In September, 15 Liverpool first-team players will represent their nations.
Listed here are the who, what, when, and why. Boys, please just return in one piece.
Alisson Becker (Brazil) – Liverpool’s top goalkeeper is set to play as Brazil faces Bolivia (9 September, Belem) and Peru (13 September, Lima) as the Seleço begins the arduous journey to Canada/USA/Mexico 2026.
Caoimhin Kelleher (Republic of Ireland) fills a comparable job for his nation; but, Southampton’s Gavin Bazunu is now Stephen Kenny’s team’s first choice. In Group B of the Euro 2024 qualification, Ireland plays France (7 September in Paris) and the Netherlands (10 September in Dublin), with the latter matchup likely to draw some well-known players.
Dutchman Virgil van Dijk – Van Dijk is on indefinite suspension for Liverpool, but not for his country. Greece and the Netherlands will face off in Eindhoven on September 7 before Kelleher and I meet up in Dublin.
Scotsman Andy Robertson – Scotland’s skipper will travel to Cyprus on September 8 in an effort to maintain their impressive group-topping Euro qualifying campaign before a friendly match against England on September 12 in Glasgow.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (England): After it was confirmed he would have a hamstring scan after Liverpool’s victory against Aston Villa, it is possible that the vice-captain of the club might be eliminated from the running. If healthy, he will be a candidate for both the game against Scotland and the Group C Euro qualifier, which plays first-placed England against second-placed Ukraine (Wroclaw, 9 September).
A slightly more manageable challenge awaits Kostas Tsimikas (Greece) in Gibraltar before facing Van Dijk and company in the Netherlands (Athens, 10 September).
Argentina’s Alexis Mac Allister – The World Cup champions begin their title defense against Ecuador at home on September 8 before traveling to Bolivia, known for its challenging away games, on September 12 (La Paz).
Wataru Endo (Japan): During this international break, the Japan skipper will play in two friendly matches in Europe, the first against Germany on September 9 in Wolfsburg and the second against Turkey on September 12 in Genk.
Harvey Elliott (Under-21 England) – The Young Lions play just one game in September.
Luis Diaz (Colombia): On September 8 in Barranquilla, Colombia will play Venezuela before traveling to Macul on September 13 to continue their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign against Chile.
Diogo Jota (Portugal): So far in Euro 2024 qualifying, Jota’s Portugal have a flawless record. They will all but qualify for Germany next summer with two more victories over Slovakia (9 September, Bratislava) and Luxembourg (11 September, Almanacil).
Egypt’s final AFCON group qualifying match is against Ethiopia on September 8 in Cairo. Mohamed Salah is expected to start. Salah might possibly be utilized in the Pharaoh’s future match against Tunisia (12 September, TBD).
Dutch national Cody Gakpo – Gakpo, like Van Dijk, will compete for the Netherlands against Greece and Ireland.
Darwin Nuez (Uruguay) is scheduled to play for Uruguay in World Cup qualifiers against Chile on September 9 in Montevideo and Ecuador on September 12. Marcelo Bielsa has been giving him shooting advice.
WHO DOESN’T GO?
Of the prominent players still playing on Merseyside, Curtis Jones won’t be joining Elliott and his Liverpool colleague for the England Under-21s since he is now legally too old for the age group. He will instead be keeping an eye on his phone for future calls to Southgate’s senior team.
Initially chosen by France manager Didier Deschamps, Ibrahima Konate has been substituted owing to a hamstring injury, and recent acquisition Ryan Gravenberch has opted to leave from the Netherlands squad in order to concentrate on his new club.
