Liverpool pairing a lock for England’s midfield against Italy
Published:Roy Hodgson will have learned much about the best and worst elements of his England squad after a win and a draw against Peru and Ecuador, but Ladbrokes don’t feel the friendlies have had much of an impact on his first-team thoughts for the Three Lions’ World Cup opener.
After drifting inexplicably to 1/8 to be in from the off against Italy, Wayne Rooney’s scrappy equaliser against Ecuador in Miami – his first goal in five England games – seems to have assuaged punters’ concerns about the Manchester United striker’s fitness and form.
He’s back into 1/25 joint-favourite with goalie Joe Hart to make the teamsheet for the Azzurri clash, which England are 21/10 outsiders to emerge triumphant from.
Jordan Henderson lined up in what many expect to be the starting XI against Italy in England’s last pre-World Cup Wembley fixture, the 3-0 win over Peru.
The Liverpool midfielder didn’t get too many more chances to impress during a six-minute cameo at the SunLife Stadium, but he’s now 8/15 from 8/13 to partner 1/16 club and international captain Steven Gerrard in the opener.
Following the logic that Hodgson will repeat the starting line-up sent out at Wembley when facing Cesare Prandelli’s men leads to the conclusion that 11/8 shot Danny Welbeck, and not Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling, is the preferred choice in the left-forward position and should be backed accordingly.
However, both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ross Barkley, at 7/2 and 6/1 respectively to take on Italy from the off, were electric against Ecuador, with the former in particular sure to push Welbeck for a spot on the wing if the injury he sustained in Miami isn’t prohibitive.
To start against Italy
Joe Hart 1/25
Wayne Rooney 1/25
Gary Cahill 1/16
Steven Gerrard 1/16
Glen Johnson 1/10
Phil Jagielka 1/10
Leighton Baines 1/10
Daniel Sturridge 1/8
Jordan Henderson 8/15
Adam Lallana 4/5
Raheem Sterling 5/6
Jack Wilshere 6/5
James Milner 6/5
Danny Welbeck 11/8
Phil Jones 7/2
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain 7/2
Chris Smalling 9/2
Luke Shaw 6/1
Ross Barkley 6/1
Frank Lampard 5/1
Rickie Lambert 10/1
Ben Foster 16/1
Fraser Forster 50/1
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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