TOTTENHAM youngsters Steven Caulker and Jake Livermore are the surprise names
in the England squad to face Italy on Wednesday.

Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson has chosen to rest established internationals
Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard.

But midfielders Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick are back in the reckoning
after missing Euro 2012.

Team GB stars Jack Butland, Tom Cleverley, Daniel Sturridge and Ryan Bertrand
make the step up to England’s senior squad.

Cleverley would have made his debut 12 months ago had the friendly with
Holland not been postponed due to the London riots.

And he reacted on Twitter by saying: “Buzzing to be in the england squad!”

There is also a place Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell as Hodgson looks to mix
youth and experience in his experimental line-up.

Hodgson has retained just three players who started the Euro 2012
quarter-final defeat to Italy in Kiev.

Manchester City duo Joe Hart and James Milner as well as United’s Ashley Young
make the cut.

Lampard looks the most likely skipper with Gerrard and Terry absent.

England squad to face Italy on Wednesday August 15:

Keepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Joe Hart (Manchester City),
John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary
Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka
(Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley
(Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester
City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City),
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Ashley Young
(Manchester United).

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur),
Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

LIVERPOOL have been drawn against Scottish side Hearts in the Europa League
play-off round.

The first leg is set to be play at Tynecastle on August 23 with the return leg
at Anfield a week later.

Brendan Rodgers’ side saw off Belarus minnows FC Gomel at Anfield last night —
completing a 4-0 aggregate win.

Hearts qualified for this stage by virtue of winning the William Hill Scottish
Cup.

They will be hoping to do better than the last time they faced English
opposition in European competition.

Last season the Edinburgh outfit lost 5-0 on aggregate to Tottenham at the
same stage.

Meanwhile, NEWCASTLE will take on Greek team ATROMITOS after
entering the tournament at this stage due to their fifth-place finish last
season.

Alan Pardew’s men will head to Greece for the first leg before playing at home
the week after.

And MOTHERWELL have been given a tough assignment after being drawn
against Spanish Primera Division side LEVANTE.

Rodgers admits he needs time

AS far as first impressions go, Brendan Rodgers could hardly have wished for
more.

A flying start to life at Anfield as Belarus whipping boys FC Gomel were
despatched at a hugely impressive canter.

And the perfect welcome mat laid down for the soon-to-be Red Joe Allen,
watching from the directors’ box and all set to become a Liverpool player
within the next 24 hours.

Swansea’s Allen has a medical at Melwood today and his £15million move will be
completed once that last hurdle is overcome.

Boss Rodgers said: “It is imminent, although I haven’t heard the latest.

“But Joe’s here and that means there is good communication with Swansea. We
hope to conclude it within the next 24 hours and that’s as much as I can
say.”

From the minute Fabio Borini — another new boy making his bow in front of the
Kop — volleyed the hosts ahead midway through the first half, this was an
absolute stroll for the new-look Reds.

Skipper Steven Gerrard rolled home the second minutes before the break,
tapping into an empty net after great work from the outstanding Luis Suarez.

And Glen Johnson capped the show with a late third, firing in from 20 yards
with Gomel all over the place again.

Yet although he did not get on the scoresheet, the true star of the show was
Suarez, fresh from signing his new four-year deal and looking livelier than
ever.

Northern Irishman Rodgers has made no secret of the fact the team will always
be the star of the show, rather than any individual.

But even he was blown away so much that he had to single out the Uruguay
striker for a special mention.

He said: “Luis is an incredible player — his imagination and creativity around
the box was amazing.

“It’s the type of player I love, this is a player who is in love with
football.

“You see his brightness and combinations with Steven and, with Fabio coming
inside, they made us a real potent attacking force.”

For all it was hardly the toughest introduction for Rodgers, as Liverpool
cruised into the Europa League play-off round, some of their one-touch
attacking football would have blown away far stronger opponents than this.

They will soon get the chance to prove it.

And not too many at Anfield would back against them managing it.