Liverpool reach unwanted first not seen since 1986 after England squad call
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images England have named their 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, and Liverpool have been left with an unwanted reminder of how far standards have slipped at Anfield. Thomas Tuchel’s squad contains no current Liverpool first-team player, with the tournament now highlighting a gap that would once have felt almost unthinkable. It is the first time since the 1986 World Cup that England have headed to a major tournament without a current Liverpool player .
That is not the reason Liverpool declined in the Premier League this season, but it is a sharp symbol of it. Liverpool’s England absence says plenty about their Premier League drop-off Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images Liverpool have carried a regular England presence for most of the modern Premier League era. That made this squad announcement feel more significant than a simple selection quirk.
Recent tournaments still had an Anfield link. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez were both part of England’s Euro 2024 squad, and Liverpool’s England presence has been a recurring theme across major tournaments. This time, the line has stopped.
That should sting because it arrives after a season in which Liverpool did not look like a side full of players forcing their way into elite international contention. The absence does not mean Liverpool lack English talent. It means none of their current English options did enough, across this campaign, to make omission feel impossible.
Arne Slot’s side left too many questions for England to ignore The England squad should not be treated as the definitive judgement on Liverpool’s season. The Premier League table already did that job. Liverpool finished fifth under Arne Slot, ending the campaign outside the level they expect.
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