Gareth Southgate’s team went into Sunday’s match in Nizhny Novgorod knowing that three points would see them join Belgium in qualifying for the first knockout round of the tournament with a Group G fixture to spare.
And they produced a superb display to do just that, with John Stones’ headed brace and a pair of Harry Kane penalties being supplemented by a curling effort from Jesse Lingard to put them five goals to the good at the break.
Kane then completed his hat-trick on the hour mark - albeit fortuitously as Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot from distance deflected off his heel and looped into Jaime Penedo’s net.
Liverpool captain Henderson, who skippered his country after Kane was substituted, nearly added a seventh 18 minutes from time when his controlled volley whistled just past the post, before Felipe Baloy scored a late consolation for Panama.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was an unused substitute for England, who will meet Belgium in Kaliningrad on Thursday in a game that will determine who finishes top of Group G.