Jude Bellingham played another starring role for England in their win over Wales – and his post-match comments will be music to the ears of Liverpool supporters.
Bellingham put in another storming performance in midfield for Gareth Southgate’s side, who qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday night. The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund star was influential in the middle of the pitch once again after starting for the third successive game.
The goals all came in the second half, with Marcus Rashford smashing in a free-kick before Phil Foden tapped in Harry Kane's back-post cross. Rashford added another with a mazy run and finish through Danny Ward’s legs to book a knockout tie against Senegal on Sunday.
Bellingham played alongside West Ham's Declan Rice and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in England's midfield, with Mason Mount dropped to the bench. The balance appeared good in a 4-3-3 formation and Bellingham's post-match comments might add fuel to rumours of Liverpool's interest in signing him.
"We had our high energy today," he told the BBC. "With the game the other day we maybe realised we weren't aggressive enough, a little too passive, so it's important to be on the front foot.
"Hendo brings that intensity every time he plays and when he gives you that confidence to go and press, I can push on and Dec can be aggressive. We won a lot of balls high up the pitch, which was key to us retaining the pressure and keeping them under."
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Bellingham is best when given licence to push forward in a box-to-box role and England benefited from playing the more defensively-minded pair of Rice and Henderson behind him. Liverpool are one of the clubs monitoring his progress and hoping to tempt him to leave Dortmund.
He has already pushed back against comparisons with Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard but admitted the former England star was one of his heroes growing up. Bellingham is under contract until June 2025 with Dortmund, who have already fended off interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as Liverpool.
Rio Ferdinand was one of the people full of praise for Bellingham – and mention Henderson's influence – after the England win in Qatar. "What a player, we're seeing glimpses today," the former United centre-back said on the BBC.
"He's getting licence to roam a little bit and my only criticism of England is maybe having a more, a player who can come in and do a little bit more. Henderson's in there for security I understand that, but [Jack] Grealish or Foden more central might be something else."
Bellingham will be hopeful of keeping his place in England's midfield for their next match against Senegal this weekend. They will play Senegal at the Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar at 7pm on Sunday in the last 16.
