Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp could be given a glimpse at a potential future Reds midfield on Tuesday night, with Jordan Henderson reportedly in line for his first start for England at the 2022 World Cup.
Having come off the bench as a 69th minute substitute in Friday night’s 0-0 draw with the United States, widespread reports are claiming the Liverpool skipper is now set to start for the Three Lions’ final group game against Wales, coming in as one of four changes, as they look to book their place in the knockout stages.
And while it was initially suggested he could come in for Jude Bellingham, the man he replaced last week, Sky Sports News are now reporting that the Borussia Dortmund midfielder is poised to keep his place with Mason Mount or Declan Rice more likely to drop out.
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Should Henderson indeed line up alongside Bellingham, it will mark only the seventh time the two players have played alongside each other and just the second time they have started together, with the pair boasting just 170 minutes of action in the same England midfield.
Their first appearance together came on the eve of Euro 2020 last summer when Henderson made his return from injury as a half-time substitute against Romania in England's final warm-up friendly, replacing Kalvin Phillips, with Bellingham then introduced in the 65th minute as he came on for Jadon Sancho.
A first competitive outing together would come once the finals got underway, with Bellingham was introduced in the 68th minute in place of Jack Grealish against Czech Republic, after Henderson had already replaced Rice at half-time. The 19-year-old would then follow the Reds captain onto the pitch again in their quarter-final victory over Ukraine, coming on in the 65th minute for Phillips eight minutes after the England vice-captain’s own introduction.
Bellingham and Henderson would start together for the first, and so far to date only, time when England beat Andorra 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier in September 2021, with the latter lining up in a deeper role. Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold would complete an all-Red midfield trio after being stationed out of position, though he would be restored to his favoured position in the second half, while the Dortmund star was replaced by Mason Mount just after the hour-mark.
Meanwhile, Bellingham would be brought on to play alongside Henderson, who had started, against Albania in a further World Cup qualifier in November 2021, after the 19-year-old replaced Phillips in the 64th minute. The Liverpool skipper would also be starting when the Dortmund midfielder was brought on for their most recent outing, against Switzerland back in March, but this time he was introduced in place of Phil Foden in a more advanced role with 10 minutes remaining.
Since then Henderson has replaced Bellingham when winning his two most recent caps, coming on as a last-minute substitute in the Nations League against Germany before last week’s introduction against USA. But now Klopp and Kopites will get a first proper look at the pair lining up together in competitive action, as Liverpool continue to find themselves linked with a move for the 19-year-old.
As the Reds plan to overhaul their midfield in 2023, in face of ageing stars, expiring contracts and injury-prone players, Bellingham is believed to be Klopp’s first-choice target with Liverpool’s long-standing interest in him well-documented. However, it remains to be seen if they will be able to afford such a transfer, given they are likely to face rival interest from the likes of Man City and Real Madrid.
Yet if they are to be successful with such a pursuit, Kopites will be granted a glimpse into the future when the pair line up alongside each against Wales in Al Rayyan. Should they complement each other well, a potential positive performance will likely whet Klopp’s appetite to land Bellingham further.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph are reporting that Rice will complete Gareth Southgate’s midfield against Wales, in what could be a further look at Liverpool’s ‘next’ midfield. The Reds have found themselves increasingly linked with the West Ham United man in recent weeks, though such a move would seem unlikely with Fabinho very much first choice at Anfield.
As a result, it could be wishful thinking to imagine a future Liverpool midfield of Henderson x Rice x Bellingham, with such a prospect instead being limited to a new-look England engine-room instead.
But while the partnering of Henderson and Bellingham might be a rare sight to date, the Reds will no doubt hope it soon becomes a much more regular occurrence at Anfield.
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