England Squad Update: Livramento Omitted as Gibbs-White & Quansah Return Ahead of Latvia Clash
An analysis of England's squad changes for the Latvia qualifier, featuring Livramento's omission and the return of key players. Tactical insights from Southgate included.




England Announce Final 23-Man Squad for Latvia Qualifier
Newcastle United's rising star Tino Livramento has been surprisingly excluded from England's matchday squad for Monday's crucial World Cup qualifier against Latvia at Wembley (19:45 GMT kickoff). The 22-year-old defender, who earned his first cap earlier this year, remained an unused substitute during Friday's 2-0 victory over Albania.
Squad Rotation Takes Center Stage
Manager Gareth Southgate has made three key adjustments to his lineup:
- IN: Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) returns after missing Friday's match
- IN: Jarell Quansah (Liverpool) rejoins the defensive options
- OUT: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) withdraws due to recurring injury concerns
Tactical Considerations
With UEFA regulations requiring a trimmed 23-man squad for matchday (from the original 26), Southgate explained his selection philosophy:
"Building tournament-ready squads requires more than just assembling the most talented individuals. Team dynamics and role specialization become paramount when we transition from qualifiers to major competitions. These decisions reflect our long-term vision."
Key Absences Noted
Notable omissions include:
- Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton) continues his exclusion from recent squads
- Levi Colwill (Chelsea) remains with the U-21s despite first-team clamor
Latvia Match Preview
England currently sits atop Group F with:
- 4 wins from 4 matches
- 12 goals scored
- 1 goal conceded
The Three Lions will look to maintain their perfect record against 135th-ranked Latvia, against whom they've won all four historical meetings by an aggregate 16-1 scoreline.
Injury Watch
- Kyle Walker undergoing late fitness test
- Jude Bellingham carrying slight knock but expected to start
- Luke Shaw returns to full training
[Stats via Opta] England have kept clean sheets in 8 of their last 10 home qualifiers.