On Friday morning, England national team manager Thomas Tuchel made the surprise call to omit Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from the squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan later this month. 

This snub came despite the 52-year-old picking a 35-man squad, and first-choice right-back Reece James missing the call-up due to a hamstring injury. So, it was a pretty damning decision. 

There has been plenty of debate, online and otherwise, about this high-profile decision. Several people with large followings have also shared their opinions on the news. 

Including former Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard, who was asked by TNT Sports if the decision to leave the Real Madrid right-back out surprised him: "Very much so. Listen, we've got some good options at right-back. I think Reece James is world-class, in my opinion. I really like [Tino] Livramento, I know he's had a couple of injuries, (but) he can play both sides. 

I understand the selection. But I just think, 'Is Trent Alexander-Arnold in the best 35 players in this country?' Of course he is. And there are gonna be certain games where England have to open the door, like when they're against a low block, and it's really frustrating. 

And Trent is one of those players who can come off the bench and completely change the game with one pass. He's that level of player. So I am surprised and disappointed in him. 

But there are many other situations and circumstances you have to take into consideration. How much has he played? Is he physically at his best? Is the stuff going on off the pitch - is it where he (Tuchel) doesn't want a group of players that are not playing, or are not gonna be in the XI, that might be different people around the place? 

There are lots of things that get taken into consideration before you select the squad over a six-week basis, rather than a one-off game." 

Some interesting comments from Gerrard. Some very conscious words - he has expressed his surprise, and implied he would have picked the 27-year-old, but also tried to give a balanced view and explain it from Tuchel's point of view. 

It's certainly a decision that has caused some controversy. Gerrard summed it up quite well - there is no way that Alexander-Arnold is not in the top 35 English players. 

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