Liverpool men Jordan Henderson and James Milner are starring at the business end of the Champions League, but one of them will not be available for England.
Mohamed Salah may have stolen the headlines for Liverpool on Tuesday night as they thumped Roma in the Champions League, but there were superb performances across the pitch.
And perhaps the key to the Reds’ success – as well as that high Roma back line, of course – was their triumph in the midfield battle.
Liverpool lost Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to injury early, but Georginio Wijnaldum stepped up to the task as James Milner and Jordan Henderson excelled.
The two English midfielders were everywhere in the centre of the pitch, covering every inch, diving into tackles and picking passes.
And given the debate over England’s midfield for the World Cup this summer, Gareth Southgate must be rueing Milner’s retirement.
He called time on his international career at a stage where he was struggling to get into Liverpool’s midfield, limited to cameos or, more commonly, a left-back role.
But Milner – aided by the presence of Henderson – has been a star in this season’s Champions League. His semi-final assist for Roberto Firmino was his ninth – a competition record.
If Southgate and England could call on Milner this summer – particularly with Oxlade-Chamberlain out – he could well be a starter.
Both he and Henderson have had their critics, but England could do far worse than have the two of them starting in the centre of the pitch in June.
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