Jump directly to the content
lion watch

Germany 1 England 0: Jake Livermore as out of place in international football as Three Lions in a blue kit but Michael Keane impresses

Sponsored by

GARETH SOUTHGATE handed an England debut to Michael Keane in the 1-0 defeat to Germany.

And Jake Livermore was back in Three Lions contention after a four-year absence.

Jake Livermore (right) and Michael Keane (second from right) made their England bows
5
Jake Livermore (right) and Michael Keane (second from right) made their England bowsCredit: Reuters

The duo, who play for Burnley and West Brom respectively, both represent clubs not usually supplying the national team.


Read The Sun's match report from Germany vs England here


But did they do themselves - and smaller teams - justice, or should Southgate stick to picking familiar faces like Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere?

SunSport assesses Livermore and Keane's impact on the friendly with Germany.

Jake Livermore

Jake Livermore put himself about but did not use the ball well enough
5
Jake Livermore put himself about but did not use the ball well enoughCredit: PA:Press Association

Looked as out of place on his return to international level as England in a dark blue kit.

Gave the ball away twice inside the opening half hour when England were well placed.

He sent the ball out for a goal kick trying to find Adam Lallana on the edge of the area before wasting a good chance to counter.

Livermore did manage top make an impact on Toni Kroos, however, with a crunching challenge.

Livermore's distribution is not good enough for this level on tonight's evidence
5
Livermore's distribution is not good enough for this level on tonight's evidence but he did some decent defensive workCredit: Rex Features

And his ball to set Jamie Vardy racing down the right in the second half showed some potential.

The West Brom midfielder could have got closer to Toni Kroos as he played the ball forwards in the build-up to Lukas Podolski's thunderbolt.

Replaced by another debuant James Ward-Prowse after 82 minutes.

Ward-Prowse and Under-21s team-mate Nathan Redmon - who also made hius debut off the bench - did not have enough time to make an impact.

Michael Keane

Not tested defensively in the early stages but looked comfortable on the ball albeit under little pressure.

Was exposed after the break as Leroy Sane capitalised on a slip but Joe Hart came to his rescue with a smart save.

Michael Keane looked composed on the ball in the early stages and did not make any defensive mistakes
5
Michael Keane looked composed on the ball in the early stages and did not make any defensive mistakesCredit: PA:Press Association
Keane challenges for the ball in a solid start for England
5
Keane challenges for the ball in a solid start for EnglandCredit: PA:Press Association

The Burnley man will learn from his mistakes and definiteloy looked more the part that his defensive team-mate.

Like John Stones, Keane's skill on the ball would suit England if they opt to go three at the back more often under Southgate.

Topics