Rio Ferdinand wants Reece James to start over Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold for England

Rio Ferdinand has advised England manager Gareth Southgate to select Chelsea’s Reece James in the right-back position over Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Both the right-back are considered as one of the best in the world in their trade, but the former Manchester United legend is prefers the one from west London over the Merseyside one.

Speaking to Vibe with Five (h/t Liverpool Echo), the former Red Devils centre-back gave his opinion.

“Reece James is ahead of Trent right now. If I’m a winger I look at who I don’t want to play against more out of the two of them and it would be Reece. I think physically he can match people defensively and going forward is ridiculous. Trent’s passing I would say arguably is better over varied distances but I think Reece will score more goals.”

Ferdinand’s opinion could be disputed. There is no doubt that Trent has started this season very poorly, but James too has done nothing out of the extraordinary either.

Both their clubs have struggled this season in the league and Europe, but choosing one from them is very difficult. Southgate has also tried to play Trent in the midfield to find space for the 23-year-old, but those experiments are yet to pay off.

Trent’s defending capabilities have always bought him under scrutiny. It is a striker’s dream to be in the box when the Liverpool right-back crosses the ball into the box, but his defense has become a nightmare for his managers.

But it looks like Southgate has listened to Ferdinand’s opinion. Trent was dropped from the squad for the Three Lions match against Italy on September 24 for their UEFA Nations League group-stage game with James starting the game.

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With the World Cup in November, it will be wise for Trent to up his game for Liverpool. If he fails to perform in the next two months, his place on the national side could come in jeopardy.