Gerrard Voices Shock Over Alexander-Arnold's England Omission
Steven Gerrard has openly admitted his surprise and disappointment following Thomas Tuchel's decision to exclude Trent Alexander-Arnold from England's 35-man squad for the final international break before the 2026 World Cup. The former Liverpool captain revealed his reaction while on punditry duty ahead of Liverpool's Premier League clash with Brighton on Saturday morning.
Tuchel's Controversial Selection Decision
Despite the expanded squad size designed to include as many potential World Cup candidates as possible, Tuchel opted to leave out the Real Madrid defender even as he returns to fitness at the Bernabeu during the tail end of the season. This decision appears to send a strong message to the former Liverpool star that his chances of traveling to the United States this summer are diminishing rapidly.
'Very much so, (I was surprised),' Gerrard stated emphatically. 'Listen, we've got some good options at right back, Reece James is world class in my opinion, (Tino) Livramento - I know he's had a couple of injuries, but he can play both sides.'
Questioning the Selection Logic
Gerrard continued to express his bewilderment at the exclusion, questioning the fundamental premise of Tuchel's selection criteria. 'I understand the selection but I just think, is Trent Alexander-Arnold in the best 35 players in this country? Of course he is.'
The Liverpool legend highlighted the particular value Alexander-Arnold could bring to tournament football, especially in challenging scenarios. 'And there are going to be certain games where England have to open the door, they might be against a low block, and it's really frustrating. And Alexander-Arnold is one of these players who can come off the bench, and completely change the game with one pass. He's that level of a player.'
'So I am surprised, and disappointed for him,' Gerrard concluded regarding his former teammate's omission.
Potential Underlying Factors
However, Gerrard acknowledged that multiple factors might have influenced Tuchel's controversial decision. 'But there's a lot of other circumstances to take into consideration - how much has he played?' Gerrard pondered. 'Is he physically in his best condition? Is there stuff going on off the pitch?'
The former England midfielder also suggested squad dynamics could be a consideration. 'Is it where (Tuchel) doesn't want a group of players who are not going to be playing, or not in the first XI, who might be different people around the place? There's a lot of things that might be taken into consideration before you select a squad for six weeks.'
Tuchel's Explanation and Historical Concerns
Explaining his selection on Friday, Tuchel stated that his chosen right backs - Reece James, Tino Livramento, Tottenham's Djed Spence, and Liverpool youngster Jarrell Quansah - offer a 'slightly different profile' to Alexander-Arnold. The German manager also revealed he had not spoken to the former Liverpool academy graduate since making the decision and 'did not know' if this marked the end of Alexander-Arnold's international prospects under his management.
This decision follows Tuchel's previous public assessment of Alexander-Arnold's playing style. Last May, the England manager had praised the defender's attacking contributions while expressing reservations about his defensive discipline.
'I can see that sometimes he relies heavily on his offensive contributions, and gives not so much emphasis on the defensive discipline and effort,' Tuchel remarked at the time. 'I think there is a point to it. This major impact that he had for Liverpool over so many years, if he wants to have this impact in the English national team, then he has to take the defensive part very, very seriously.'
Tuchel emphasized the critical importance of defensive reliability in tournament football, noting that 'the one defensive error, the one moment where you are not 100 per cent awake, can be decisive, can be the moment where you pack your suitcases and go home.'
Squad Strategy and World Cup Implications
The expanded 35-man squad selection serves dual purposes: providing fringe players with audition opportunities during the first of two planned friendlies, while simultaneously allowing established starters to rest during a congested season. However, Alexander-Arnold's exclusion from even this extended group raises serious questions about his international future as England prepares for the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
With first-time call-ups for James Garner and Jason Steele, returns for Kobbie Mainoo and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but no place for Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel's selection has generated significant debate about the criteria being applied to squad selection with the World Cup approaching.
