England have some of the best right-backs in world football at their disposal, giving Gareth Southgate a selection headache on a regular basis – but which of the main contenders enjoyed the best 2021-22 Premier League season?
Southgate’s first-choice right-back has been Manchester City’s Kyle Walker. Strong, quick and adept at dispossessing opponents, Walker was a key member of the defence that helped England reach the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the final of Euro 2020.
But Walker has been left out of the squad on a few occasions, with Southgate opting to run the rule over some of the younger defenders available to him.
Two of these stand out in particular; Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James of Chelsea. Both have won the Champions League and have helped redefine the role of full-back in this country with their attacking prowess.
The England manager hasn’t fully entrusted either with the right-back role just yet. James started just one game at the last Euros, the 0-0 draw with Scotland, while Alexander-Arnold was a surprise addition to the preliminary squad before injury ruled him out of the tournament.
“Trent is not as good defensively as he is at going forward, but he is brilliant going forward,” former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson told BBC Sport before this season’s FA Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea.
“It’s not as if Trent leaves any gaps at the back.”
But the Liverpool defender was at fault for Real Madrid’s winning goal in the Champions League final, allowing Vinicius Jr to sneak behind him to score the match-winning strike.
Meanwhile, James has earned plaudits from some legendary figures following his performances for Chelsea.
“He is the modern-day footballer,” said former Manchester United defender and BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand after watching James play a starring role against Real Madrid in the Champions League in April.
“We talk about Trent Alexander-Arnold but he is right up there with…
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