---
title: "Liverpool: Fans can’t understand why Southgate decided not to start Trent Alexander-Arnold"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fans-cant-understand-why-trent-alexander-arnold-didnt-start-against-bulgaria/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jack Maleham"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2019-10-15T19:05:00Z"
modified: "2019-10-15T19:05:00Z"
---

# Liverpool: Fans can’t understand why Southgate decided not to start Trent Alexander-Arnold

**England secured a resounding [6-0 win](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49955900) against Bulgaria on Monday, meaning that they are now just one point away from qualifying for Euro 2020.**

\[freshpress-poll id=”251392″\]

It was an assured display from the Three Lions in difficult circumstances, with [racist chants](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/bulgaria-vs-england-racist-chanting-singing-paused-cancelled-referee-a9155891.html) being heard from some of the Bulgaria fans.

However, the players let their football do the talking, with Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling each scoring a brace whilst Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford also scored (via [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49955900)).

Gareth Southgate made [five changes](https://twitter.com/Iandennisbbc/status/1183794789231271937) going into the game, but one of those was not to include Trent Alexander-Arnold, which surprised many.

The Liverpool right-back has enjoyed a superb start to the season. He has helped the Reds to eight wins out of eight in the Premier League, keeping two clean sheets whilst also providing two assists and scoring once (via [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trent-alexander-arnold/leistungsdaten/spieler/314353)).

However, Southgate opted to stick with Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier instead despite some [predicting that he would be dropped](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/10127992/england-bulgaria-team-chilwell-trent-mings/) after a poor display against the Czech Republic.

Liverpool fans could not understand why Alexander-Arnold wasn’t in the starting 11, with many of them taking to Twitter to question Southgate’s decision…

> Trent could be playing for England at centre midfield let alone right back
>
> — Liam Williams (@wordsleyLFC) [October 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/wordsleyLFC/status/1183813428919619589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> How does [@trentaa98](https://twitter.com/trentaa98?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) not get in the [@England](https://twitter.com/England?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) team?? i would even play him in midfield for creativity. Least its good for us [@LFC](https://twitter.com/LFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 🤔🤗🤗🤗 [#trent](https://twitter.com/hashtag/trent?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#alexanderarnold](https://twitter.com/hashtag/alexanderarnold?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Chris Wellman (@Tiff5757) [October 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/Tiff5757/status/1183803281312833536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> How does Trippier keep Trent out I will never understand [#BULENG](https://twitter.com/hashtag/BULENG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#LFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/LFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Jay H Mehta 🇮🇳 (@Noble\_Ruler\_) [October 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/Noble_Ruler_/status/1183842615109668866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Imagine rating Trippier above Trent hahahahhaha [#ENGBUL](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGBUL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Adam Hankinson (@AdamHankLFC) [October 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/AdamHankLFC/status/1183815943434260482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> How can someone start Trippier over Trent.
>
> — Adrian (@LFCAdrian\_) [October 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/LFCAdrian_/status/1183804691647553536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Ridiculous he isn’t first choice – but who cares, great news for us!
>
> — chrisewjones (@chrisewjones) [October 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/chrisewjones/status/1183798496937304065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)