LIVERPOOL’S iconic status as a football capital has been rewarded with a place in England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

Bid deputy chairman Lord Mawhinney said Anfield – new or old – was included, as it would be hard to envisage a World Cup that did not feature the city.

But last night Everton FC hit out at being excluded from the bid.

EFC were instrumental in securing a spot for the city – only 24 hours before the decision was announced, Everton chief executive Robert Elstone and Liverpool FC managing director Christian Purslow made a final case for the city to be included.

But Everton misses out as Goodison Park, where games were played in the 1966 World Cup, does not meet FIFA standards and its plans to move to Kirkby were rejected by the Government.

Lord Mawhinney stressed his clear first preference was for Liverpool’s new stadium to be used.

But he said, were it not available, the club’s current ground would still host World Cup matches.

“It would have been very hard to envisage an impressive World Cup bid with host cities that did not include iconic Liverpool,” he said.

It had been feared that uncertainties over Liverpool FC’s proposed new ground, which is on hold due to the credit crunch, could see the city miss out on hosting games.

The decision was greeted with loud cheers at LFC defender Jamie Carragher’s Cafe Sports England bar, in the city centre, where Liverpool’s bid team met to watch the statement live on television.

FIFA will make the final decision on whether World Cup football is played in Liverpool if England’s bid is successful.

In all, 17 stadiums have been selected for the bid. If England win the bid – the vote is in December next year – then FIFA would choose 12 venues in 2013.