World Cup place in doubt? Trent Alexander-Arnold amid five left out for England’s clash with Italy

England and Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been left out of Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad for the upcoming Nations League clash with Germany at Wembley on Monday night.

The right-back was called up to the 28-man squad, but did not feature as England confirmed their relegation with a 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday, and will miss out once more against Hansi Flick’s side.

It further calls into question his position in the Three Lions setup ahead of the World Cup, due to kick off in two months’ time in Qatar, with the right-back’s Liverpool form having been below what has come to be expected of him in both attack and defence.

Also out of the squad are Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan) and the suspended Jack Grealish, meaning that of the 28-man squad at least three will see no action over this international break.

There is, however, a call up for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, meaning that the Brentford striker could be in line to make his Three Lions debut in the dead rubber against England’s traditional rivals.

Already consigned to the second tier of Nations League football next time around, there is little for plenty of the England squad to play for except for pride, with much of the starting XI seemingly already set in stone ahead of the World Cup.

Alexander-Arnold’s omission, along with those of Bowen and Tomori gives further suspicion to the fact that, when the 26 man squad is announced, they will all be left at home while their compatriots head to the middle east.

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