For the first time in recent memory the team feels like it is built up of a core-unit of players who actually have a decent amount of experience playing alongside each other. Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Glen Johnson were all part of Liverpools valiant 2013/14 season which was painfully close to earning them a league title. Not knowing how to play effectively with one another has long been a criticism levelled against Englands national side. With this backbone of players who are comfortable with one another, we can expect more squad synergy than displayed in previous years. The importance of having a core of Liverpool players has somewhat optimistically been analysed by Deutsche Bank analysts, featured in the Guardian:
The last time England had so many Liverpool players in the team, it won. Therefore, we are confident that England will win this World Cup.
While were not entirely persuaded by this leap in logic, it is still nice to know how pivotal Liverpool players have been to Englands World Cup efforts in the past. This years offering of Scouse-squad-members combine passing ability, speed (minus Stevie G) and technique to boost the squads chances of success enormously. In particular Raheem Sterling looks promising he will look to use his excessive pace, goal-scoring ability and arsenal of skills to assist the team on the counter-attack. His style will also likely be favoured by the Brazilian home fans. Rather more indirectly, it was arguably Liverpools excessive use of Suarez in the 2013/14 season which led to the Uruguayans knee injury. Though he is likely to still appear at the World Cup, Liverpool has perhaps done England yet another favour.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
