It’s early days for the 2018 World Cup, but so far England are doing better than many would have expected, with the 6-1 thrashing of Panama guaranteeing their place in the knockout stages and lighting up the country. Of course, Liverpool have contributed a number of players to the squad – as you would expect from one of the country’s top sides – and this article will take a look at some of the best Liverpool players ever to have played for England.

In total, 68 players have been chosen to play for England during their time at Anfield and any discussion of the best has to begin with Steven Gerrard. Gerrard spent his entire professional career in the red of Liverpool and during that time he also played 114 games in the heart of England’s midfield. This makes him the player who has played the most times for his country, having made his debut for his country in 2000 and remained part of the side until 2014.

Unfortunately he missed the 2002 World Cup due to injury, but was still a key part of the team for the 2006, 2010 and 2014 tournaments – taking on the role of vice captain in 2010 and captain in 2014. Gerrard scored 21 goals during his lengthy international career but, although he was undoubtedly a mainstay of the team during most of that time, it would perhaps be fair to say that he never quite hit the same heights that he achieved playing for his beloved Reds.

Another player who achieved legendary status at Anfield and became an England regular was John Barnes. He arrived at Liverpool in 1987, having already been playing for England for four years, but most of his England career – 1983-95 – spanned the decade he spent at Liverpool. He was part of the excellent Bobby Robson side that reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, although he suffered an injury in the game against Belgium that restricted his appearances there. Overall, he scored 11 times from the wing during 79 England appearances, but again struggled to fully replicate his club form – something many attributed to the style of play deployed by England compared to Liverpool.

The high point for England came in 1966, when the country won the World Cup on home soil, and the squad contained a top Liverpool striker: Roger Hunt. Hunt was a goal scoring machine for over a decade and this also meant he was part of England squads for most of the 1960s. Picked for the first time in 1962, he played for his country until 1969, although he only won 34 caps during this period. He went to the 1962 and 1966 World Cups, but did not get onto the pitch during the former. In 1966 he was fully expected to be the strike partner to Jimmy Greaves, but ended up partnering Geoff Hurst up front. The latter claimed the headlines with his hat-trick in the final, but Hunt played in every game for England and grabbed three goals – so he made an important contribution to his nation’s finest football hour. He was almost on the goal-line when Geoff Hurst’s controversial second goal came down off the crossbar, giving him the clearest view of whether it crossed the line or not – and oddly, it is the image of him turning to celebrate that people most remember about his international career, despite his 18 goals.

The 2018 World Cup squad features current Liverpool players Jordan Henderson and youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold, and the former’s typically solid performances in defensive midfield are one of the reason’s why fans are starting to bet on England for the tournament. Henderson has won 41 caps for England since his first appearance in 2010 – most of them since his 2011 transfer to Liverpool – and has played in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. The former was disappointing, but he has become a central figure in Gareth Southgate’s team and a stand-out performer in the tournament thus far. Alexander-Arnold was a surprise pick for the squad, having only played once for the senior England side before, and we have yet to see him on the pitch in the World Cup. However, the 19-year-old Reds right back is highly rated and could be an England star of the future.

At the moment, the mood of the England team and fans matches that of Liverpool – optimistic and full of hope for the future – and there is a good chance that a player like Jordan Henderson can become an England legend like his predecessors.