1pt Trent Alexander-Arnold to provide an assist at 4/1 (bet365)
1pt Trent Alexander-Arnold to score anytime at 9/1 (Sky Bet)
Given the Nations League's unique ability to evoke fairly universal ambivalence from even the most ardent of international supporters, we probably should be pretty grateful for the schedule presenting us with such an intriguing fixture.
Lee Carsley, Birmingham born and bred, steps up from his role as Under-21s boss to take charge of his first game as interim England manager. He does so away from home against the country he won 40 caps for as a player and represented at the 2002 World Cup.
Well known for their love of the English, the Dublin crowd are sure to give him a riotous reception.
As the post-Gareth Southgate era begins, the Republic of Ireland start a new chapter of their own under Heimir Hallgrimsson, whose crowning moment came at the expense of the Three Lions when his Iceland team knocked them out of Euro 2016.
But where Carsley inherits a side who have reached the final at two of the last three major tournaments, Hallgrimsson walks in to an altogether different situation.
Ireland's last 13 matches reads W3 D2 L8 with two of those victories over Gibraltar.
Much of the build-up has centred on an obsession with so called Carsball, the annoying way in which the playing style of England's Under-21s team has been described under Carsley as they impressively won the European Championship in 2023 playing brave, attacking football.
That, though, was far from an overnight success and is likely to take more than a few days of training to properly implement.
Easier to quickly embed is the kind of defensive organisation Hallgrimsson built his Iceland team on, so this could very well end up being a fairly turgid, rather than exciting, encounter.
With too many unknowns, England so short and the bookies wise to the unders, trying to bet on the outcome of the game is something I'd rather avoid.
The 10/3 about the draw is the one angle I did consider for a while, and given the tendency for this fixture between old rivals to end that way - nine out of 17 meetings and six times in a row between 1990 and 2015 - I wouldn't put you off backing it.
However, the teams' most recent meeting in 2020 exposed the glaring gap in quality as an experimental England romped to a 3-0 win at an empty Wembley, a result that only adds further murkiness to any attempt to forecast the outcome.
Instead, backing TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD TO ASSIST at 4/1 and TO SCORE ANYTIME at 9/1 is where my money will be going.
His four goals and 10 assists for club and country last season led to Southgate desperately attempting to shoehorn the Liverpool man into his XI at Euro 2024.
With no Kyle Walker in the squad, Kieran Trippier retired from international football and Carsley's reputation for playing expansive football, Alexander-Arnold finally looks set to play a leading role from his familiar starting position of right-back.
He is also likely to be England's set-piece taker, strengthening both selections further.
Gavin Bazunu and Josh Cullen are out for Ireland but Brighton striker Evan Ferguson could play despite missing the past five months through injury.
Leicester winger Kasey McAteer has switched his international allegiance from England and is in line to make his debut.
England trio Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Ollie Watkins have joined Jude Bellingham and Luke Shaw in missing out through illness or injury, and there was no place in the squad for Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson or Kyle Walker.
Jack Grealish and Harry Maguire could feature after being recalled, while Rico Lewis, Levi Colwill, Noni Madueke, Morgan Gibbs-White, Tino Livramento and Angel Gomes will all hope their time in the Under-21s under Carsley leads to some involvement in Dublin on Saturday evening.
Rep. Ireland: Kelleher; Coleman, O'Shea, Collins, Brady; Ogbene, Browne, Smallbone, O'Dowda; Ferguson, Idah.
England: Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Guehi, Konsa; Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Eze, Gordon; Kane.
Odds correct at 1600 BST (05/09/24)
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