The World Cup is here. Taking place across North America and with an expanded number of teams, Liverpool players will be pivotal in their national team's successes.
Always at the top of their game, Liverpool has produced some world-class international players. Be it homegrown English talent or by importing the best the world has to offer, Anfield has always been home to great athletes. This continues apace, and this World Cup will see even more of its players out on the international stage.
Arguably, one of the greatest goals at a World Cup was scored by a Liverpool player. In France 98, Michael Owen broke a 1 – 1 deadlock against Argentina. Intercepting a deft chip from Beckham, the then 18-year-old took a feather-light first touch and rocketed off towards the box, knocking a goal past keeper Carlos Roa.
Of the goal itself, Michael Owen would later reflect and note that "The goal definitely changed my life.” Yet that would not necessarily be a good thing. He later added that "I don't think it changed me as me, but to the outside world and people looking at me, it just brought a lot more scrutiny," he added. Owen would struggle to recapture moments like this in his later career, possibly for the added pressures this goal brought.
The latest 2026 World Cup odds currently have England sitting as third favourite. Above them are France and Spain vying for the top spot. These placings are dynamic however, and can change frequently. This is one of the highest placings they have had going into a World Cup for some time and they are highly rated. Even the mighty Brazil, Portugal and Argentina sit behind them. It may take a Michael Owen '98 style touch of magic to propel them back to a final.
For many, a return to the United States for a World Cup will conjure up memories of one player alone: John Aldridge. In a game that pitted the Republic of Ireland against Mexico, he started on the bench. His team were 1- 0 down, and manager Jack Charlton was just preparing to put Aldridge and Jason McAteer on the pitch.
Waiting to come on, Luis Garcia then made it 2 – 0. McAteer went on, and two Republic of Ireland players came off. Yet a linesman stopped Aldridge from going on the pitch. Sidelined, and with the ball still in play, his frustrations erupted as the camera captured the whole event and broadcast it to the world.
When it comes to iconic World Cup football players from Anfield, none hold a candle to Roger Hunt. This was because he was the only England forward to start every game in the successful 1966 campaign. Scoring three goals in the group games, he was instrumental in pushing them to the knockout stages.
What many mark Hunt for was his never-faltering work rate. With the domestic team, he had been the top goal scorer for eight consecutive seasons. He was there during the promotion to division one, and they later gained two titles. Hunt then scored in the FA Cup final win against Leeds. However, more prestigious than any of this was that he had the accolade of scoring the first goal ever broadcast on Match of the Day.
Some legendary players have been both the hero and villain at various times. Steven Gerrard is one example. In 2006, after a long, dragged-out goalless game against Trinidad and Tobago, which could have been very embarrassing, he joined Crouch in making it a 2-0 defeat. There were only seven minutes left at the time.
Fast forward to the quarter finals of that same tournament. Against Portugal, England made it hard with ten men, as Rooney was sent off. A penalty shoot-out with anyone brings jelly to the legs of the English public. Misses from Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher saw the team duck out once more in defeat.
In total, eight players from Liverpool will be involved in the World Cup this summer.
They are:
Alisson Becker (Brazil)
Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
Ryan Gravenberch (Netherlands)
Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)
Wataru Endo (Japan)
Florian Wirtz (Germany)
Alexander Isak (Sweden)
Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina)
Added to this is that three players are sitting in a grey area. Their contracts expire at the end of June, and they will be moving on. Contractually, still Liverpool players, Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konate will be much missed. Both Hugo Ekitike and Jeremy Jacquet remain injured.
Media outlets and Liverpool fans on social media are saying it couldn’t be better for Iraola. With so few players there, and the remaining sidelined due to unsuccessful qualifications, it gives him plenty of time in the preseason. This is a time other teams may not have to build their squad, meaning Liverpool could be in for a great and well-prepared start to the 2026/27 campaign.