As Toxteth-born Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones scored on his England debut against Greece in the Nations League yesterday, Mersey Sport Live takes a look at the best Scouse footballers who have represented England over the years.
Here’s our starting XI.
Goalkeeper: Rachel Brown-Finnis
Right off the hook of fielding a Scouse born XI, the task of finding a shot stopper who has represented England was strenuous.
Merseyside has produced some of the finest players in the country, but surprisingly, no Scouse men’s goalkeeper has represented England at senior level.
There’s even difficulty finding a female keeper, so we have drafted in Rachel Brown-Finnis. Brown-Finnis, although being born 52 miles north of Liverpool, spent most of her career with both Merseyside clubs, Everton and Liverpool, amassing 14 years in the city.
She may be a technically a ringer in this squad, but her credentials make her a good one.
@bbcsport Rachel Brown-Finnis with the penalty-save masterclass!🧤❌ #bbcsport #weuro2022 #euro2022 #england #lionesses #goalkeeper ♬ original sound – BBC Sport
Right-Back: Trent Alexander-Arnold
One of two on the team who is still playing, Alexander-Arnold has built a strong case that makes it impossible to drop him from this XI.
The 26-year-old has lifted every trophy under Jurgen Klopp and has picked up 33 England caps. The defender from West Derby is regarded as one of the best right-backs in the game.
Alexander-Arnold and Scotsman Andy Robertson have controlled Liverpool’s flanks for seven seasons. The fearsome duo have managed to accumulate 59 assists each making them the best assist providing defenders in Premier League history.
Centre-Back: Jamie Carragher
At the heart of the Scouse defence sits Everton fan and Liverpool Legend Jamie Carragher.
The Bootle native dedicated his entire playing career to Liverpool, becoming their second most capped player, with 737 appearances.
Carragher was included in the famous Gerrard Houllier 2000-2001 squad, which won The FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup, Community Shield and Super Cup in the space of just a few months. Carragher won the Liverpool player of the year award in 2005, the year they famously lifted the European Cup.
The centre-back represented England 38 times between 1999-2010. Remarkably he won 54% of his games as a Liverpool Player.
Centre-Back: Phil Thompson
Phil Thompson once stood on the Kop as boy to support The Reds. His dreams came true when he signed a contract with Liverpool the day after his 17th birthday.
Thompson was a concrete part of the famous Liverpool side that dominated throughout the 1970s achieving European glory on three occasions (1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81).
His side also proved dominant domestically winning five league titles, one FA Cup and three League Cups. The Kirkby defender made 42 appearances for England and captained the Three Lions on six occasions. Thompson slots into this side as a no-nonsense defender creating a formidable Partnership with Jamie Carragher.
Left-Back: Leighton Baines
To complete the back line, Kirkby-born Leighton Baines manages to claim the left back position.
The all-reliable set piece maestro began his career in the Everton youth set up before moving to Wigan Athletic as a teenager.
Baines won the Championship with the Latics his performances caught the eye of many clubs, but Baines re-signed for the Toffees for £6 million in 2010.
Renowned for his exceptional crossing ability, set-piece expertise, and solid defensive skills, Baines achieved cult hero status at Everton. He lined-up for the Blues 348 times, contributing 29 goals and 53 assists and most definitely deserves a spot in this XI.
Baines has also been included in the PFA Team of the Season on two separate occasions and made 30 appearances for England.
Centre-Midfield: Ross Barkley
Ross Barkley emerged as a talented playmaker when he made his debut for the Toffees in 2013.
He quickly turned heads with his dribbling ability, creativity and his ability to score goals from midfield. Barkley picked-up 150 appearances on Merseyside.
He won the Everton player of the season award which gained him a move to Chelsea. Barkley now plays for Aston Villa after stints at Nice and Luton and has 33 appearances for England.
Centre-Midfield: Steve McManaman
Steve McManaman is one of the most decorated British players to play abroad.
With two Spanish LaLiga titles and two Champions League titles and a super cup to his name. ‘Macca’, as he is referred to by the Kop, delivered for Liverpool. Often criticised for his goal scoring, McManaman made up for this with trickery, hard work and essentially putting the ball on a plate for Robbie Fowler.
The man from Bootle played for his country 37 times, astonishingly England only lost twice when he played.
Centre-Midfield: Steven Gerrard
The captain of this Merseyside-born XI is who other than ‘Stevie G.’
The Whiston Midfielder lined-up for the Reds 504 times, scoring 120 goals.
The mercurial centre-mid remained loyal to his local club despite interest from Real Madrid, Chelsea and even Manchester united, earning himself the heart of everyone on the red side of Liverpool.
Gerrard led his side to arguably the most famous night in the club’s history in 2005, when Liverpool turned around a three-goal deficit, to draw level and then go on to beat AC Milan on penalties to lift the Champions League in Istanbul. Gerrard made 114 appearances for Englan, scoring 21 times.
Forward: Robbie Fowler
It must take something of a devine intervention on many, many occasions to earn yourself the nickname God.
Robbie Fowler, or ‘God’ to Kopites, is the eighth-highest goal scorer in Premier League history, hitting the back of the net 183 times to gain hero status at Anfield.
Fowler’s electric start to life at Liverpool saw him have a goal to game ratio of 0.58, putting him in great company, as that stat has only been bettered by Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
The Toxteth native also lined-up for Manchester City, Leeds United, Cardiff City, and Blackburn Rovers.
Fowler was an opportunistic striker who used intelligence to find key goalscoring opportunities as a poacher. Fowler was a particular a headache for defenders as he was quick, both footed and great in the air. Fowler represented his country 26 times, scoring seven times.
Forward: Wayne Rooney
Once a red always a blue proved to be correct in 2017 when Wayne Rooney rejoined Everton after 13 years at Manchester United.
The Croxteth striker rose to fame as a 16-year-old with an eye for goal, after becoming the Premier League’s youngest ever scorer when he netted the winner against Arsenal.
Rooney is the first player on the list who has lined-up for Manchester United, he is their highest scorer of all-time scoring 183 in 393 games. Rooney represented the Three Lions on 120 occasions, finding the net 53 times. Number 10 on this list was always going to be Rooney.
Forward: Dixie Dean
You could argue that most people have never seen Dixie Dean play and that football was a completely different game in the 1920s, but there is a mythical tone about the conversations he is brought into.
He is the only player who would remember World War One in this squad and with good reason.
Born in Birkenhead in 1907, Dean lined-up for his local club Tranmere Rovers before joining Everton. The English Football Hall of Fame member broke all sorts of records at Everton, some that still stand to this day.
He holds the record for most goals scored in one season, at 60. Dean scored 349 goals for Everton in 399 games. Dean also scored 18 goals in 16 appearances for England, a proper goal scorer.
