England vs Latvia LIVE: Morgan Rogers may begin with Thomas Tuchel set to make workforce adjustments

Thomas Tuchel will look to build on his first match in charge as England face Latvia in their second World Cup 2026 qualifier.

The Three Lions cruised to a 2-0 win over Albania on Friday in Tuchel’s first outing as England boss, with goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane propelling the German to a victorious start.

They now face Latvia in what is a top of the table clash in Group K, after the visitors beat Andorra 1-0 in the qualifying opener.

England go into the contest as heavy favourites and will be eager to make it a straightforward assignment under the Wembley lights.

Here’s everything you need to know:

The Arsenal full-back, who only broke into Mikel Arteta’s first team this season, converted Jude Bellingham’s excellent pass and Tuchel as impressed with his performance and impact.

Latvia have no new injury concerns, with any changes during the Andorra win appearing purely tactical.

Deniss Melinks was taken off at half-time for the more attacking Dario Sits, who scored the winner last week.

Sits may have proved his case to start against England, but expect a well-rested Melinks to keep his place in the starting XI, with defensive resilience sure to be of paramount importance for the visitors.

Predicted Latvia XI: Zviedris; Jurkovskis, Balodis, Cernomordijs; Savalnieks, Melniks, Savaljevs, Ciganiks; Zelenkovs, Ikaunieks; Sits

Anthony Gordan has withdrawn from the squad after limping off with a hip injury towards the end of England’s 2-0 win over Albania last Friday.

Morgan Gibbs-White could be in line to step in for Gordan, who didn’t feature in Tuchel’s matchday squad on Friday.

Expect wholesale changes to Tuchel’s starting XI as he works out his favoured team, which could see the likes of James Trafford, Reece James, Jordan Henderson and Jarrod Bowen feature.

Predicted England XI: Trafford; James, Colwill, Guehi, Livramento; Rice, Henderson; Bowen, Bellingham, Rodgers; Kane

A first game that was encouraging rather than electrifying, with most of the new excitement offered by Myles Lewis-Skelly rather than any sense of a new era. Thomas Tuchel’s week culminated in the teenager’s night, as he became England football team’s youngest ever debutant goalscorer in this professional 2-0 win over Albania.

You wouldn’t have guessed Lewis-Skelly was a mere 18 years and 176 days – or at least you wouldn’t if you hadn’t seen Arsenal this season – with the way he confidently drove up the line.

Jude Bellingham has played 41 times for England, the most caps ever won for the Three Lions while aged 21 or younger.

He’s been directly involved in eleven goals (five goals, six assists) in his last 16 games and could either score or assist in three consecutive matches for the first time.

Thomas Tuchel has warned that club managers can expect no favours when it comes to rests and team selections as his England side push for World Cup victory, but that all choices will be “responsible”.

The national team are in a strange situation this week, as they face two World Cup qualifiers in the space of 72 hours, which goes against Fifa’s own recommendations. Monday’s match at home to Latvia starts at 7.45pm, less than a full three days after Friday’s 2-0 win over Albania ended.

This intense schedule was put to Tuchel, and whether it might influence his decisions given the period is also when a long club season gets to the business end.

The England boss said: “I think we are clear favourites in the next match. I think it will be difficult to predict exactly what Latvia is doing.

“We are right now watching clips from their match against Andorra, we’re watching clips from North Macedonia and we’re watching clips from the Faroe Islands.

“They’re facing a new level of opponent with us. I think we need mentally to adapt to that kind of role than try to implement our structure on the ball and have a good mix of, ‘what does it make sense to change our structure to make life easier for our players to defend and have high ball wins?’

“This is the question that we have to answer – how much we can predict.”

“I just give my analysis of the team,” Tuchel blankly stated. “Sometimes I am surprised with what people try to make out of it, that Marcus and Phil should be offended with what I said.”

Declan Rice echoed his manager, saying he would rather have that “kick up the arse”. “This is top-level international football,” the midfielder added.

There was a mere three days the squad had together before the match and only a few occasions Albania were willing to come out of their area, let alone their half.