Twelve Liverpool players were called up to the national teams of their countries in the first international break after the World Cup.
With Liverpool’s game against Fulham postponed due to the opposition’s involvement in the FA Cup, the Reds now have a 17-day break between the match with Real Madrid and their return against Man City on April 1.
International friendly matches, as well as qualifying matches for the European Championship and the African Cup of Nations fill this period when Liverpool players fly around the world to play for their countries.
However, there were some notable absentees in various line-up announcements.
Trent Alexander-Arnold did not receive a call-up to England, and Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino did not make the Brazilian national team.
Why the goalkeeper was excluded is unclear, but given that Selecao has only one friendly match against Morocco, it was probably decided to give the Liverpool goalkeeper a break and allow interim coach Ramon Menezes to look at the others.
Who’s here?
Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo both made the Netherlands national team after impressing at the World Cup, and will face Ibrahima Konate when the Dutch play France in the EURO 2024 qualifier.
Liverpool’s two left-backs are expected to win their first matches: Andy Robertson will captain Scotland against Cyprus, and Kostas Tsimikas will represent Greece against Gibraltar. Then the first one will have a more difficult second game against Spain.
In Europe, Kaoimhin Kelleher will represent Ireland, and Liverpool-loaned Conor Bradley can play for Northern Ireland, making his international debut in 2021 at the age of 17.
Diogo Jota was also called up to the Portuguese national team. They have two relatively easy games against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.
Meanwhile, in Africa, Nabi Keita and Mo Salah will play in a row against Ethiopia and Malawi, respectively.
Darwin Nunez was called up to the Uruguay national team, but was excluded from the squad on Friday due to an unknown injury.
Ben Doak, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott will also work with their countries, but at the under-21 level.
Despite the fact that Doak turned just 17 in November, Doak has already been called up to the Scotland under-21 national team and started his last match against Iceland. It is hoped that he has recovered from an unpleasant head knock.
Former Liverpool player Joe Cole said that Elliott should be in the England first team this month along with Jordan Henderson, but instead he remains in a strong under-21 team, which also includes Liverpool teammate Jones, as well as Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe. .
Jones’ inclusion is notable because the 22-year-old has played just 55 minutes since the start of the year. Despite the fact that he is over 21 years old, the midfielder is still eligible to participate in the campaign and the final of the 2023 European Championship, since he was born on January 1, 2000 or later.
Liverpool national teams in March
Senior players: Kelleher, Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas, Robertson, Henderson, Jones, Elliott, Keita, Gakpo, Salah, Jota
Left out: Alisson, Adrian, Matip (retired), Phillips, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Milner (retired), Arthur, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Carvalho, Firmino
Injured: Ramsay, Thiago, Bajcetic, Nunez, Diaz
