Terrific TA-A looks smiles better now

IT was great to see the smile back on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s face this week.

A beaming, cheesy, ear-to-ear grin, after his spectacular freekick in the Champions League, was just what he needed following the criticism he has taken in recent weeks.

Hopefully, he can forget the scrutiny and enjoy his football

Is Alexander-Arnold the greatest defender? No.

Does he have to work on that side of his game? Yes.

But he’s still only

23. He is often left exposed because

Jurgen Klopp demands that he gets himself into advanced positions – and he doesn’t always get proper cover from Mo

Salah.

Perhaps because Salah also has other expectations to meet.

But Alexander-Arnold (right) has aspects to his game that make him a world-class footballer.

Creatively, he is out there on his own as an attacking full-back. Just look at his stats. His delivery makes him a striker’s dream.

I would imagine that Jurgen Klopp has been talking to him constantly after Gareth Southgate’s decision to call him into the England squad and not give him a minute of action against Italy and Germany.

That’s a snub which would have stung.

But the only manager Alexander-Arnold needs to keep happy is the one who picks him every week for Liverpool. Anything else is a bonus. If Southgate feels the Liverpool defender has weaknesses that mean he doesn’t warrant a place in his team, that’s his prerogative.

I don’t agree with the England manager. But that’s my prerogative.

My message to Trent is: don’t be afraid to do what you do best. And keep on smiling.