Liverpool and Chelsea will have new managers in their dugout next season.
When Jurgen Klopp started the recently-concluded campaign, no one expected him to, halfway through, announce that it would be his final season at Liverpool.
Whilst Chelsea’s new era continues to provide the entertainment because, after only one season in charge, Mauricio Pochettino is already out of the door after his exit on Tuesday.
Many thought the announcement of England’s training squad for Euro 2024 would take the headlines, but Chelsea decided to take that limelight, instead.
Several Chelsea and Liverpool players were picked, even though, they had disappointing seasons from their own high standards.
Yes, the Reds won the League Cup final, at the expense of the London club, but how they ended the season would have been gut-wrenching for all involved.
On the other hand, Chelsea ended strong and finished sixth, but only as far back as December were they sitting in the Premier League’s bottom half.
Still, several of their players were picked by Gareth Southgate in a 33-man squad that will be trimmed down to 26 for Euro 2024.
Two men made interesting viewing for Paul Merson – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James.
The Chelsea skipper, who has been injured for most of the season and was recently sent off at Brighton, wasn’t selected and that left Merson ‘really shocked’, as he told Sky Sports News (21/05/24 at 2:20 pm).
Whilst the former Arsenal player expressed his concern at Alexander-Arnold playing at right-back, even though he thinks the Anfield star is the ‘best passer in the country by a million miles’.
Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold
“I’m not sure about Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, I’m not,” admitted Merson. “I think he’s a talented player and his range of passing is second to none. I think he’s the best passer in the whole of the country, but I don’t think he’s a defender at International level, so I am quite shocked with the Reece James one (not included in the England squad). Really shocked.
“It’s a hard one, he’s played against some lesser country teams and he’s not played against the crème de la crème in midfield. He’s played against teams where he’s going to have time on the ball. It’s hard to judge, you’re going to play against Toni Kroos and people like that, seasoned pros, and Modric. You go and get them and they flick it around the corner.
“For me, if he comes into the team, get him on the ball, he’s the best passer in the country, in my opinion, by a million miles. His range of passing is second to none. And this is how good we are, he probably won’t play. That’s why I keep emphasising how good this squad is. You are talking about the best passer in the country by a million miles and he won’t get into the team.”
England’s quality at right-back
There is every chance that Southgate doesn’t select an out-and-out left-back for the Euros.
Ben Chilwell, who has also had injury issues this term, was another player who wasn’t selected, whilst Luke Shaw has been picked, but has fitness issues.
Yet, over at right-back, there are far too many players to pick from. James is being left out, whilst Ben White isn’t being selected for other issues.
Then there is Alexander-Arnold, who is seemingly going to be played in midfield, which then leaves Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker to fight it out for a starting spot.
That’s a lot of talent at right-back, yet very little on the other side. As Jamie Carragher once said, ‘nobody wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville’, well, they do now!
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