When Trent Alexander-Arnold was dropped by England - arguably the Liverpool man's first big individual disappointment of his career - Gareth Southgate set him a challenge. Zero goals, zero assists and just 10 attacking opportunities created from open play during that time. From a defensive standpoint, the Liverpool right-back is producing more interceptions, implying that he is reading the game much better when his side are without the ball. Even though Alexander-Arnold's defensive frailties have been highlighted throughout this season, his numbers still show he is just as good as his England right-back rivals in the first third of the pitch. This could be vital in Southgate's thinking, with Alexander-Arnold often accused of being too high up the pitch to stifle any counter-attacks.

Source: Daily Mail May 15, 2021 11:48 UTC