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Liverpool were the surprise package last season, mounting an unexpected title challenge against Chelsea and Manchester City all the way to the last day of the campaign. They came up just a bit short at second, and will look to go one step better this time around.

However with the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, a lot of the weight the Uruguayan carried on his shoulders will now be divided among the new Liverpool squad… can they raise their game to make  the Anfield faithful forget about their departed talisman?

Here are FIVE Liverpool players that must prove themselves this season.

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Daniel Sturridge

Although it might be unfair to label a striker that has scored 22 goals last season needing to prove himself, that is the case with Daniel Sturridge.

The media will have an eye on Sturridge to see if he has the ability to lead the line without Suarez, and if Liverpool fail to score on a consistent basis the blame could be put on the Englishman.

But if Sturridge even manages to come close to his 22 league goal haul last season, then critics will be eating their words while the former Chelsea man earns the tag of being one of the country’s best strikers.

Simon Mignolet

Mignolet was purchased from Sunderland only a year ago to replace Pepe Reina, and had an amazing debut when he kept out a last minute penalty to win the game for the Reds.

However the Belgian stopper is prone to lapses of concentration, conceding some avoidable goals that could have been the difference between first and second.

Goalkeepers have been heavily linked with Liverpool this summer and if the 26-year-old wants to hold down his place as Liverpool’s number one, he has to prove to the manager and his fans he deserves to stand in between the Anfield posts.

Mamadou Sakho

Brendan Rodgers spent £15million for Sakho last summer, earmarking him as the season’s ‘marquee signing’ and many were expecting great things from the Frenchman.

However although he started brightly, injuries and poor form kept him out of the side for much of the campaign and Liverpool have suffered defensively because of it.

Sakho did go on to have a decent World Cup for France but now with Dejan Lovren added into the centre-back mix, the former Paris Saint-Germain ace must prove himself as the perfect partner to Lovren or Martin Skrtel.

Jordan Henderson

Henderson arrived at Liverpool for a massive £20million in the summer of 2011, but only last year did we see the 24-year-old play to the level near his hefty price tag.

With Gerrard playing a much deeper role, Henderson has the engine and the ability to become Liverpool’s next goal-scoring midfielder… and with the exit of Luis Suarez there is no better time to do so.

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Can Henderson prove himself as the natural heir to his captain? This could be a true break-out year for the Englishman, much like Ramsey at Arsenal last season.

Lazar Markovic

Also purchased for £20million this summer, Markovic has already been praised by former Chelsea manager Avram Grant as a winger capable of playing at Cristiano Ronaldo’s and Lionel Messi’s level.

Being a relative unknown, the Serbian only needed one season with Benfica to impress the Liverpool hierarchy to pay £20 million for his services. The Reds management certainly see some talent in the 20-year old, and hopes he can be the club’s new X-factor after Luis Suarez’s departure.

And Markovic has the perfect platform to begin his Liverpool legacy, as Adam Lallana – his main competition for the left midfield starting berth – is out injured until the end of September.

Can Markovic prove himself to make Suarez a forgotten man at Anfield?

Unfortunately sitting at the foot of the Championship table, their is no doubt that Bolton Wanderers have massively underachieved in the past three years. Not long ago the Trotters were a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League and even reached the UEFA Cup. Just ask any Arsenal fan of the danger posed when they faced them at the Reebok Stadium, as the Gunners considered them as there ‘bogey team’ away from home.

This fabulous spell was under the guidance of Sam Allardyce, before he made the switch to Newcastle United – where his time at St. James Park was unsuccessful to say the least. Gary Megson and Dougie Freedman have since attempted to rekindle the glory days, but have failed spectacularly.

Despite being the second tier of English football, the Championship is still saturated with fantastic players and managers that are capable of performing at the highest level. Although the second tier may not be at the highest level, it is still considered to be one of the most exciting and pulsating leagues in the world, which draws the quality in. After Freedman left the club recently, Bolton acquired the services of former Celtic gaffer Neil Lennon in an attempt to guide them away from the dreaded relegation zone, and maybe, have a shot of a play-off spot. Not only is this a fantastic piece of business for Bolton, but it also shows that the Championship is not a league to be ignored.

As player, who turned out for Manchester City, Crewe Alexandra, Leicester City, Celtic, Nottingham Forest and Wycombe Wanderers, Lennon was a no nonsense central midfielder, who never turned away from a crunching tackle. In a career that saw the 43 year old play a staggering 561 career games and score 25 goals he also won two League Cups, five Scottish Premier League titles, four Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.

The one major element that Lennon brings is his personality from a playing career into management. His stern approach and careful attention to detail are the reasons he won three Scottish Premier League titles and two Scottish Cups as manager of Celtic between 2010 and 2014. After only being in charge of Bolton for a week, Lennon has already installed one rule at the club, banning players from wearing bobble hats in training – a rule he doesn’t follow himself…

Since Lennon left Celtic Park last season the Northern Irishman has had a plethora of offers to take charge of Premier League clubs, so why did he choose a club that is rooted at the bottom of the Championship table? Knowing Lennon’s character, the last thing he would want was to take charge of a top flight side that settles for a mid-table finish every season. He wants a challenge and wants to achieve things in circumstances many would walk away from. Expect the Championship to become a bit more exciting, and whatever you do, do not rule out Bolton Wanderers for promotion.

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Arsenal make it their target each and every season, and they have achieved it each time since 1998/99. Yet they’ve never managed to win it. Yes, you guessed it – it’s the Champions League.

Liverpool managed to qualify for Europe’s top club competition after a remarkable title challenge left them finishing up in 2nd place last term. However, they lost their best player in Luis Suarez, who essentially played a massive part in their qualification for the competition, and the Reds have since struggled in the Premier League this season as a consequence of the extra fixtures. They’ve not been particularly impressive in the Champions League either – it’s simply a case of a lack of squad depth.

They’ve struggled so much to keep a strong squad in enough fixtures that they even ended up playing a weakened side against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu – a once in a lifetime opportunity for most. It was an honour for the five-time winners to get back into the competition after a absence of four seasons, but it certainly hasn’t been an enjoyable experience thus far. From a season of pure delight (minus the final few games) to a season of inevitable struggles, qualifying for the Champions League hasn’t been particularly enjoyable on Merseyside?

Of course deep down the Liverpool faithful are still enjoying being back in the competition, especially when arch-rivals Man United are not included. The Reds needed to get back in the top spots of the Premier League and that is essentially what every club is aiming for, but perhaps it came too early for them. Once you’re in the top spots in the Premier League, Champions League qualification is the ‘reward’. It’s an opportunity to pit yourself against the top sides in Europe and an a chance to win the most prestigious trophy in European club football.

Even though Liverpool are proving this season how impossible it seems for a club to excel in the competition after a considerable period of absence, every club in the league and everyone involved with each club would love to be in the competition – but why?

As aforementioned, the chance for your side to be amongst the best in the continent is a fantastic opportunity, and for the supporters travelling Europe in support of your side can be an incredible experience.

Let’s not forget that there is another European competition which causes perhaps even more havoc to the participating teams – yes, you guessed it, it’s the ‘not quite so prestigious’ Europa League. It’s most certainly taken its toll on Tottenham in recent years with the extra travelling, ahead of weekend fixtures having hindered results. It is really worth it?

What about the monetary gains, because at the end of the day each football club is a business. As you would expect the Champions League is far more lucrative – the base rate for making it into the group stage is a mere £6.8m, with an extra £790,000 per victory, and just shy of £400,000 for a group stage draw. Large amounts are available for making it through each round with the winner of the competition gaining around £8.3m. Tallied up, the winner of the Champions League (providing they win all six group stage matches) will earn around £30m – not bad at all!

That certainly seems a decent reason to want to qualify for the top European competition. How about the Europa League? Well, following the same route as above the winning team will earn around £7.8m. The runner-up will earn around £6m so making the final is the priority for any serious money-makers. A long way off the Champions League but still a reasonable amount of money to the lesser sides.

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Participating in the Premier League is as lucrative as ever and if your entire life was about money, you wouldn’t be particularly bothered about qualifying for Europe. From TV money alone the top sides who are in-or-around the European spots will earn around £70m, making the £7.8m of winning the Europa League look like petty cash. The sides who finish in the top four will earn a merit amount of £20+, making their total earnings from TV and prize money from the Premier League alone somewhere around the £90m mark. Of course winning the competitions is more about the sheer pride rather than the prize but the £30m awarded by the Champions League is a nice little earner.

So, if you qualify for Europe you’re domestic performances will drop and unless you win the entire competition you won’t earn a great amount – even then it’s not a scratch on competing in the Premier League. So the only reason to play in Europe is to enjoy competing against the top sides in Europe, and for the supporters to get a taste of life abroad. I suppose that’s not a bad reason to qualify but it’s certainly not the be all and end all – Arsene…

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It is no secret that Brendan Rodgers is under a heap of pressure as manager of Liverpool at the moment; his side are failing to rediscover the form that made them so impressive last season and their Champions League campaign has come to a premature end already this campaign.

Despite there being a lot of pressure surrounding the Northern Irishman, it would be wrong to sack Rodgers; he is clearly struggling to emulate last season’s success but the Liverpool side of last year were high on confidence and played without fear. Fast forward to the current Liverpool side and they are a shadow of their former selves, as they continue to struggle without key players and Steven Gerrard isn’t getting any younger.

For Rodgers, the biggest loss has to be Luis Suarez and although this has been mentioned a lot this season, the absence of one of the best strikers in the world is always going to come at a cost to any team. Suarez would often win games on his own last season and it wasn’t just his individual brilliance that carried Liverpool towards a surprise title challenge.

Suarez linked up excellently with the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling, he also gave Steven Gerrard an abundance of options in midfield due to the Uruguayan’s superb movement. Rodgers has now lost Suarez for good and Daniel Sturridge has been unable to fill the void left by the Uruguayan due to various injury problems. Therefore, it was always going to difficult for Rodgers to develop a team as successful as last season’s with noticeable absentees and a more congested fixture list.

Liverpool should stick with their current manager as there is no reason as to why the same man cannot replicate the success that was there for all to see in 2013/14. He has struggled with signings made so far this season, players such as Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli, Dejan Lovren, Emre Can and Lazar Markovic have been nowhere near the standard needed to push for the title and this lack of success in the transfer market is the manager’s fault.

However, Rodgers should be given time at Liverpool to turn the season around. January will be massive month for the former Swansea City manager as he desperately needs to sign a goalscorer and a solid centre back as Mario Balotelli and Dejan Lovren have been poor to say the least. Whether his new signings will adapt later in their Liverpool careers remains to be seen but Rodgers cannot avoid to wait for his signings to settle in and perform, especially when it doesn’t look like it could happen any time soon.

Rodgers will continue to play in a similar manner that has seen him earn plaudits from all angles in the game; his attractive, possession-based football will thrive when he eventually gets together a group of players who gel and perform well together. He also needs to inject confidence back into his team as they look a dejected side at the moment.

Understandably, the contrast of form will effect the players but it is the manager’s job to change the negative mindset. Although there is a lot of work to be done, Rodgers is more than capable of leading Liverpool back to where they want to be in the future. Let’s not forget that he won the Manager of the Year award last season, so his managerial talent cannot be doubted.

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So far this campaign, the trend of sticking by managers has paid dividends for a number of clubs and Liverpool should be no different. Hiring a new manager could almost be a step backwards as Rodgers clearly has a project to pursue at Anfield. Based on what he produced last year, there should be enough faith from both the fans and the board to stand by their man and if this happens, Liverpool are sure to see the benefits in the near future.

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From Europa League stand-in for the likes of Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor to captain of his club in just one season… the rise of Harry Kane could be set to go into overdrive. Well, according to some reports this morning, which suggest that the goal-getting 21-year-old may be handed the armband in the not too distant future thanks to his growing importance at ‘The Lane’.It may be early days for Kane who has, to be slightly controversial, only enjoyed around six months of looking like Premier League player, but there could be some logic to it – so here are FIVE interesting points to back it up…

A growing influence

There’s no doubting that Harry Kane is now a big part of the Spurs team. From a cup player – European and continental – the young centre-forward is now the Lilywhites’ main striker and source of goals, and reports even suggest that’s now a growing influence in terms of giving team talks.

With such confidence and a level of tactical acumen, Kane looks to have what it takes for a senior role, with the run they’ve been on – one loss in ten games and a spot in the League Cup Final – backing up what he has been bringing to the table.

The main man

As a striker, Kane’s main job is to put the ball in the back of the net… and he’s certainly been doing that. The 21-year-old has scored more goals in all competitions this term than any other Premier League player, justifying Mauricio Pochettino’s call to make him the focal point of his attack. A captain needs to do more than just put the ball between the sticks, but leading by example is a key part of wearing the armband, and Kane does that with his impressive tally and all-action playing style.

White Hart Lane hero

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In modern football, it’s somewhat sad to say, local heroes are a dying breed. When Steven Gerrard retires Liverpool will lose, arguably, the best example of such a set of circumstances in the Premier League, so it would be nice to see somebody step up. Kane may have been pictured in Arsenal strips and played for their youth sides, but having spent the majority of his formative years in the white half of north London, he certainly offers a presence fans can relate to.

The chants of ‘he’s one of our own’ back that up, and he’s sure to get the support of almost every Spurs fan at White Hart Lane should he be ‘promoted’.

Leading by example

Building from the main man point, Kane really does set an example on the pitch. In the games he’s been dropped or rested in favour of Soldado or Adebayor, Spurs have lacked the intensity he offers, with his willing running, desire to take on responsibility and, of course, ability almost infectious.

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Long-term option

Spurs fans may not want to admit it, but the club, on the whole, has been a selling one in recent times. Over the course of the past few years key players such as Luka Modric and Gareth Bale have been shipped out for vast profits, which has contributed to a lack of progress from the Champions League days of Harry Redknapp and his top four finishes.

Although there are suggestions Kane is already attracting Real Madrid, the player himself is thought to be keen to stay at White Hart Lane, which could make him an option for the next few years and stability could be key for Tottenham…

Fomer Everton and Manchester United boss, David Moyes has recently taken a swipe at the league where he was previously employed. Claiming the standard has declined badly in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons.

Is he right? Is ‘the best league in the world’, simply now the most overhyped one?

The last few weeks of European competition, have put the struggles of English teams into the spotlight. No teams have managed to negotiate their way into the last eight, of either club European competition.

Rather than comparing the Premier League to the other major European leagues, we will instead compare this year’s English top flight to ones of the past.

How would this year’s teams fare against previous editions of the division?

2014/15’s runaway leaders Chelsea are by far and away the best team in the league. Six points clear with a game in hand, they look sure to win the title. In comparison to previous winners, this Chelsea team are a strong winner. A fantastic goalkeeper is protected by the best central defensive partnership in the country. Their midfield, boasts one of the best defensive midfielders in the world in Matic and one of the great playmakers in Fabregas. Diego Costa leads the line for the Blues, one of the best strikers in world football. Despite their failure in Europe, this Chelsea team could boast that they would be contenders in any era of the Premier League.

It is beyond Mourinho’s men that the dearth of quality really exposes itself. Manchester City look sure to finish second. Essentially second by default, their susceptibility to concede poor goals twinned with their periods of bluntness in attack, mean Pellegrini’s men are a pale shadow of runners up in previous years. Would they hold a candle to the Manchester Untied side that they themselves pipped to the title only three years ago?

The great Arsenal and Manchester United teams of years gone by, are both completely different animals to the ones we now see. The fact that they sit so comfortably within the top four, alludes to the fact that the decline in the quality at the top end is on the slide.

Looking outside the top four, outside the elite band of teams, there are now a group of about 10-12 teams, all of whom are capable of being relegated. Although, this year it seems that all three promoted teams will be relegated, the gap between the lower end of the Premier League and the top end of the Championship is nowhere near as wide as it once seemed.

English team’s worsening performances in Europe can be completely rationalised, football is cyclical. While these shores boasted dominance over European competitions for nearly a decade, there was still a period of relative weakness before.

The easiest way to see the decline in front of our very eyes, is on the pitches in the domestic competition.

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Can any fan of a top side, even Chelsea, suggest they are now stronger than they ever have been? An Arsenal of 2004 would undoubtedly beat an Arsenal of 2015. A 2009 Manchester United, would effortlessly cast aside their modern day counterparts.

Many will argue, Moyes himself has helped to decrease the quality in the league with his poor spell at the helm at Old Trafford, but it a league wide endemic.

The Premier League of today, is a poor relative to those of years gone by.

This game will be remembered for Brad Guzan’s Sunday League goalkeeping but it could have been so different had the keeper not let his side down. Here are THREE talking points from today’s game:

Give Given a chance

Brad Guzan’s error was unforgivable. Aston Villa grew into their game with last season’s Champions but they were always facing an uphill battle thanks to the keeper’s mistake. Given Given’s performance in the FA Cup for Villa he should now be given his chance in the league.

Grealish more than flash in pan

The midfielder followed up his match-winning display against Liverpool with another composed performance today. Grealish linked up Villa’s attack well and poses some awkward questions for previous manager Paul Lambert: with a side so bereft of creativity why did the Scot ignore such a player in his midst?

Benteke wrongly judged offside

Had Christian Benteke not been wrongly judges to be offside at 2-2 this game could have a very different look right now. As it was, City went up the other end and immediately scored via some Fernandinho acrobatics. Tim Sherwood has every reason to feel aggrieved.

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In the pick of the Premier League’s weekend action – with the exception of Chelsea’s potential title-clincher against Crystal Palace – Tottenham play host to reigning champions Manchester City at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

The Citizens have certainly enjoyed the better rub of results in recent meetings between the two sides, winning five of their last six encounters with an aggregate scoreline of 21-8 – including a 4-1 thumping at the Etihad back in October.

But potentially entering the fixture upon the news that Chelsea have stripped their Premier League title from them in the early kick-off against Palace, City might find themselves a little deflated on Sunday – something which Tottenham are more than capable of taking advantage of.

That, however, will largely depend on whether the Lilywhites can dominate the key individual battles – and just in case they’re in need of some guidance, Football Fancast have listed the FIVE most important.

Will these five key battles determine the outcome on Sunday?

SERGIO AGUERO VS JAN VERTONGHEN

The last time Tottenham faced Sergio Aguero he absolutely ripped their defence apart, grinding them down with his relentless energy before netting four goals in an incredible striking masterclass.

Although the Premier League’s top scorer is simply unstoppable when at his best, the Lilywhites must do a better job of containing him on Sunday – even if it’s not for the full ninety minutes – to stand any chance of coming away from White Hart Lane with points in hand.

Jan Vertonghen has never quite rediscovered the form of his debut Premier League campaign, but in terms of his pace and mobility, he’s a far better candidate to mark Aguero than expected centre-back partner Federico Fazio, who turns slower than a battle cruiser.

That being said, the Belgium international was outrun and outmuscled by the Argentina international back in October, so it’s imperative he puts in an improved performance.

HARRY KANE VS ELIAQUIM MANGALA

Sergio Aguero may be leading the Premier League’s scoring charts but Tottenham’s Harry Kane isn’t far behind – just one goal to be precise – and the in-form England international will certainly fancy his chances of closing the gap on Saturday.

In the absence of Vincent Kompany, he’ll be up against Man City’s £32million signing Eliaquim Mangala, who has struggled to say the least since arriving at the Etihad last summer.

Indeed, he’s resembled a fish out of water for much of the season and appears yet to truly acclimatise himself with the pace and intensity of Premier League football.

So if Tottenham’s 21 year-old front-man, who boasts six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances, can keep the pressure on the France international by being his usually busy and industrious self, he’s almost certain to force defensive errors.

DANNY ROSE VS JESUS NAVAS

The marauding overlaps of Danny Rose have been a predominant feature of Tottenham’s attacking play this season, leading the left-back to two goals and four assists in 25 Premier League starts whilst creating one chance per match.

It’s clearly a defining trait of Mauricio Pochettino’s philosophy – we saw a similar kind of thing from like-minded ‘false full-back’ Luke Shaw at Southampton – so expect more of the same on Sunday, with the Lilywhites keen to stamp their authority in their own back yard.

Imperative for the 24 year-old, however, is balancing between defence and attack. He’ll likely be up against Jesus Navas, one of the fastest wingers in the business and Man City’s leading creator this term with eight assists in 32 Premier League outings.

The Spain international needs no invitation to drive into space down the touchline – especially on the break – so although Pochettino will want Rose to continue contributing going forward, it’s vital he doesn’t leave Navas with a free run down Spurs’ left flank.

DAVID SILVA VS NABIL BENTALEB

For a 20 year-old of limited Premier League experience, Nabil Bentaleb has done a fantastic job as Tottenham’s deepest-lying midfielder this season, going about his business in a calm, assured and methodical manner.

But there’s few tests in the Premier League quite like Manchester City’s David Silva. Despite not receiving even a nomination for the PFA Player of the Year award, the Spain international is currently enjoying arguably his strongest campaign to date for the Citizens, boasting eleven goals, four assists and 78 created chances from 28 Premier League appearances.

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In the absence of Yaya Toure, the visitors will be more dependent on Silva than ever this Sunday to help them dictate the flow and direction of the match.

Consequentially, Bentaleb needs to keep the 29 year-old on as tight a leash as possible – but that’s no easy task for just one man, so it’s vital the likes of Ryan Mason and Christian Eriksen offer their support.

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN VS FERNANDO AND FERNANDINHO

In some ways, Yaya Toure’s injury serves as a blessing in disguise – allowing Man City to deploy two midfield enforcers, Fernando and Fernandinho, in a bid to nullify Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen.

The Danish international has struggled for form in the second half of the season, bagging just one goal and one assist in the Premier League since the end of January.

But he’s still very much Spurs’ orchestrator going forward, the link between Kane and the midfield and the director of traffic, so stopping him on Sunday will make things much more difficult for the home side.

Fernando and Fernandinho, both very physical midfielders, seem like the perfect candidates to do so. But they’re not the most familiarised partnership by any means – something Spurs’ stealthy playmaker is more than capable of taking advantage of.

The season has only just finished but Tottenham Hotspur have made their first signing of the summer.

Austrian international, Kevin Wimmer played his last game for FC Koln on Saturday before saying his goodbyes. It is believed that the London club will formally announce the signing in the next two weeks with his fee being around £4.3million. Wimmer has agreed to a four year deal at White Heart Lane which is to replace Younes Kaboul who started the season as captain but soon fell out of favour at the club.

The 22-year-old Central defender is the first of what is expected to be a number of key signings for Spurs boss, Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian boss has used the season to assess his squad and is now looking for a complete change around. Those who have seen Wimmer play frequently for the German side say his strengths like in tackling and challenges. In the Bundesliga he won 81% of his challenges this season, only picking up three yellow cards. While he is solid at the back, he will not overcommit himself or engage in challenges and his close man marking leaves little to be desired but that’s where new teammate, Jan Vertonghen could come in.

At the beginning of the season, Wimmer was unable to use his 6 foot 1 inch frame to his best ability but manager, Peter Stoger, has taken it upon himself to improve his aerial duels and now Spurs are gaining a player where winning the ball in the air is one of his strongest assets. The Austrian had a slow start to the season but has come on leaps and bounds thanks to the guidance of his gaffer who has really taken him under his wing to help improve his style of play.

Pochettino is hoping he can build a long-term team at White Heart Lane and he believes that the summer transfer window is the place to be. Having seen teams like Manchester City become an “ageing squad” the manager is keen to have youth at the heart of his club and will make the impact they so desperately need in a defence which has only kept nine clean sheets this season in the League. The Argentinian really believes the 22-year-old has a bright future at the club. They have a fantastic youth academy with Alex Pritchard the next to join the likes of Harry Kane, Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason in the first-team squad.

Wimmer is young, keen to learn and hard-working despite still having things to learn and he could become as strong as John Terry is for Chelsea. His style fits into that of the Premier League and it seems to be a move which will be a great success for all those involved in the club. Spurs needs a new pair of young legs in their defence and Wimmer seems to be the perfect fit.

Tottenham fans should be very excited about their first signing and if they carry on like that the next season should be an interesting one for the club.

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The sun is shining and it’s Wimbledon time again. Or as it’s otherwise known… the time of year when football withdrawal really kicks in!

There’s plenty to love about Wimbledon, of course, but one of the biggest things is the fact that women are paid as much as men . In prize money at least, perhaps not sponsorship deals. But at least there’s progress.

Part of that is probably because of how impressive women like the Williams sisters or Caroline Wozniacki are. Part of it might be because of how exciting the games are anyway.  Football can learn a thing or two from tennis.

The Copa America is a wonderful competition, but without home interest it gets discarded, while the Under 21s competition also suffers, particularly given how poor the Three Lions were in the Czech Republic.

But the England women’s team are in the semi-final of the World Cup. So the Women’s World Cup is rightfully capturing the hearts of the nation. At least those who are willing to stay up to watch it.

As an Irishman living in London, I know that the English public has trouble relating to sporting events without having an emotional buy in. As an Irishman, if I were bound to such techniques to get up for a sporting event I could never watch a World Cup!

But the fact that England’s women are doing so well is a great thing for the women’s game. Not just in England, or even in Britain, but all over the World. So to find myself cheering on England is a strange sensation, but one that is definitely justified. The further England go, the better the quality of the game will get. That’s not just because the players will gain experience or get better or anything like that, it’s also because interest in the sport will grow and girls and young women will start to play football more. As such, money will pour into the clubs of the WSL.

And this is a great thing. Not just for football, but for society in general. The best young footballers – the boys – can dream of professional contracts, vast riches and fast cars. Young girls don’t have the same interests from a young age. It’s not because boys inherently love football and girls don’t, but there are so many other ways girls can dream of being successful. Even if they’re incredibly gifted at football, they may choose another career which is seen as more stereotypically suitable or perhaps even more desirable.

England winning the World Cup would go a long way towards convincing young girls that they can be successful at football. If England were to win it, treating the players as idols and giving them the same ovation that Premier League stars could be the kickstart that women’s football needs. It could prompt a surge in participation and drive up the quality, and improving the quality makes the sport better, as well as more marketable.

And so I come back to tennis. Some of the most famous sportswomen are tennis players, and partly this is because women’s tennis is so competitive. It’s similar in athletics, too, where the women’s events are competitive and fun to watch. When the sport is marketable the public takes an interest, and when the public takes an interest the game grows in so many different ways. It grows in stature and prestige, it grows in fame and it grows financially. It even grows in quality.

So old rivalries aside, I hope England can reach a final this week. A boost for the marketability of the women’s game in the same country as the most marketable league in the world is a big prize for the England women’s team. The lesson that football can learn from other sports, ironically, is a lesson in marketability. And if the English team does well, so will the sport.

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