LFC International Roundup: Lovren dropped, Benteke and Origi struggle

Following a long weekend of international action, we round-up how each Liverpool player fared for their respective countries.

The Premier League took its frustrating annual two-week hiatus this weekend – there are a couple more to come before Christmas too, unfortunately- with international football coming to the fore.

There has been plenty of action since Thursday, particularly in terms of Euro 2016 qualifying, with many Liverpool heroes representing their nations.

England

Both James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne started in England’s routine 6-0 victory over ‘pub standard’ outfit San Marino on Saturday.

Milner was replaced by Fabian Delph 58 minutes into the game, with former Reds manager Roy Hodgson clearly seeing the 29-year-old as important for Tuesday’s, albeit meaningless, clash with Switzerland at Wembley.

Belgium

Divock Origi was the only Liverpool player to feature in Belgium’s 3-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday, with the youngster coming on as a late substitute. Christian Benteke missed that match with a thigh strain.

Benteke recovered from that injury and both strikers played a half each as Marc Wilmots’ side laboured to a 1-0 victory in Cyprus on Sunday, with both failing to find their top form.

Wilmots subbed Benteke at half-time, saying afterwards that the forward had put in a “half-performance”.

Simon Mignolet played no part at all, with Thibaut Courtois understandably preferred in goal.

Brazil

The South American giants edged Costa Rica 1-0 in a friendly in America on Saturday, with Hulk scoring the only goal of the game.

Philippe Coutinho made a cameo from the bench midway through the second-half, while new Reds signing Roberto Firmino was an unused substitute.

Slovakia

Slovakia captain Martin Skrtel was suspended for his side’s 2-0 loss away to Spain, but will return for Tuesday’s showdown at home to Ukraine.

Croatia

The 30-year-old’s centre-back partner at Liverpool, Dejan Lovren, didn’t feature in either of Croatia’s games away to Azerbaijan and Norway, which they drew 0-0 and lost 2-0 respectively.

In playing Lovren for LFC, Rodgers has managed to see Mamadou Sakho dropped from the France squad and Lovren dropped from the Croatia starting lineup.

Germany

It was a proud occasion for Emre Can on Friday, as the 21-year-old made his senior debut for Germany in their 3-1 win over Poland.

Unfortunately, he was used as a right-back by coach Joachim Low, and the youngster failed to shine because of it. Did Low not watch Can in that position against Stoke City last season?

Hungary, Wales and Serbia

Adam Bogdan did not feature in Hungary’s sleep-inducing 0-0 draw with Romania on Friday, with former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly preferred between the sticks.

Meanwhile, youngster Jordan Williams played no part in Wales’ 1-0 win in Cyprus and goalless draw at home to Israel; perhaps unsurprising given his huge lack of experience.

Lazar Markovic, on loan at Fenerbahce, was an unused substitute in Serbia’s 2-0 victory against Armenia on Friday evening.

England U-21s and U-19s

England’s Under-21 side overcame USA’s Under-23s 1-0 on Thursday, with Man United striker James Wilson scoring the game’s solitary goal.

There were debuts for exciting Liverpool duo Joe Gomez and Jordon Ibe, who continue their inevitable path to the senior side in the future.

Jordan Rossiter played all 90 minutes of England Under-19s’ thrilling 3-2 win away to Germany.

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