Liverpool’s start to the Premier League campaign this season has been far from ideal, with the Reds having been hit with injuries, suspensions, and draws in which they have had to come back from being behind in.
Of course, there will be a number of players who will want to have a strong start to the campaign, with many of them wanting to be able to be in the conversation for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup this winter.
In this article, we take a look at the players who could be called up for the England squad for the upcoming competition, as they will be the players that could become a headache for the USMNT in Group B of this edition of the prestigious tournament.
USMNT will only come up against Liverpool players playing for England
As we know, the 2022 FIFA World Cup group stage has been set for a while, with the USMNT being placed in Group B alongside England, Wales, and Iran. Naturally, this group looks rather challenging regardless of the way that it is looked at, with a number of challenging propositions for each team being required to try and navigate successfully if they wish to progress to the knockout stages of the competition in Qatar.
Indeed, there is a degree of confidence regarding England’s chances of qualifying given the quality of the squad that Gareth Southgate can boast, as well as the fact that they managed to reach the 2020 European Championship Final before being beaten by Italy on penalties.
Many Americans will pinpoint this game as the hardest, although no one will be taking the challenge of Wales or Iran lightly, either. Nonetheless, with the inclusion of a range of Liverpool players likely to be included in the Three Lions squad, this subsequently makes Gregg Berhalter’s job potentially all the more harder.
Which Liverpool players could be included in the England squad?
When taking a look at the England squad and the Reds that could potentially be called up for international duty at the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup, it is clear that some of them are going to cause the USMNT some rather big headaches when the two teams face off on November 25; almost four years since the 3-0 defeat that saw Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold score the second goal in the 27th minute and an occasion in which he scored his only international goal thus far.
Indeed, TAA will almost be guaranteed a spot in the side and will want to make sure he is available for inclusion after missing out on the 2020 Euros with a late injury just before the start of the competition. If he is included, he will be a player that many will be keeping an eye on throughout the tournament.
The 23-year-old – who will be 24 by the time they are playing Qatar – is known for his attacking capabilities and how he continues to drive up the pitch and continue to provide his teammates with the types of balls that are just asking to be put away into the net.
If he continues to do this for the Reds in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League this season, then there will be many that might be considering placing a wager on him being a difference against the USMNT.
There are a number of sports betting sites for the Group B contest that are already providing odds on this match and many of them will provide a number of prop markets that will likely include Alexander-Arnold and his contribution on the game.
Bettors who consider this match will want to consider whether TAA is able to make at least an assist in the game should he be able to play, although they could also consider placing a sports bet on another Liverpool player who could also potentially feature.
Jordan Henderson is the other individual who has been involved in the England setup in recent matches, with the Reds skipper continuing to contribute when called upon by Southgate. He helps break up the game in the midfield and will likely make the game rather difficult for the players of the USMNT to try and move the ball around and get into the final third.
Could the England squad not feature a single Liverpool player?
While the USMNT might wish that they do not come up against any of Liverpool’s English stars, it might be a little bit of wishful thinking. However, there is a recent precedent that has been set in which none of those eligible to play for the Three Lions at Anfield were included.
In Southgate’s recent international squad for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches against Hungary, Germany, and Italy, not a single Red was used. And, we saw how badly the National Team did when that happened.
Of course, there is an argument that the Three Lions used the time to experiment ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while it could be argued that Liverpool players needed a rest after a long and arduous season that included the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League Final against Real Madrid.
Indeed, it would be incredibly surprising – if not shocking – if England were not to call upon Alexander-Arnold and Henderson for the upcoming tournament if both of them are fit and available for selection.
What are the USMNT chances against England?
With the Liverpool players likely to be included and almost guaranteed to provide the USMNT squad with a number of headaches – hopefully, something that Chrisitan Pulisic has already warned them about – not many will be favouring the team’s chances of overcoming the Three Lions when they meet in Qatar on November 25.
For Berhalter’s side, the games against Wales and Iran might be their best opportunity to get points on the board and keep their 2022 FIFA World Cup story going for as long as possible. If they do this, then the excitement for the next edition of the competition that will be held by the country in 2026 (along with Canada and Mexico) could be through the roof!