Wayne Rooney says England should have no worries about picking Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire at the World Cup, despite their recent club form.
The England legend recently picked his England XI and was full of praise for Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool star and Maguire have been named in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the Qatar World Cup, which begins on November 20. There was some debate about both players’ inclusions following some patchy form for Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.
Alexander-Arnold’s attacking capabilities have never been questioned, with his passing ability and set piece delivery key to Liverpool’s playing style under Jurgen Klopp. But the 24-year-old’s defending has looked vulnerable at times, with the Reds’ poor start to the Premier League season emphasising his personal struggles.
“Fears about his defensive vulnerability are exaggerated,” Rooney wrote for The Times. “Yes, he has been exposed a few times this season, but I think that’s more reflective of Liverpool as a team than him individually.
“The way Liverpool play, they are exposed and open when they go forward and he is often left one v one – a scenario where it’s difficult for any defender.”
Maguire, meanwhile, has endured a rotten season so far, with injuries keeping him out of the Manchester United team before the strong form of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane kept him on the bench. The 29-year-old has only started three Premier League matches this season, but Rooney highlighted Maguire’s excellent performances at the past two tournaments with England.
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“There has been some debate about him, because he hasn’t been in the Manchester United starting XI, but I don’t have any worries about him in a tournament situation,” Rooney wrote.
“It is similar to what I said about Trent – over the past few years United have been exposed defensively. They’ve had little structure and lacked a shape that they could play from.
“The difference Erik ten Hag has brought is stability: both to the starting line-up and in the shape, and that’s helping them from a defensive point of view.”
Rooney would partner Maguire with John Stones in a back four, with United’s Luke Shaw playing at left-back. He would also like to keep continuity by starting Kalvin Phillips alongside Declan Rice in midfield for the second straight tournament.
Further up the pitch things get a bit more difficult, with Bukayo Saka’s brilliant form for Arsenal pushing Raheem Sterling out of the side on the right wing. He would choose Phil Foden on the left flank, ahead of the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish.
Rooney is also backing Harry Kane to break his England goalscoring record in Qatar. The former United striker still holds the lead, with 53 goals – two ahead of Kane, who has been stuck in second place for some time.
Rooney’s England XI (4-2-3-1) : Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
