‘We’re English and we’re Scouse’: five Reds going to Brazil
“We’re not English, we are Scouse,” may be a popular terrace chat at Anfield – but five Liverpool players are selected to represent England at the World Cup in Brazil.
The Reds – who came close to clinching their first title in 24 years this season – have the most players going to Brazil. They include Henderson, Gerrard, Johnson, Sterling and Sturridge.
Manchester United suffered an Alex Ferguson hangover this season – but have four players in the squad (Jones, Smalling, Rooney and Welbeck). Everton follow in third (Baines, Jagielka and Barkley). Both Celtic (Forster) and West Brom (Foster) have one player each.
The squad is also three years younger than 2010 – with the average age of 26 – the same as 1966.
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City). Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United). Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United). Standby: John Ruddy (Norwich City), Jon Flanagan (Liverpool), John Stones (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Andy Carroll (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC).