‘It’s ludicrous,’ Paul Merson said of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision in the wake of England’s absence.
Paul Merson opposes Gareth Southgate’s recent midfield selections of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson.
Paul Merson has defended James Ward-Prowse by doubting Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson’s qualifications.
Ward-Prowse, who joined West Ham from relegated Southampton for £30 million this summer, has made a solid impression. The midfielder has one goal and three assists in three Premier League games.
However, this was insufficient to convince Gareth Southgate to call up the 28-year-old for international duty this month.
Instead, the manager chose defender Alexander-Arnold, who has since been ruled out due to injury, and former Reds captain Jordan Henderson, who left Anfield for the Saudi Pro League before of the current season, as midfield options.
“When the squad came out, Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of the midfielders. If you’re James Ward-Prowse, you’re thinking: ‘I’m never playing for England’,” Merson reacted in his latest Sky Sports column.
“You’ve got someone [Jordan Henderson] who’s playing in the Saudi league in front of 6,000 people every week and then you’ve got Ward-Prowse, who’s playing very well for West Ham.
“He’s been one of the game changers but he doesn’t get a look in. It’s ridiculous.
“Alexander-Arnold is a defender. He played one game in midfield for England against Malta. I mean… Malta. I expect a professional footballer in the Premier League to be able to do well in midfield against Malta.”
The inclusion of Liverpool-linked Kalvin Phillips, who has lacked opportunities since his move to Manchester City in 2022, was also questioned by Merson.
The midfielder-turned-pundit even sent a warning to his former Aston Villa and Three Lions team-mate.
“When I played, if Gazza [Paul Gascoigne] wasn’t playing, he wouldn’t get picked – and he was by far the best player by a million miles,” he continued.
“If Gareth Southgate had been ripping it up at Aston Villa and a centre half who wasn’t playing for his club was picked ahead of him, he’d have been furious.” Who wouldn’t want to?
“‘These players don’t let me down,’ Gareth will say. But the problem is, if they do, he’ll be in tremendous trouble. He’s putting his life in danger.”
