Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has disagreed with Gary Neville's claims that Trent Alexander-Arnold's defensive vulnerabilities could cost England at the World Cup.
The right-back has been selected as one of the 26 players to represent the Three Lions in Qatar, despite struggling to win over Gareth Southgate in recent months.
Alexander-Arnold has often fallen behind Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Reece James in the right-back ranks, and the latter's injury means that the Liverpool man is now facing added competition from Ben White.
Speaking to Sky Sports News after Liverpool's win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, Neville stated that Alexander-Arnold would not be a wise selection for a knockout game due to perceived 'mistakes'.
"It's a really tough one with Alexander-Arnold. His brilliance going forward is out of this world. But we're talking about knockout football. Whether England win or lose in a World Cup is going to be down to moments," Neville said.
"In a World Cup, I think he's giving away a penalty [for his challenge on Ryan Sessegnon]. I don't think Gareth will trust him in a knockout game. Which means, will he then take him? If he's got four brilliant right-backs, will he go?"
Nevertheless, Southgate has called Alexander-Arnold up to his World Cup squad, and Klopp disagrees with the notion that the 24-year-old could be the weak link defensively given his experience in major tournament finals.
"I didn't speak to him, I know Trent for long enough. He knows apart from playing football, he has no influence. I heard Gary Neville say he couldn't be trusted in the knockout games," Klopp told his pre-Southampton press conference on Friday.
"But Trent Alexander-Arnold has won quite a few finals, you have to be able to defend in finals. He was always there and always defended well. I don't know why we have this discussion. Gareth will be very happy he has Trent.
"Trent is very calm and he plays the football he plays and tries to improve. It would have been disappointing if he wouldn't have been there. I saw his face and he's really happy about it. It's nice. He was very pleased about the news. I'm very happy for him."
Alexander-Arnold is one of seven Liverpool players called up to represent their countries at the World Cup, with Jordan Henderson, Darwin Nunez, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Alisson Becker and Ibrahima Konate also making the cut for their countries.
The England international has scored three goals in 19 games this season, although he is still waiting for his first assist as Liverpool prepare to take on Southampton in their final game before the World Cup break.
The Reds are still without Diogo Jota, Arthur and Luis Diaz for the meeting with the Saints on Saturday afternoon, but Klopp was able to share some good news about the latter, who is out running again.
Meanwhile, James Milner is set to return from concussion protocol after missing Liverpool's last two games, while Joel Matip and Naby Keita are both stepping up their recoveries but are unlikely to be involved this weekend.
"Nobody is out from the players we had in midweek. Millie is back in training today," Klopp added when asked for an update on team news.
"Naby is out and running. Lucho [Luis Diaz] is back on the pitch and running. Joel trained with us for most of the session and would be available, but he has only had one session."
Liverpool occupy eighth spot in the Premier League table ahead of the final round of fixtures before Christmas, 10 places and seven points better off than Southampton before Nathan Jones's first game in charge of the Saints at Anfield. body check tags ::
