The England defender accepts he has so far failed to replicate his brilliance club form in a Three Lions shirt
Trent Alexander-Arnold says his recent England performances have been “mediocre”
and has not done enough to justify a regular place in the starting line-up.
The Liverpool right-back was dropped from the Three Lions squad in March,
and although he was included in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad, a thigh injury,
in a warm-up game against Austria caused him to miss the tournament.
Now fit again, Alexander-Arnold is back in the international fold and is hoping,
to do enough to force his way back into Southgate’s starting XI.
Alexander-Arnold made his England debut against Costa Rica in a World Cup warm-up in June 2018 and went on to feature at the tournament itself in Russia.
He has earned 13 caps to date, scoring once, but believes his Three Lions form,
has dipped significantly since a penalty shootout victory over Switzerland,
in the Nations League third place play-off in June 2019.
“I thought I played really well then, I just couldn’t hit the ground running after that,”
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he told the Telegraph.
“Otherwise, they have been mediocre performances by my standard, and that’s what I need to improve.”
Such an admission may come to a surprise to Liverpool fans, who have seen the 22-year-old,
make the right-back position his own and help the club win the Premier League,
and Champions League titles in recent years.
However, unlike at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold faces intense competition at international level,
with Reece James, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier all at Southgate’s disposal – something the defender sees as a challenge.
“I would say there is a lot more competition for places here,”
“At the club I am a regular who plays most of the games.
I think it is just not finding form and finding the level I need and the level I demand on a daily basis.
I have just not been able to reach that bar.
“You’re playing a different system [with England], with different players.
It’s no excuse, but it’s hard to find your feet, to find form when you’re not playing,
in a team with the same players every time. Anyone is going to have difficulties with that.
“I feel like since I’ve come into the squad, I haven’t really been the best version of myself.
I haven’t put in the performances I have regularly for my club and I expect more for myself,
when I play for England.
Hopefully over the next week I am given an opportunity to perform and am able to take it.
“I want to win trophies [with England] I want to become a regular.
I want to lead the team out. And I think those things are achievable for me.”
