Liverpool: £180k-a-week star may now have 'blessing in disguise' at Anfield

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold’s omission from England’s World Cup squad could be a ‘blessing in disguise’, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The right-back has won 17 caps, but there are doubts over whether he will be included in Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate’s plans for Qatar.

Despite being called up for England’s Nations League clashes with Italy and Germany, it has not been an international break to remember for Alexander-Arnold.

That is because he was an unused substitute for the initial fixture at the San Siro and was not included in the matchday squad for the latter encounter at Wembley on Monday.

It is understood that Alexander-Arnold was overlooked by Southgate despite being fit, available and taking part in every training session while on international duty.

As a result, the 23-year-old has returned to Liverpool’s Melwood training ground without being given the opportunity to stake a claim for a place in England’s squad for the upcoming World Cup and will be looking to make an impression by guiding his club up from eighth in the Premier League.

Alexander-Arnold has already scored two goals having started all nine of the Reds’ fixtures since the campaign got underway last month.

Jones believes Alexander-Arnold’s latest snub shows he is not at the forefront of England chief Southgate’s plans and, as a result, he is in danger of missing the World Cup.

But the journalist feels the Liverpool academy graduate could profit if he fails to make the Three Lions’ squad and his national team-mates struggle in the competition.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “It just seems that Trent isn’t going to quite fit with what Southgate wants.

“It might be a blessing in disguise for him. If England flop and everyone’s saying