‘People should back off! – Liverpool defender backed as pundit hits out at ‘harsh’ criticism

Glen Johnson has defended Liverpool and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold as the criticism he has received is “harsh”.

The 23-year-old has struggled for form this season as Liverpool have made a slow start to the new campaign.

Questions continue to be asked about his defensive work and whether he can adjust his game to be more disciplined with England.

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Alexander-Arnold has been named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Nations League matches against Italy and Germany over the next week but a starting role is far from guaranteed.

“I personally think people should back off,” Johnson, speaking at an LFC Foundation-SC Johnson Goals for Change partnership event at Anfield, told the PA news agency.

“He set the bar so high in recent years that people are just too quick to jump on his back just because he is not at the level we are used to seeing him.

“We all know he is better going forward then defending but there is nothing wrong with that; every player is better at one thing than something else.

“I think it is a bit harsh. Of course he hasn’t been playing to the level we are used to seeing but you don’t lose your ability overnight. He is still world-class.

“Every player goes up and down in form and Trent no more than anyone else wants to get back to his heights.

“He is still a young lad and once he gets going and gets a bit more confident I am sure he will reach the heights he has been at in the past.”

While Alexander-Arnold has no competition at Liverpool for his place, the situation is different at international level with Manchester City’s Kyle Walker, Chelsea’s Reece James and Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier all ahead of him in the pecking order.

And while the perception remains he cannot perform at the highest level, he faces a battle to push his claims for a starting place but Johnson believes there is no reason why he cannot excel with England.

“There are two or three people you could fight different arguments for,” he added.

“I think Reece James would be the closest competition to Trent but you have two different players.

“I think Gareth is probably rubbing his hands together because if you are playing against a team who will sit back and put 10 players behind the ball you might play Trent because of his delivery and free-kick ability and then when you are up against it you might play Reece James.

“The players don’t want…