Liverpool legend John Barnes believes Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice have been England's most important players amid calls for Jordan Henderson to start the Euro 2020 final.
Leeds United's star midfielder has started every match at this summer's tournament in place of the Reds skipper, who missed the start of the campaign due to injury.
Phillips has earned the trust of Gareth Southgate with a number of eye-catching performances and is in line to become the first Leeds player since Jack Charlton to start a major tournament final for England.
However, ahead of the final, calls for Henderson to return to the team have grown, unsurprisingly, from Liverpool supporters.
Southgate opted to take off Rice ahead of Phillips during Wednesday's extra-time win over Denmark, offering an insight into where he sees Leeds' midfielder in the pecking order.
Barnes, though, has brushed off suggestions Henderson should start by reiterating the importance of Rice and Phillips to England's success.
"Sterling has been the star for England since the tournament started," Barnes told Sky Sports.
"Although Kane is now scoring the goals, in terms of where we are, he (Sterling) has carried our biggest threat.
"But I've said all along, the two most important players for England in this tournament have been Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips.
"You talk about those two, 'do we need two holding midfielders', they have been protecting the back four, only conceding one goal and as much as you look at the defence, the work they have protecting them and giving England balance with four attacking players, those two give them the base and the balance, which I don't think we've ever had."
