For the first time since 1986, England's World Cup squad contains no Liverpool players. Thomas Tuchel's selection snub is a stark reflection of the club's dramatic decline this season and the slipping standards at one of football's most storied institutions.
Liverpool are not alone in this ignominy. Real Madrid, the world's biggest club, also has no representatives in Spain's squad for the tournament in North America. Defenders Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal were omitted, with Spain coach Luis de la Fuente stating that reputation means nothing to him.
The absence of Liverpool's influence in the England setup is almost unthinkable given the club's history. Legends such as Steven Gerrard (114 caps), Michael Owen, and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been mainstays. In total, 75 Liverpool players have earned 1,220 caps for England.
While England's lack of reliance on Liverpool talent is not the cause of the club's domestic struggles under Arne Slot, it is a consequence. Players like Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones are not of the calibre required for a World Cup squad, highlighting the halt in production of international-quality talent at Anfield.
The snub is humiliating for a club that prides itself on representing the highest level of the game. Liverpool may have bigger problems, but this absence from the England squad should sting and serve as a reminder of how far standards have fallen.
