Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has backed Sam Allardyce's decision to make changes to England's starting lineup for his first game in charge.

The 61-year-old named his inaugural Three Lions side on Friday evening, which shows three alterations from the dismal 2-1 defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016.

Jordan Henderson, John Stones and Adam Lallana all come into the fold, taking the places of Chris Smalling, Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli, and Carragher believes that a solid partnership could now be formed in the middle of the park.

"Sam Allardyce is going to make changes and I think after the result against Iceland, you expected changes," he told Sky Sports News. "A new manager coming in has different ideas and sees players differently. I thought Adam Lallana did really well in the summer and was unfortunate not to play in the Iceland game.

"Jordan came in for one game and did very well too, and with my Liverpool hat on, I hope they do well. It's an away game and I'm sure Allardyce is going into it treating it like an away game in the Premier League. It doesn't have to be won in the first 15 or 20 minutes, and maybe they are looking to play on the break as well.

"It could turn out to be a good partnership between Jordan and Eric [Dier]. I thought Dier was the outstanding player for England at Euro 2016, so he was always going to play, and Jordan has great experience in there internationally now. It's up to them to show Sam is right."

England have four World Cup qualifiers before the year is out, following up Sunday's Slovakia clash with games against Malta, Slovenia and Scotland.

England XI to face Slovakia: Hart; Walker, Cahill, Stones, Rose; Dier, Henderson; Lallana, Rooney, Sterling; Kane