Liverpool fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold has rejected criticism of his England World Cup selection.

Former England right-back Gary Neville declaring that it would be a "risk" for Gareth Southgate to play Alexander-Arnold in a knockout game at the World Cup this winter.

Speaking to ITV ahead of England's opening match against Iran on Monday, Alexander-Arnold hit back at such claims and insisted that there has been a heightened spotlight on his displays.

"I would say there has been a lot of spotlight on it," said the defender. "I'd say there's been a massive magnifying glass on that aspect of my game and I would say, for me, obviously for any part of my game there are improvements to be made, and there are decisions I could have made better.

"There are instances where I could have defended a lot better. But, at the same time, there are instances where I have defended really well and that's the way the game is."

He added: "I think a lot of people like to shout about the mistakes and the ones I could have done better on, rather than the ones I've done well on. That's just the way it is."

“Not the best football I've ever played, probably not the worst either," added Alexander-Arnold, when asked to evaluate his 17 international appearances. “Just somewhere in the middle that is not amazing, but not the worst, really. It could be a lot better.

“But when you think about it, I think it's been 17 or 18 games now and I think, in the grand scheme of things, that's half a season, if you're going to put it in that sense."

The 24-year-old added: “Players have average half of seasons. Hopefully, the second half of the season will be a lot better for me."