. If I was Jurgen Klopp I'd be more worried about the team he can put together rather than Aston Villa's form under Unai Emery before the World Cup."
A number of mooted Liverpool targets shone in Qatar, including England's Jude Bellingham and eventual World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez from Argentina, but it is the former who Johnson believes would be the perfect fit for Klopp.
Johnson said: "Enzo Fernandez looks like a really good player and will be a really good signing for Liverpool. If the deal is already agreed then you know Liverpool have not signed him purely on his World Cup form. When clubs sign players who play well for three games at a World Cup, it’s madness. Fernandez would have been scouted properly before the World Cup and Liverpool knew how good he can become.
"I'd pick Jude Bellingham over Fernandez. Bellingham had a brilliant few games at the World Cup and he's still learning. He's getting better every day and the sky's the limit, I like Hernandez but I would rather sign Bellingham."
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