Jurgen Klopp defends 'world-class talent' Trent Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool star sweats on England spot

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ability to deliver in crucial moments as the debate continues over whether he deserves a place in England’s Euro 2020 squad.

Gareth Southgate names his 26-man party next Tuesday and, having omitted the 22-year-old right-back out of internationals in March, there remains a doubt as to whether he will be recalled for this summer’s tournament.

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Alexander-Arnold has displayed his best form of the season over the last couple of months, putting in a man-of-the-match display in last week’s win at Manchester United and providing the assist from a corner for Alisson Becker’s 95th-minute winner at West Brom.

The academy graduate is already a Champions League and Premier League winner and famously delivered on the biggest stage when his smart thinking in taking a quick corner led to Divock Origi scoring the crucial fourth goal in the 2019 Champions League semi-final comeback win over Barcelona.

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His assist for Alisson was his seventh in the league this season – the highest number for a defender – and he has 33 in 127 career league appearances.

“This was a world-class corner, not the first, hopefully not the last of Trent,” said Klopp.

“Nat Phillips could have scored if he had left his eyes open. If Ali had missed the ball I think Sadio was in a quite interesting position, that’s how good the corner was.

“We shouldn’t take these things for granted. We saw brilliant players, world-class players, in decisive moments delivering rather average set-pieces as it is quite common in the last seconds of the game there is a free-kick or a corner.

“The corner, the cross made it happen – Ali had only to put his head on it but he did that quite well.”

Alexander-Arnold’s return to form has arrived at seemingly the right time on the eve of a major tournament but Southgate may still need some persuading to bring back the defender.

Klopp, however, is in no doubt.

“He played a good season. He had a problem in that he played with roundabout 20-odd different centre-half pairings, which is just tricky,” he added.

“He is still a young player, he has a much bigger part in organising the last line than he had previously.

“It means from a young, world-class talent to a defensive organiser is a step but he did that as well so yes, he is in a good moment and long may it continue for us.

“Without Trent’s game – not only his – we would be in a different place.”

Liverpool travel to Burnley on Wednesday before hosting Crystal Palace on Sunday at Anfield in front of their home fans as they chase a Champions League spot.