Former England and Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson believes Trent Alexander-Arnold stays a world-class expertise and criticism of his kind this season is untimely.

The 23-year-old, like quite a few his Reds team-mates, has struggled for prime kind this time period and that has led to a renewal of the scrutiny of the previous academy graduate’s recreation.

Questions proceed to be requested about his defensive capabilities and whether or not he can modify his recreation from how he performs for Liverpool to a extra disciplined strategy with England.

Alexander-Arnold has been named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Nations League matches towards Italy and Germany over the subsequent week however a beginning position is much from assured.

“I personally assume folks ought to again off,” Johnson, talking at an LFC Basis-SC Johnson Objectives for Change partnership occasion at Anfield, informed the PA information company.

“He set the bar so excessive lately that persons are simply too fast to leap on his again simply because he’s not on the stage we’re used to seeing him.

“Everyone knows he’s higher going ahead then defending however there’s nothing improper with that; each participant is best at one factor than one thing else.

“I believe it’s a bit harsh. After all he hasn’t been enjoying to the extent we’re used to seeing however you don’t lose your means in a single day. He’s nonetheless world class.

“Each participant goes up and down in kind and Trent not more than anybody else needs to get again to his heights.

“He’s nonetheless a younger lad and as soon as he will get going and will get a bit extra assured I’m certain he’ll attain the heights he has been at previously.”

Whereas Alexander-Arnold has no competitors at Liverpool for his place, the scenario is completely different at worldwide stage with Manchester Metropolis’s Kyle Walker, Chelsea’s Reece James and Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier all forward of him within the pecking order.

And whereas the notion stays he can not carry out on the highest stage, he faces a battle to push his claims for a beginning place however Johnson believes there isn’t a purpose why he can not excel with England.

“There are two or three folks you possibly can battle completely different arguments for,” he added.

“I believe Reece James can be the closest competitors to Trent however you have got two completely different gamers.

“I believe Gareth might be rubbing his fingers collectively as a result of if you’re enjoying towards a workforce who will sit again and put 10 gamers behind the ball you would possibly play Trent due to his supply and free-kick means after which when you’re up towards it you would possibly play Reece James.

“The gamers don’t need that after all, they need to play each recreation however the England supervisor might be loving it.

“Don’t get me improper, worldwide soccer is completely different to the Premier League, you do should play barely completely different.

“At worldwide stage you could be enjoying towards a workforce who won’t be one of many massive nations however can have gamers who’re able to hurting you if you’re not proper in your recreation.

“However after all he’ll play for England for an terrible very long time. It’s going to take some onerous work however he’s greater than succesful.”