We could be seeing a lot more of Thomas Tuchel at Anfield in the future, with the German set to become the new England boss .
According to BBC Sport , the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss has agreed to become the Three Lions’ new manager following an approach from the FA. Tuchel will be tasked with leading England into a new era following the departure of Gareth Southgate in the summer, with the next World Cup less than two years away.
And that will of course mean plenty of watching briefs as he gets to grips with the players on offer to him. That will include some of Liverpool’s stars.
There are five players currently in Arne Slot’s senior squad who will be eyeing up spots in the England squad for the 2026 World Cup. Trent Alexander-Arnold will be right at the front of that queue, but Jarell Quansah , Joe Gomez , Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott will also be hoping to force their way into the reckoning.
During his time at Chelsea, Tuchel favored three at the back, which you would have to think would increase Quansah and Gomez’s chances of earning a spot in his squad. If you’re going to play such a system, you’ll need to increase your options at the back to ensure you’ve got enough cover.
Given defense is by far England’s biggest weakness, it certainly isn’t out of the question for Quansah and Gomez to feature in Tuchel’s side, and their athleticism would certainly suit playing on either the left or right of the back three. The biggest obstacle for the pair though is simply their game time at Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate holding down the starting berths in the Reds’ backline.
On the face of it, a back three would appear to suit Alexander-Arnold right down to the ground. Given how much focus is put on his supposed defensive frailties by the likes of Roy Keane , playing him at right-wing back would mean there’s less pressure on him at the back, while giving him more freedom to go forward.
In practice though, it might not work so well. Alexander-Arnold is at his best when he’s given the freedom to drift inside almost as an extra midfielder, whereas playing as a wing-back would pretty much have him nailed to the touchline – and that’s before you consider that Tuchel might favor Reece James and Kyle Walker over him .
A senior England debut looks to just be a matter of time for Jones , having received a late call-up during the most recent games, but staying at home for the Nations League game against Finland due to the birth of his baby daughter .
If Tuchel does go with three at the back, then there could be a way into the side for Jones alongside Declan Rice in a 3-4-2-1, with Jude Bellingham occupying one of the more advanced positions. Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and Lille’s Angel Gomes are perhaps the frontrunners for that spot at the moment, but if Jones can nail down a more regular spot in Liverpool’s side, he might find himself in favor soon.
Elliott , meanwhile, might actually find it the hardest out of the quintet to find a way into England’s side under Tuchel. The 21-year-old would have to be picked as a No.10 or a right-winger, both positions where the Three Lions are pretty blessed with talent.
You certainly can’t imagine Elliott would get in ahead of Bellingham, Phil Foden or Cole Palmer as an attacking midfielder, and Bukayo Saka would surely be Tuchel’s first choice on the right if he chooses a more conventional system, so the Liverpool star might well find himself in a backup role under the new England regime.
Nevertheless, Tuchel should be paying close attention to the Reds’ as he embarks on his new job. If he is to end England’s long wait for a trophy, they could prove crucial.
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