Ashley Cole didn’t like how England used Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold was misused.

That’s the opinion of Ashley Cole, who was one of the greatest left-backs in the Premier League.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal defender was talking to Sky Sports after England beat Belgium, but criticised the way Three Lions’ boss Gareth Southgate used Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Southgate played three central defenders and used wing-back, but the Daily Mail reported that Cole felt that negated the Liverpool man’s threat.

"“I don’t like to see him playing as a wing back. He’s better suited playing from deeper and arriving into areas.“With him coming into that space you start to see his range of crosses and passing. He did most of his work chasing the left wing-back trying to get in behind him, which I don’t think suits him.”"

Jurgen Klopp has his team playing in a very specific way and that suits Alexander-Arnold and Any Robertson, who have scored goals and got assists in record numbers.

That may not translate to the international scene, and the right-back has certainly struggled to shine for England in the same way he does in the Premier League.

In many ways that’s to be expected. Southgate uses a different system and the players don’t have much time to train with him each year. A longer learning curve is natural.

But it’s frustrating to watch a generational talent not being used in a way that suits his skills the best. Alexander-Arnold is an incredible passer of the ball, he’s superb with his delivery and his ability to get up and down the flanks is unmatched.

He’s not the best defender in the league, and Southgate had him doing more of a defensive job than anything else. If England are going to persist with that style, they may as well select Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

If England want to play exciting players who get forward and do creative things, they need to have a rethink about their strategy and that’s where Alexander-Arnold will come into his own.

From a Liverpool point of view, it was good to see him get through the game without any injuries – while watching Jordan Henderson back on the pitch was encouraging as well.