33 Liverpool players called up for March internationals – as 6 key men miss out

Liverpool are set to see 33 players across first team and academy head out on international duty in March, though at least six key senior players will miss out.

The final international break of the season is here, with 12 days between fixtures for the Reds and a vital World Cup playoff ahead.

However, a host of first-team players will not be in action for their countries, with a handful not selected and others pulling out due to injury.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keita have both withdrawn from selection, and while Andy Robertson is yet to be confirmed as out of Scotland contention, a positive COVID-19 test makes that a likely event.

Thiago has been overlooked again by Spain manager Luis Enrique, while an attempt to convince Ibrahima Konate to switch nationalities and join up with Mali was unsuccessful.

Joel Matip and James Milner are both retired, Roberto Firmino fell short of the Brazil reckoning and both Adrian and Loris Karius were left out as expected.

However, 14 other first-team players received call-ups along with 19 more from Liverpool’s academy.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 18, 2021: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (C) celebrates with team-mates Ibrahima Konaté (L) and Sadio Mané (R) after scoring the second goal, his 101st in the Premier League, during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-0. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

That includes both Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who will face off against each other twice as Egypt and Senegal contest a two-legged playoff to determine who advances to the 2022 World Cup.

Takumi Minamio could also book a World Cup place with Japan, while Diogo Jota is in the Portugal squad for their playoff semi-final against Turkey – the winner will play either Italy or North Macedonia.

Luis Diaz‘s Colombia are still hoping to reach the tournament in Qatar, with World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Venezuela to come.

The likes of Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi are involved in friendlies this month.

England's Curtis Jones during the UEFA Euro 2021 Under-21 Qualifying Group 3 match at Molineux, Wolverhampton. ( Mike Egerton/PA Wire/PA Images)

A total of 11 youngsters have been called up by England’s youth setup, including Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott with the under-21s and both Tyler Morton and late inclusion Leighton Clarkson with the under-20s.

Owen Beck (Wales U21s), Sepp van den Berg (Netherlands U21s), Tom Clayton (Scotland U21s) and Vitezslav Jaros (Czech Republic U21s) have all received under-21s call-ups.

And strangely, Liverpool under-23s midfielder Tom Hill has been drafted up by the Northern Ireland under-20s, despite having not played football in 18 months following an ACL injury.


Liverpool players on international duty in March

Virgil van Dijk of Holland during the UEFA EURO 2020 qualifier group C qualifying match between Estonia and The Netherlands at A. Le Coq Arena on September 09, 2019 in Tallinn, Estonia

Senior players: Alisson, Kelleher, Van Dijk, Robertson**, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Henderson, Jones, Elliott, Salah, Mane, Jota, Diaz, Minamino, Origi

Youth and loanees: Jaros, Van den Berg, Quansah, Jonas, Miles, Chambers, N.Williams, Bradley, Beck, Scanlon, Mabaya, Clayton, Clarkson, Morton, Hill, Frauendorf, Roberts, Cannonier

Left out: Adrian, Karius, Matip, Konate, Alexander-Arnold*, Thiago, Milner, Keita*, Firmino

* Injured
** Likely to withdraw after positive Covid test

Anfield Expansion: How it will look in 2023