Scotland's Andrew Robertson - Martin Rickett/PA Archive/PA Images

27 Liverpool players called up for international duty in March

Liverpool will have 27 players on international duty in March, as national teams continue their preparations for this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Responding to their 2-1 loss to Man United with a resounding 5-0 rout of Watford, the Reds ensured they head into the break in positive spirits.

With the World Cup just three months away squads are being finalised and game-plans fine-tuned, and the majority of Jurgen Klopp‘s first team will be in action over the next two weeks.

Klopp can still call upon the likes of Loris Karius, Nathaniel Clyne, Alberto Moreno and James Milner at Melwood, providing the German with an opportunity to work more closely on an individual basis.

But he will still be without most of his key names, with 16 senior players and a host of loanees and youngsters called up.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 26, 2017: England's Adam Lallana in action against Lithuania during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group F match at Wembley Stadium. (Pic by Lexie Lin/Propaganda)

Gareth Southgate included Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in his England squad to take on the Netherlands and Italy.

They will come up against Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum in the former, with the Netherlands also playing Portugal in Geneva.

Mohamed Salah will also be stationed in Switzerland, with Egypt clashing with Portugal and Greece in Zurich, while Sadio Mane is part of the Senegal squad to play Uzbekistan in Morocco and Bosnia & Herzegovina in France.

This lack of long-distance travel is a major boost, and Roberto Firmino finds himself in a similar boat with Brazil, who face trips to take on Russia and Germany.

Germany's Emre Can at the international soccer match between German and Slovakia in the WWK Arena in Augsburg, Germany, 29 May 2016. Photo: ANDREAS GEBERT/dpa

Emre Can could line up against Firmino for Germany in Berlin, who also play Spain in Dusseldorf in their opening game of the break.

New Scotland manager Alex McLeish is likely to hand Andrew Robertson a starring role for clashes with Costa Rica and Hungary, and could even captain his side.

Elsewhere, Ragnar Klavan is in the Estonia squad to take on Armenia and Georgia, and Marko Grujic is available for Serbia’s clashes with Morocco and Nigeria.

Both Simon Mignolet and Divock Origi are in the Belgium squad to face Saudi Arabia, though it is unlikely either will feature.

CARDIFF, WALES - Tuesday, November 14, 2017: Wales' Ben Woodburn during the international friendly match between Wales and Panama at the Cardiff City Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Harry Wilson and Ben Woodburn were both named in Ryan Giggs’ first Wales squad for the China Cup, taking on China in the semi-finals then either Uruguay or Czech Republic in the final or third-place playoff.

U18s striker Liam Millar has also received his first call-up to the Canada senior squad to take on New Zealand.

Danny Ward misses out, however, with Giggs revealing the goalkeeper had been left out due to issues in his application for a visa.

Another player omitted is Dejan Lovren, who was initially included in the Croatia squad to play Peru and Mexico in the United States but has now withdrawn from selection with a foot injury.

Naby Keita was also part of the Guinea squad to play Mauritania at the Stade Olympique, but has now pulled out due to illness.

England's Dominic Solanke during the Bobby Moore Fund International match at Wembley Stadium, London.

On the youth stage, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ovie Ejaria and Dominic Solanke are all in the England U21s squad to meet Romania and Ukraine.

Adam Lewis received his first call-up for the England U19s’ clashes with Hungary, Latvia and Macedonia, while Kamil Grabara is part of the Poland U21s squad to take on Lithuania.

Both Caoimhin Kelleher and Corey Whelan are with the Republic of Ireland U21s squad to play Iceland and Azerbaijan.

And Elijah Dixon-Bonner and Curtis Jones will feature for the England U17s in their double-header of friendlies against Brazil.


Liverpool in the March International Break

PARIS, FRANCE - Tuesday, June 13, 2017: England's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in action against France during an international friendly match at the Stade de France. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Senior players called up: Mignolet, Van Dijk, Klavan, Gomez, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Grujic (loan), Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Woodburn, Mane, Salah, Firmino, Origi (loan), Solanke

Notable youth: Grabara, Kelleher, Whelan (loan), Lewis, Wilson (loan), Ejaria (loan), Dixon-Bonner, Jones, Millar

Left out: Bogdan, Karius, Ward (visa issues), Lovren (injured), Matip (retired), Clyne, Moreno, Milner (retired), Markovic (loan), Ojo (loan), Kent (loan), Ings, Sturridge (injured)

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