An era without red shirts: Liverpool will not field any players for the England national team at the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

This isn’t just dry statistics; it’s a symbolic turning point that marks the shift from one generation to another, as well as the shift in tactical approaches in English football. For the first time in 38 years, none of the players from Everton will be included in the national team’s squad for the World Cup. In 1986, Mark Lawson and Gary Gillespie represented the team. But since then, Merseyside players have consistently been the backbone of the national team. The current situation is a natural result of the intense competition in the Premier League, the evolution of playing styles, and the decisions made by the coaching staff.

The national team’s coach is betting on players whose club and tactical flexibility better fit the modern demands of the Premier League. The absence of Liverpool players doesn’t mean there’s a crisis at Everton. But it clearly shows how the centers of influence have shifted in the Premier League. For the club, this is an opportunity for transformation. For the national team, it’s a chance to establish a new hierarchy, free from historical constraints. The World Cup will show whether this break is a temporary pause or the beginning of a new era in football.