Liverpool return to competitive action after the 2022 World Cup break with an almighty bang.
Jurgen Klopp’s side play two games in the space of four days with the first of those a knockout Carabao Cup game against Manchester City.
The Reds have been in mixed form this season and will be desperate to return to the pitch in more convincing fashion.
Liverpool, however, had seven players competing at the World Cup in Qatar and won’t be able to call on them all straight away.
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When are Liverpool World Cup players back?
Aside from Ibrahima Konate, who played for France in the World Cup final, every other World Cup player has now returned to training at Anfield with their teams not making it past the quarterfinals.
Those names include: Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Fabinho, Darwin Nunez and Virgil van Dijk.
Although back training for Liverpool, it’s unlikely all six will feature straight away for the Reds.
ICYMI, take a look at photos from our Monday training session as players returned to the AXA Training Centre ahead of the season resumption 👇
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 20, 2022
Are Liverpool World Cup players available vs Man City in Carabao Cup?
Of the returning World Cups players, Van Dijk isn’t expected to play against Manchester City as his fitness is managed having played 480 minutes in Qatar.
Brazil’s Alisson will also likely be rested with Caoimhim Kelleher previously preferred by the Reds in cup games.
Klopp was coy when asked which players could make their return against Man City during the week.
“There’s a chance, of course – they train already. Henderson is already training here. Virgil is training here but I don’t think we will try that. Hendo we will see, Trent we will see,” Klopp said.
“I hope we all get through it and we all know in England, and in Europe in general, there’s kind of a virus going around, so we hope we can stay out of that.”
Darwin Nunez is a near certainty to feature though after Uruguay were knocked out in the group stages of the World Cup. Nunez has in fact already returned to the pitch for the Reds and scored twice for them in a recent friendly against AC Milan.
Goalkeeping heroics from Caoimhin Kelleher in the Carabao Cup 🧤 pic.twitter.com/XEqH4IjlOM
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 20, 2022
Will Liverpool World Cup players be available vs Aston Villa?
After playing Man City, the Reds then return to Premier League action four days later against Aston Villa.
This fixture should see the likes of Van Dijk and Alisson both return willing they stay fit.
A question mark would, however, remain over Konate considering his lengthy World Cup campaign.
Liverpool World Cup players: How they fared in Qatar
The 2022 World Cup was a mixed bag for Liverpool’s representatives.
None of them returned to Anfield with a winner’s medal – most players knocked out in the quarterfinals.
But a majority did play regularly for their nations with all seven importantly avoiding injury.
| Player | Country | Stage | Games | Mins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alisson | Brazil | Quarterfinals | 3 | 290 |
| Fabinho | Brazil | Quarterfinals | 1 | 90 |
| Jordan Henderson | England | Quarterfinals | 4 | 272 |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | England | Quarterfinals | 1 | 33 |
| Darwin Nunez | Uruguay | Group stages | 3 | 242 |
| Ibrahima Konate | France | Final | 5 | 292 |
| Virgil van Dijk | Netherlands | Quarterfinals | 5 | 480 |
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