Jamie Carragher 'cannot fathom' Gareth Southgate decision for Switzerland game

Jamie Carragher has reacted to leaks suggesting that Trent Alexander-Arnold will not start in England’s back five against Switzerland.

England manager Gareth Southgate has faced substantial criticism during the 2024 European Championships for a lack of ambition and pragmatism in team selection.

But leaked team news for Saturday's quarter-final match against Switzerland has suggested that England will switch to a back five for the game.

Surprisingly, the leak also suggests that Newcastle United’s Kieran Trippier will start the match as right wing-back, a role that many would expect to be filled by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

And former England defender Jamie Carragher has reacted to the reports, saying that he cannot understand why Southgate would start Trippier over the Liverpool right back.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Kieran Tripper, who’s done a decent job at left back, he’s picked him over Trent Alexander-Arnold which I just cannot fathom at all.

“That’s not the Liverpool fan in me, for a long time I’ve always felt it was right that Kyle Walker played right-back for England, I thought that it was right that Gareth experimented with Trent in midfield because he’s got world class ability on the ball, but it didn’t quite work.

“But the reason you play Trippier over Trent I just can’t get my head around."

Trippier has started every Euro 2024 for England so far, playing as left back in the absence of Manchester United's Luke Shaw, who has spent the tournament dealing with an injury.

And Carragher thinks that this could be the reason why Southgate has opted to stick with the 33-year-old against Switzerland.

“The only reason would be that Kieran’s played maybe a few more games, maybe he trusts him.

“But when you think defensively, the whole point of playing three at the back is to release your wing backs and you’ve got Kyle Walker, the quickest player in the squad to mop up anything if you get caught out.

“So, to not put Trent in that position I cannot believe that.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold started England's opening Euro 2024 fixtures against Serbia and Denmark in midfield. (Image: Getty)

However, with Southgate likely to leave his role as England manager after the tournament and both Trippier and Manchester City right back Kyle Walker,34, getting older, Carragher believes Alexander-Arnold will become an England starter in the near future.

“I think after this tournament Trent Alexander-Arnold has to be England’s starting right back, whether that’s in a back four or a back five, Because he’s too good of a player,” argued Carragher.

“Trent has got world class ability, Kieran Trippier is just a very good player who, at times, has had a very difficult season for Newcastle.”