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    How 19 Liverpool stars have fared on international break including Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah

    By Tom Malley,

    2 days ago

    The first round of fixtures for the October international break are over and that means one thing - Liverpool's players are closing in on a return to domestic action.

    It only seems like last week that the majority of Arne Slot's squad had jetted off around the world to compete for their countries in September's international break, yet we have already found ourselves arriving at the next one.

    With the Nations League taking place, there has been plenty of action for football fans to feast their eyes on, however, although some of the Reds' players have also been competing in World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, too.

    The first round of fixtures took place between Thursday and Saturday and thankfully for Reds fans, Liverpool.com has been keeping a close-eye on proceedings, making a note of every goal scored and any injury scares received for all of the club's internationals.

    Wataru Endo

    Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo was the first of Slot's players to take to the field for the international break this week when he lined up for Japan in its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier away to Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

    The 31-year-old has found gametime hard to come by so far this season but captained his nation throughout the full 90 minutes of its 2-0 victory in Jeddah, ensuring it maintained its 100 per cent start to qualifying with three wins from three.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones

    It was a night to forget for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold on Thursday, having been part of the England side which suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Greece in its UEFA Nations League clash at Wembley, yet things drastically improved for Sunday's clash with Finland.

    Despite being bizarrely moved out of position to left-back for the tie , the 26-year-old showed his class with an expertly taken free-kick to double England's lead late on in the 3-1 victory.

    Curtis Jones , meanwhile, who was a late call-up to the squad , failed to even make it off the bench against Greece before returning home early due to personal reasons ahead of the Finland victory.

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    Kostas Tsimikas

    One Liverpool player who would've enjoyed England's 2-1 defeat is left-back Kostas Tsimikas , although the Greek international failed to even make the matchday squad for his country's famous victory in the capital.

    The 28-year-old was ruled out completely on Thursday through illness , yet just about managed to make it back in time for Sunday's 2-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland after being introduced as an 82nd-minute substitute for the hosts in Piraeus.

    Ibrahima Konate

    Ibrahima Konate gave the perfect response to being overlooked for the France captaincy this week by putting in a dominant performance for Les Bleus against Israel on Thursday.

    The Liverpool center-back once again partnered Arsenal's William Saliba in the heart of Didier Deschamps' defense , helping his side to a 4-1 victory to maintain its push for a place in next year's Nations League finals.

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    Caoimhin Kelleher

    Caoimhin Kelleher prepared for his extended run in the Liverpool team later this month by pulling off a number of saves to help Ireland come from behind and secure a 2-1 victory away to Finland on Thursday.

    The Reds shot-stopper played a huge role in helping his nation pick up its first points of the Nations League campaign, yet could not replicate the same success on Sunday against Greece after making an error that led to one of the opposition's goals in a 2-0 defeat.

    Luis Diaz

    Luis Diaz could do nothing to prevent Colombia falling to its first defeat of its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Thursday as his side lost 1-0 to 10-man Bolivia.

    The Liverpool winger has been on fire in the Premier League this season but could not replicate that form on the international stage for his country, managing 78 minutes of the tie before he was eventually replaced by Cucho Hernandez on a disappointing night.

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    Alexis Mac Allister

    There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Alexis Mac Allister linked up with the Argentina squad just days after coming off at half-time of Liverpool's victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, yet the midfielder was deemed fit enough to travel by Albiceleste manager Lionel Scaloni .

    As expected, however, Mac Allister was rested for Thursday's 1-1 draw with Venezuela, failing to make it off the bench as Argentina dropped points, although it is likely he will feature in Tuesday's home clash with Bolivia.

    Mohamed Salah

    Mohamed Salah kept up his fine Liverpool form by bagging for Egypt on international duty on Friday , popping up at the back post with 79 minutes on the clock to secure all three points for his side in a 2-0 victory over Mauritania.

    The Reds winger also registered four chances throughout the game - the most of any player on the field - and was all smiles on the substitutes bench despite being taken off late on, suggesting he is raring to go for the reverse fixture on Monday to take Egypt a step closer to Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

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    Dominik Szoboszlai

    After a 5-0 thumping was followed by a disappointing 0-0 stalemate in the last international break for Hungary, Dominik Szoboszlai and co. got the latest run of fixtures off to a positive start with a respectable 1-1 draw against the Netherlands on Friday.

    Szoboszlai captained his side for the full 90 minutes of the Nations League tie in Budapest and will be aiming to keep his side in the mix for a place in next year's finals with a positive showing against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday.

    Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk

    On the other end of Hungary's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Friday was Liverpool trio Cody Gakpo , Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk , who all started for Ronald Koeman's side at the Puskas Arena.

    Only Gravenberch lasted the full 90 minutes, although Gakpo played an important role by grabbing the assist for his side's late equalizer. However, it was a nightmare evening for Van Dijk, who was sent off 10 minutes before time after picking up two bookings in quick succession, meaning he will now miss Monday's clash with Germany - though he'll now have a nice little break before returning to Merseyside.

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    Tyler Morton and Jarell Quansah

    As with England Under-21's last fixture against Austria in September, both Tyler Morto n and Jarell Quansah were named in the starting XI to face Ukraine on Friday as The Three Lions continued their UEFA Euro U-21 qualifying campaign at Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium.

    The night would end in a 2-1 victory for the hosts thanks to a late brace from Manchester City's James McAtee, where Quansah managed the full 90 minutes at center-back, with Morton featuring for 78 minutes - and grabbing a booking for good measure.

    Darwin Nunez

    Having seen his five-game ban suspended ahead of the current international break , Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez was back among the Uruguay squad for its latest World Cup qualifiers and was thrown straight into the starting lineup for Friday's trip to Peru.

    However, it wasn't a happy return for the 25-year-old, who could do little to prevent his side from falling to a shock 1-0 defeat against its hosts despite playing the full 90 minutes. Nunez will now look to bounce back in Uruguay's crunch clash with Ecuador on Tuesday.

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    Andy Robertson and Ben Doak

    Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson led Scotland into its Nations League clash with Croatia on Saturday, captaining the side as it fought till the end of its 2-1 defeat, where it was cruelly denied a late equalizer by VAR.

    Despite the result, it was also a momentous occasion for Reds youngster Ben Doak , who made his first competitive start for Scotland in Zagreb. He managed 77 minutes of the contest and will be hoping for the same again when Scotland takes on Portugal on Tuesday.

    Diogo Jota

    Diogo Jota has started the season in impressive form for Liverpool but once again found himself bench at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal's 3-1 victory away to Poland on Saturday.

    The Reds forward did replace the 39-year-old just after the hour mark, at least managing a good 30 minute run-out, but could not get himself on the scoresheet in Warsaw. Tuesday's trip to Scotland, however, presents another opportunity for a starting berth.

    Conor Bradley

    It was a proud moment for Conor Bradley when he lined up for Northern Ireland against Belarus this weekend, not just because he was representing his country once more, but because he had been awarded the captain's armband for the first time in international career.

    The Liverpool right-back put in yet another solid defensive display for his nation in its 0-0 draw, but also portrayed his attacking ability by providing a number of chances for his teammates, yet the points were shared in this Nations League encounter.

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