Jamie Carragher has explained why he can see Jordan Henderson playing a big role for England in the World Cup round of 16.
The Three Lions booked their place in the round of 16 with a 3-0 win over Wales tonight and will now face a Sadio Mane-less Senegal.
The Liverpool captain made his first start of the tournament during the clash and his presence in midfield meant the Southgate side dominated proceedings.
“In fact, I think the balance of having Declan Rice and a similar type of midfielder there, it was Kalvin Phillips in the last tournament, and that partnership worked very well,” Carragher told Sky Sports (via Liverpool Echo). “If we’re going to play 4-3-3, you want at least one of your midfielders to be attacking, Bellingham is that. They also had Mason Mount there.
“Gareth has been accused of being pragmatic and defensive, but in the first two games of a big tournament he has put Mason Mount and Jude Bellingham as attacking midfielders with Declan Rice behind, so that’s not defensive. But as the tournament goes on and we saw times in that game against the US, Declan Rice was outclassed and felt outnumbered. He sometimes he needs a little help.
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“I thought the change of Jordan Henderson changed the game for England, so I’m not surprised that he comes and plays there. There may be a fight between Bellingham and Mount in the future of this tournament. We’ll see how fit Kalvin Phillips gets.
“I don’t think Gareth Southgate will go for the midfield he went with in the first two games when they get to the knockout stages against one of the best nations.”
Henderson performed well alongside West Ham’s Declan Rice and the team’s selection also meant Liverpool’s reported target Jude Bellingham featured in a more advanced role.
The 19-year-old showed his versatility and proved once again why Jurgen Klopp is desperate to bring him to Anfield.
Southgate’s tactics and substitutions came under fire after his team drew 0-0 with the US on Friday, but now I would expect the Reds’ number 14 to retain his place in the squad for the next round after a decent performance. .
Former Liverpool player Stan Collymore has explained that he may also see the former Sunderland player ‘playing a bigger role’ for the 1966 World Cup winners in the coming weeks.
Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips has recently returned to fitness, meaning Henderson will be ahead of him in the pecking order at the moment.
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