England boss Gareth Southgate feels Trent Alexander-Arnold's "all-round game" is behind that of right-back rival Kieran Trippier.
Chelsea's Reece James started at right-back with Trippier on the bench.
"I've had long conversations with all of them [who have been left out]," Southgate said.
"The other night [against Italy], we didn't need the left-back cover. Against Germany we did because of the way we went with the team so we needed Chilly [Ben Chilwell] on the bench and we had Kieran who, at the moment, I feel his all-round game is ahead [of Alexander-Arnold]."
Alexander-Arnold has been a key player for a Liverpool side that have won the Premier League and Champions League in recent years but he has struggled to transfer that form to international football and has won just 17 caps since his 2018 debut.