Thomas Tuchel has been told to turn to a Liverpool legend to solve his problem position ahead of the huge last-16 World Cup clash with Mexico. The Three Lions enter the lion's den in the early hours of Monday morning when they take on one of the three hosts at the Mexico City Stadium (1am kick-off, UK time).
England's right-back crisis deepens
England set up the showdown with a nail-biting 2-1 win over DR Congo in the round of 32 thanks to two late goals from talismanic captain Harry Kane. But the performance raised more questions than answers with one of the biggest for Tuchel being who starts at right-back.
The Three Lions head coach lost Tino Livramento before a ball was even kicked in North America and then after the tournament got under way, he saw Reece James and Jarell Quansah succumb to injury. That has increased the scrutiny on Tuchel's decision to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold, a former team-mate of Quansah's at Liverpool, at home.
Chris Waddle backs Tuchel's Alexander-Arnold decision
But the German has been backed over his choice to overlook the Real Madrid star and has been urged to turn to another Reds old boy to play right-back. Chris Waddle, who was part of the England team that reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, said: "Alexander-Arnold played 30 games last season and didn’t complete enough games - so no, I wouldn't say that it was a mistake to leave him behind."
"If you are going to pick him, you pick him for his quality and what he gives you, then that's fine - I understand that. But we knew Reece James is - unfortunately, he's a top player - but he's always injured, as is Tino Livramento. So looking at the squad straight away, you had to put a question mark over their injuries. They are injured a lot, unfortunately, and the one thing you want when you go to a tournament is a healthy squad. You've got to have players who are fit."
"When you look at the injury records of Livramento and James, they do miss a lot of football matches. So maybe taking two right-backs who are constantly injured was a risk, and the manager should have probably looked at that. As players, their quality is undeniable - they're very good players and I like them, but their track record of being injured was a red alert for me."
Henderson as a right-back option
"But listen, with the way we play, we dominate football matches. It’s not until we play France, Spain, or Argentina - someone of that quality - where you're going to be under real pressure. Against the teams we are playing now, he could play Jordan Henderson at right-back."
"Tell me who has got a great winger or who plays on the front foot against England? It’s all counter-attacking, so you may as well have a passer of the ball back there. There's no reason Jordan Henderson can't play at right-back." Henderson has been restricted to just six minutes of action at the World Cup and it would be a surprise if the veteran was thrown in against Mexico, who have a 100% winning record and have yet to concede a goal so far.
But Declan Rice proved when shifting to right-back against Congo that playing a midfielder in the role could be an option for Tuchel. And Waddle, speaking to 10bet, said: "If you look at the rest of the squad, I know he has played Jarrel Quansah there, but why not play a midfield player there? Play Declan Rice there and put a creative midfield player in the centre instead. Put Eberechi Eze alongside Elliot Anderson, and say to them, 'look, I want you to pass. If you see a 30-, 40-, or 50-yard pass, I want you to hit it'. That is how we're going to score more goals and get the wingers into the game."
"Because at the minute, you've got two midfield players who are exactly the same, and it’s all 10-yard passes. By the time the ball shuffles out to the wing, it’s too late. You want somebody in the middle of the park who's brave, who wants to get on the ball and distribute it long-range."
"Personally, I'd put Jordan Henderson at right-back. He's good on the ball and he's economical. He doesn't have to fly on the overlap or bomb forward. We just want somebody who can play as a right-back, get the ball, control it, and pass it, because I've not seen any team go full throttle at England yet."
