2018 FIFA World Cup: 5 England players who should not be selected

#1 Jake Livermore

Jake Livermore has looked limited against better opposition for England

West Brom’s Jake Livermore was a surprising selection in one of Southgate’s earlier England squads but after making his first start for the Three Lions in their March 2017 loss to Germany, he’s practically been an ever-present and has picked up a further five caps for his country.

The ascension of Livermore may be looked back upon as being more important than it seemed, as it was the first indicator that Southgate was willing to look beyond the Premier League’s top clubs for talent, and could well have helped players like Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in their decision to leave larger clubs for smaller ones.

But unfortunately for the midfielder, when it comes to the very top level of football – the World Cup, for instance – he just feels too limited as a player to really make an impact.

Livermore was used in the central midfield role alongside Eric Dier in most of his England appearances, but this left the Three Lions lacking creativity, and with the likes of Jack Wilshere now back in the fold, it becomes harder for him to justify a place in the side.

As a squad member? Even that becomes tricky when you consider England have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Harry Winks, Lewis Cook and possibly Chalobah (if he can regain fitness) in contention too. Livermore could deputise for Dier but the better option would be to use Wilshere as the holding man in that situation alongside someone like Chamberlain or Cook.

Like Ashley Young, you have to admire Livermore for his hard work and persistence and he certainly warranted a call-up back in March 2017, but his time has been and gone now and he shouldn’t be going to the World Cup.