A number of Liverpool players were in international duty for their teams on Tuesday with some mixed fortunes
Alexis Mac Allister has handed Liverpool a welcome fitness boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Chelsea by returning to action. Mac Allister came through more than an hour of Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia having started the 6-0 romp in Buenos Aires in the early hours of Wednesday UK time.
The midfielder wasn’t fit enough to appear in the 1-1 draw in Venezuela last week having still been troubled by the muscle injury that forced him off at half-time of Liverpool’s 1-0 Premier League win at Crystal Palace earlier this month.
But it now appears Mac Allister will be available for selection for the visit of Chelsea on Sunday, with the Reds looking to maintain their lead at the top of the embryonic Premier League table.
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Elsewhere in South America, Luis Diaz scored as Colombia thrashed Chile 4-0 in his home town of Barranquilla. The game, which also marked the 100th anniversary of the Colombian Football Federation, saw Diaz called “a prophet in the land that saw him grow as a player” by El Colombiano.
While Darwin Nunez failed to hit the target in Uruguay’s goalless draw at home to Ecuador, his performance was well regarded on the night with El Pais rating only one player higher, stating the Liverpool man – who hit the woodwork – was “was one of the most notable”.
Nevertheless, the Uruguayan players were jeered from the field by the home supporters with their country having now failed to score in all four World Cup qualifiers this season.
Earlier on Tuesday, Wataru Endo had missed Japan’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Australia due to illness.
In the UEFA Nations League, Conor Bradley enjoyed his first home game as Northern Ireland captain as they hammered Bulgaria 5-0. Andy Robertson was captain of Scotland in their goalless draw at home to Portugal, with Ben Doak – on loan at Middlesbrough – involved for 67 minutes. Diogo Jota started for the visitors before being replaced shortly after the hour.
Jarell Quansah started and Tyler Morton came on as substitute as England qualified for next summer’s UEFA Under-21 European Championships with a 7-0 thumping against Azerbaijan at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate. Calvin Ramsay, on loan at Wigan Athletic, remained on the bench for Scotland U21s in their 3-2 defeat in Kazakhstan.
In terms of Liverpool Academy players, Amara Nallo played in the first half of England U19s’ 4-2 win over France in Marbella, Keyrol Figueroa was a substitute for the USA U19s in their 3-2 friendly win against Japan and Trent Kone-Doherty’s assist helped the Republic of Ireland U19s beat Mexico 2-0 to win a friendly tournament in Croatia. And Kyle Kelly started for St Kitts and Nevis in their 1-1 draw with the Cayman Islands in the Concacaf Nations League.
