England's Daniel Sturridge, front, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the Euro 2016 Group B soccer match between England and Wales at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, France, Thursday, June 16, 2016. Behind are Marcus Rashford, left, and Jamie Vardy. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The 15 Liverpool players who will depart on international duty in September

After four domestic fixtures, Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool break off for international duty in September, with a number of players called up.

The Reds have endured a muted start to the season, with one win, one draw and a loss in the Premier League and a 5-0 victory over Burton Albion in the League Cup.

Still yet to find their fluency after a summer overhaul under Klopp, the Reds need time to get into a winning rhythm.

This won’t be helped by the upcoming international break, with 14 of Klopp’s senior squad, and one high-profile loanee, called up by their respective nations for friendlies and crucial qualifiers.

Sunday saw new England manager Sam Allardyce name his first 23-man selection for the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on September 4, with Nathaniel Clyne, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge all included.

James Milner was left out, after announcing his retirement from international duty, but Allardyce confirmed the 30-year-old had made himself available “to step in if we need him.”

LILLE, FRANCE - Friday, July 1, 2016: Belgium's Divock Origi sits on the substitutes bench ahead of the UEFA Euro 2016 Championship Quarter-Final match against Wales at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Elsewhere, Simon Mignolet and Divock Origi were included as Roberto Martinez drafted his first Belgium squad, with the Red Devils due to take on Spain in a friendly on September 1, before their World Cup qualification clash with Cyprus on September 6.

Dejan Lovren makes his return to the Croatia squad, having sat out of the summer’s European Championship after a disagreement with manager Ante Cacic.

The centre-back could be in line for a starting berth for his country’s World Cup qualifier against Turkey on September 5, while his fellow Balkans, Marko Grujic and Lazar Markovic, are in the Serbia squad to take on the Republic of Ireland on the same night.

Estonia captain Ragnar Klavan keeps his place under Magnus Pehrsson, with the Blueshirts clashing with Malta on August 31 and Bosnia & Herzegovina on September 6.

Another new recruit, Georginio Wijnaldum, has been named in a Holland squad looking to restore their reputation against Greece on September 1 and Sweden on September 6, and his attacking cohort, Sadio Mane, will link up with his Senegal team-mates for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Namibia on September 3.

France's Olivier Giroud, right, holds Germany's Emre Can during the Euro 2016 semifinal soccer match between Germany and France, at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille, France, Thursday, July 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Surprisingly, Emre Can was included in Joachim Low’s squad to take on Finland on August 31 and Norway on September 4, despite struggling with a lack of fitness so far this season.

On-loan goalkeeper Danny Ward, currently riding high at the top of the Championship table with Huddersfield Town, is in the Wales squad for their qualifier against Moldova on September 5.

Meanwhile, Philippe Coutinho has made Tite’s first Brazil squad, looking to put Copa America disappointment behind them when they line up against Ecuador on September 1 and Colombia on September 7.

Remarkably however, Coutinho’s compatriot Roberto Firmino has been left out of the Brazil squad again, belying his fine form for the Reds this season.

Firmino will remain on Merseyside to continue training under Klopp, with a behind-closed-doors friendly pencilled in against David Wagner’s Huddersfield.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, May 4, 2016: Liverpool's Danny Ings during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Europa League Semi-Final 2nd Leg match against Villarreal CF. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Lucas Leiva, Alberto Moreno, Joel Matip, Danny Ings and Kevin Stewart are among those also available, as well as Alex Manninger, who like Milner has retired from international duty.

Furthermore, a host of injury absentees such as Loris Karius, Joe Gomez and Sheyi Ojo will be hoping to utilise the break to continue their recovery.

Many of Liverpool’s academy players will also be in international action in the first week of September, and Trent Alexander-Arnold and Herbie Kane are among those to depart, with the young duo named in Keith Downing’s first England U19 squad.


Liverpool players on international duty: Simon Mignolet, Danny Ward, Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan, Emre Can, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum, Marko Grujic, Lazar Markovic, Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi

Left out: Loris Karius (injured), Alberto Moreno, Joe Gomez (injured), Mamadou Sakho, Lucas Leiva, Andre Wisdom, Joel Matip, Tiago Ilori, Kevin Stewart, Cameron Brannagan, Luis Alberto, Sheyi Ojo (injured), Mario Balotelli, Roberto Firmino, Danny Ings

Retired: Alex Manninger, James Milner


More from This Is Anfield

Fan Comments