Paul Scholes believes England must play like Liverpool if they are to have any chance of winning the World Cup.
An English core helped Liverpool come within a whisker of winning the Premier League last season, and Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and Glen Johnson were rewarded for their form in the campaign by being called up to the England World Cup squad.
Scholes, who won 66 caps, admires the attacking style of play Liverpool have adopted under Brendan Rodgers and he thinks all five Reds players should start for England in their World Cup opener against Italy.
“It would be refreshing for England to adopt Liverpool’s attacking mentality in Brazil. Really go for it,” the former Manchester United midfielder wrote on his Paddy Power blog.
“That means certainly four, and possibly five, Liverpool players in the England starting XI against Italy on June 14.
“South Africa in 2010 was so negative with boring draws. Nothing seemed to happen. England fans, and myself as an England fan, would rather see 3-all games than dull, nil-nil draws. I’d love to see Roy be brave enough to play like Liverpool (or Man. United teams of the past).
“The thing I admired most (about Liverpool) was the swagger of their play and how they terrorised opponents, which reminded me of United at their best.”
Scholes’s former manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed in his autobiography that he did not sign Henderson for Manchester United because he was concerned his running style would cause him problems later in career.
Scholes, however, believes Henderson is a “diamond of a lad”.
“He’s a player others appreciate having around them on the pitch,” Scholes added.
“He’ll sacrifice himself for the attacking talent in a team like Liverpool. He’s not what you call ‘world class’, but Henderson could be key to England controlling the ball and using it effectively.”
The only player in the Liverpool quintet who Scholes thinks may not be up to the job is Johnson.
“The question mark is Glen Johnson at right-back,” Scholes said. “It’s probably Phil Jones’ best position right now, even though Jones could still develop into a great centre-half.
“Johnson had just two assists for Liverpool last season so did not provide a genuine attacking threat, whatever the perception.”
Scholes is positive about England’s chances of doing well in Brazil, but he is worried about a lack of cover for Gerrard, who turns 34 today.
Scholes thinks 35-year-old Frank Lampard lacks the energy and discipline to carry out the deep-lying playmaker role Gerrard has now assumed for club and country. He thinks Roy Hodgson should have therefore included his former team-mate Michael Carrick in his 23.
In the blog Scholes also poked fun at Yaya Toure’s threat to leave Manchester City because of a perceived lack of respect shown to him by the club’s owners on the day of his 31st birthday.
“It was comical,” Scholes said. “It’s quite embarrassing, really. I can’t remember Man. United players acting like this.”