Pundit claims it would have been a ‘big slap in the face’ if Liverpool star was called up by U21’s

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Darren Bent told talkSPORT that it would have been a ‘big slap in the face’ of Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold if he was called up by England’s U21’s.

The 22-year-old was recently snubbed by Gareth Southgate when selecting players for the senior side – Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Reece James were all selected ahead of the Anfield hero.

With England U21’s at the European Championships, Alexander-Arnold was eligible to be picked by Aidy Boothroyd, with some calling for that to happen.

But former Premier League striker, Bent, thinks it would have been a big no-no for TAA to be dropped from the seniors, for the first time, and then told to land on the doorstep of those a level below.

“That would be a big, big call that (TAA playing for England U21’s),” said Bent. “He is still eligible to play for the U21’s.

“But, for me, that is a big slap in the face. He has been brilliant since he got into Liverpool’s first-team and has been an international so for so long.

“For all of a sudden then put him in the U21’s. I think that’s a slap in the face. It’s a bit too far.

“That won’t work, he has won the Premier League, he has won the Champions League, he has been brilliant and yes he’s struggled this season.

“But to be dropped first time and then put in the U21’s, I don’t care what Aidy Boothroyd said to him about being a leader, the chance to get minutes on the pitch and all this, that won’t make a blind bit of difference.”

This has been the first serious blip in TAA’s career and his punishment has been a place out of the England side.

Some would say that’s just competition or the ruthless nature of international football, but not when other out-of-form players are being picked by Southgate.

Eric Dier cannot even get into a Tottenham team that has struggled in defence this season, yet the thriving and in-form Michael Keane, Ezri Konsa, Lewis Dunk and Ben Godfrey aren’t selected.

Alexander-Arnold has had his troubles this season, but no worse than Dier, who still got the nod.