The dust has now settled on another season for Liverpool and one that will go down in history.
Fans hoped that it would have ended with the Premier League title in hand, but in the end, Jurgen Klopp departed with the League Cup and a legacy that will be forever remembered.
Arne Slot has officially begun life at Anfield, but he will have to watch a number of his big stars from afar ahead of Euro 2024 and Copa America.
Two huge tournaments are set to take centre stage this summer and a number of Liverpool players are expected to feature.
From Alisson Becker donning the colours of Brazil. Virgil van Dijk leading the line for the Netherlands. Andy Robertson taking Scotland to another major tournament. And duo Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones earning maiden England calls.
Gareth Southgate has named several Liverpool players in his training squad, before that 33-man England squad is cut to 26 in these coming weeks.
The Three Lions have two friendly games before that call is made, with Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold also hoping to get picked.
But Tony Cascarnino feels there is bad news in the offing for two of those players and they won’t be heading to the Euros, as he told talkSPORT (02/06/24 at 8:05 am).
The former striker thinks Quansah will be axed and Jones won’t be picked either because it’s going to be ‘tough’ for him to play ahead of the likes of rising Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo.
But, you never know in football and these players have the chance in training and for friendly games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland to impress.
Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones England call-ups
“We could second guess Gareth (Southgate) or my gut feeling,” said Cascarino. “I think James Trafford will lose out. I think he will take three goalkeepers.
“I don’t think he will take Quansah at Liverpool. I don’t think he will take him yet. Lewis Dunk or Ezri Konsa? Probably go Konsa more. Lewis Dunk might likely survive because Gareth has played him. With Luke Shaw, there is a question about the injuries. A big question mark. I don’t think Quansah and Konsa at Aston Villa will make it. Even though he is versatile.
“I am not sure Curtis Jones is going to go from Liverpool, either. I think that’s going to be a tough one for him. Trent Alexander-Arnold can play in midfield, if need be. You have Mainoo. I think he will be ahead of Curtis Jones. He was injured for quite a while as well. He only got back into the Liverpool team towards the end of the season. I think the two midfielders that will probably lose out are Wharton and Jones.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez at Euro 2024
If the expected happens with Quansah and Jones, then it won’t be a shock, but there will be an element of surprise if either Alexander-Arnold or Gomez aren’t picked.
England are devoid of left-backs. The only man on the list is Luke Shaw and his season for Manchester United has been littered with injuries. He isn’t even fit or ready to produce 90 minutes+ after 90 minutes+.
READ MORE: Alan Pardew backs Everton attacker to join Arne Slot’s Liverpool and ‘deliver’
It can’t be argued, and it was never expected at the start of the season, but Gomez has probably been the best English-performing left-back this term.
So, from that perspective, not only should he be selected for the squad, but there is also a debate that he starts the opening game against Serbia.
As for Alexander-Arnold, he hasn’t been able to produce his club form on the international stage because of Southgate’s defensive tactics. You know he won’t play at right-back, it’s just a case of what role he has in store for him in midfield.
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