Roberto Firmino‘s woes in front of goal continued for Brazil on the final evening of international action before every player returns to Liverpool.
The forward, playing in a more withdrawn role for much of the season at club level, has just one goal in his last 11 matches for the Reds.
A couple of matches on international duty have given him a run-out in the No. 9 role, but he continued to be out of luck as Brazil narrowly beat Cameroon 1-0 at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes.
Firmino played the first half and had two great chances to open the scoring, but saw one close-range effort brilliantly saved by the opposition goalkeeper, before prodding another clear shot wide of the target.
Liverpool midfielder and Brazil right-back Fabinho was not involved, meaning he did not see a single minute of action across the international break.
Goalkeeper Alisson was likewise an unused sub against Cameroon.
In the UEFA Nations League, Andy Robertson captained Scotland to a 3-2 win over Israel, leading his side to promotion in the process.
The three points saw Scotland leapfrog their opponents into top spot in League C, Group 1—a tremendously positive start to Robertson’s tenure as skipper.
There was also a big performance at U21 level as Dominic Solanke scored another brace for England—making it four goals in two games for the striker.
He helped his nation defeat Denmark 5-1, with his first goal a controlled, looping header across the face of goal into the far corner.
The man of the moment, @DomSolanke. ?pic.twitter.com/5taCMOagIt
— England (@England) November 20, 2018
The second of the night for Solanke was as spectacular as it was an indication of his improved confidence: great reactions to reach a spilled shot and the presence of mind to both evade the defender and backheel a brilliant finish beyond the ‘keeper.
"HOW ABOUT THAT!"
Dominic Solanke chips the keeper with a back-heel…
Simply glorious ? pic.twitter.com/s8B23f7jwF
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 20, 2018
Continuing the theme of successful nights at youth international level, goalkeeper Kamil Grabara played the full 90 minutes of Poland U21s 3-1 win over Portugal.
The result secured a 3-2 aggregate win for Grabara’s side in what was a U21 Euros play-off.
And finally, Kai McKenzie-Lyle started in goal as Guyana fell to a 2-1 defeat to French Guiana in their CONCACAF Nations League clash, with Liverpudlian striker Neil Danns’ goal not enough to clinch victory.
While Liverpool suffered several injuries in October’s international break, they appear to have emerged unscathed this time around.
Every player should be reporting back to Melwood by tomorrow—and Jurgen Klopp should have a full squad to choose from for the weekend game against Watford.
The same cannot be said for Paris Saint-Germain, however, who the Reds face in one week in a crunch Champions League encounter.
Forward Neymar left the pitch just seven minutes into Brazil’s win over Cameroon, with an apparent thigh issue.
Team-mate Kylian Mbappe, in action for France against Uruguay, suffered a heavy fall in a collision with the goalkeeper and injured his right shoulder as a result.
The Ligue 1 side face an anxious wait to determine the extent of those injuries; PSG are at home to 15th-placed Toulouse on Saturday.
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