An additionally encouraging element of the form of Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge throughout this season is the fact that neither man has yet reached their peak.

Aged 23 and 24 respectively, the pair have thrived for their club - aiding the Reds' rise to second in the Barclays Premier League - and each represented England in the Three Lions' most recent friendly.

Brendan Rodgers watches their development on a daily basis and is therefore best-placed to share a belief that both players have the potential to improve even further in the years to come.

On Sturridge, the boss enthused to talkSPORT: "Daniel is potentially world-class. He has got everything to be a world-class striker.

"He's been given an opportunity here at a huge club and a lot of people are helping him to implement his talent. He's a good boy.

"He's a boy at 24 years of age who has all the tools - the speed, the power, two great feet and he's getting better in the air.

"He still has a lot of improvements to make but the combination between him and Luis [Suarez] gives us a real threat."

Moving onto the progress of Henderson, who has started each and every one of the side's 28 Premier League fixtures to date, Rodgers insisted his midfielder should travel to the World Cup.

He added: "As for Jordan, I don't think there's any doubt he deserves to be on that plane.

"He has made huge strides after coming into here as a young player with a big price tag. In the last 12 months he has really pushed on, both technically and tactically.

"He's a great learner. He pushes himself every day in training. He looks after his body and on top of that he's a real good young man. I know his family are very proud of him.

"I can see him being an important player for Liverpool for many years. At 23, he's only going to get better."