OPINION
Trent Alexander-Arnold has emerged as an integral player in Liverpool’s thrilling dual assault on the Premier League and Champions League crowns.
Anyone who watched last Sunday’s 2-1 win at Fulham will know how vital the right-back’s dynamism, overlaps and athleticism is to the style of play implemented by Jurgen Klopp.
News that Alexander-Arnold has been forced to withdraw from the England squad ahead of their Euro 2020 qualifiers on Friday and Monday will have the entire Liverpool fanbase sweating buckets.
As revealed by the club via their official website on Wednesday evening, Alexander-Arnold is misses the double-header with a back injury he had sustained before meeting up with the national team.
It’s not yet clear how serious the injury is, but it is a huge concern for Liverpool ahead of their Premier League clash against Tottenham on Sunday week and an April schedule that will determine whether their season ends in glory.
Even if this is just a precautionary measure, the Anfield faithful won’t relax until they know for sure.
Alexander-Arnold is not a nailed-on starter for every match in the same way as fellow defenders Andrew Robertson and Virgil van Dijk, but that is merely due to his age and Klopp not wanting to run the 20-year-old into the ground.
His increasingly influence and brilliance is clear for all to see, as he showed when becoming the youngest player earlier this month to provide three assists in a league game (against Watford).
Liverpool need Alexander-Arnold back fit and firing.