Liverpool The Way Forward For England

Earlier in the week, prior to the England game, I expressed that I felt we – as Liverpool fans – should get behind our boys while they played for their country, particularly at such an important time in this current season for us.

Thankfully, most of us did and the lads came through the match unscathed and with no shortage of praise from press, pundits and fans alike, with Raheem Sterling even winning many people’s Man-of-the-Match award in only his second England appearance.

Now, I’m aware that this topic isn’t many fans cup of tea, and I appreciate that. As I’ve said before, we’ve not had the best treatment at the hands of England managers in the past and, if I’m honest, I’m not all that bothered about how England get on but when almost half the team is made up of our players it’s hard not to feel a little bit of pride at that fact.

Watching the game in the week, it was hard to fathom some of the selections by the England manager; there are just so many mediocre, out-of-form, not-playing-often-enough players in that squad that are scraping by on their reputations that there probably really isn’t much of a chance of England even getting out of their ‘Group of Death’ once the competition kicks off.

However, there is nobody more so than Wayne Rooney, who is getting by on past achievements and reputation and even his own club fans have now started to question his inclusion. After some great interaction and movement between Liverpool players on Wednesday that were abruptly ended by Rooney’s deft (as a 10 ton lorry) touch, I really think it’s time that Roy Hodgson looked to build his hopes around Liverpool’s Fab Five.

In Liverpool and England captain, Steven Gerrard, he has the talisman, the hero, the man that raises himself and those around him above the opposition when he’s required most. At 33 years of age, this will probably be his last major tournament, at least as a starter, so he’ll definitely want to make the most of it and England will really be the main beneficiary of that.

Then alongside him, there is the rejuvenated Jordan Henderson – a player much maligned (none more so than by yours truly) for much of his early Liverpool career. Brendan Rodgers deserves all of the credit for getting what we’re now seeing out of Henderson and his energy, work-rate and new-found quality as an attacking central midfielder. He could prove to be Gerrard’s legs in the England midfield.

In Glen Johnson, England have their – potentially – best full-back. Ashley Cole’s ageing legs have made him the prime candidate for the biggest loser when it comes to his starting berth, to either Luke Shaw or Leighton Baines but when on form Johnson is easily the best English threat from the full-back position. If he can find his form going in to the final ten games for Liverpool then he will carry that on into the World Cup.

Then there is Sterling and Sturridge: England’s current best hope of goals – and flair – at the World Cup. Raheem Sterling has always been a prospect, and few were surprised when he broke into the Liverpool (and England) teams so young but his performance in the week has only cemented his place on the plane to Brazil.

Sterling offers something few other English wide-players do. Sure, the likes of Lennon, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Townsend all have pace to burn, skill and can dribble for fun but few (perhaps only Walcott, when on form) have a genuine goalscoring threat. Something which could prove priceless.

As for Sturridge, there’s little else to say that hasn’t already been said about him in a Liverpool shirt. But for me, forget Rooney, he is his country’s best hope of scoring regularly at the World Cup.

We’re often told of all of Rooney’s abilities on the ball; his passing, his movement, his intelligence but correct me if I’m wrong, I’ve seen little of any of this from the former Everton player for the last 2 years. He may well be the current leading scorer in the England squad but that shouldn’t guarantee him a starting place.

In fact, it would probably be to the detriment of the form players, not just Liverpool’s, but the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lallana too, to keep him in the team.

With just 11 league goals this season (only 2 more than Southampton’s Rodriguez and his team-mate Welbeck) Rooney is light-years behind his Liverpool counterpart but is likely to get the nod as the main attacking threat once the competition kicks off.

Regardless of what occurs, this current crop of English Liverpool players is likely to have a very big say on how well England do at the World Cup, so while we’re all in total, unequivocal agreement that Liverpool always comes first, there’s no harm in taking pride in how well our English lads are doing for their country and if Hodgson has any sense he’ll build his team around them in 3 months time.