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How 20 Liverpool stars have fared on international break including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz

-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


The international break is finally over which means Liverpool is back in Premier League action this weekend.

Arne Slot's side prepare to take on Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday as the hunt for a perfect start to the season continues, although the Dutchman will be praying that there have been no lasting effects from the recent break for his international players.

Up to 20 Reds were in action over the past week as the UEFA Nations League, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and World Cup qualifiers took center stage, where many of them shined in the first round of games.

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Now, Liverpool.com brings you a round-up of the second stage of games from the last few days, where some of Slot's most important players proudly represented their nations across the world ahead of their return to Merseyside this week.

Trey Nyoni

Having impressed with a goal in last Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Portugal for England Under-18s, Trey Nyoni was then left out entirely for Friday's 1-1 draw with Switzerland in its second group game of the Lafarge International Tournament in France.

However, the Liverpool midfielder was reinstated to the starting XI for Sunday's clash with the hosts and grabbed another goal as the Young Lions were held to a third successive draw, latching onto a first-time ball into the box and slamming it into the roof of the net to hand his side a second-half lead.

Conor Bradley

Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley rounded off his international break with another 90 minutes for Northern Ireland in its narrow 1-0 Nations League defeat to Bulgaria on Sunday.

The 21-year-old, who also picked up a booking, had played in a more advanced right-midfield position in a 3-4-3 formation during Thursday's victory over Luxembourg, yet was moved even further forward for the defeat in Plovdiv, slotting in on the right of the front three.

Diogo Jota

Having been forced to settle for a place on the bench at the expense of Cristiano Ronaldo once again for Portugal's victory over Croatia on Thursday, Diogo Jota started from the off against Scotland in the following fixture.

The Reds forward didn't get himself on the scoresheet in the 2-1 victory but did manage a full 90 minutes in Sunday's Lisbon affair, meaning he will hopefully be up to speed for Liverpool's visit of Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Andy Robertson, Ben Doak

Andy Robertson once again captained Scotland as it took on Jota's Portugal on Sunday, although he could do nothing about the Tartan Army's agonizing late defeat to their hosts after taking a seventh-minute lead through Scott McTominay.

Nonetheless, the Liverpool left-back played the full 90 minutes once more, while youngster Ben Doak came on in injury time for another quick run out following his debut for the national side just a few days earlier in the 3-2 defeat to Poland.

Ibrahima Konate

It's not been the best of international breaks for Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, having been part of the defense that conceded three to Italy in the Nations League on Friday night, before being dropped entirely for Monday's victory over Belgium.

The center-back was replaced in the starting XI by Bayern Munich's Dayot Upamecano for the visit of the Belgian Red Devils in Lyon and failed to make an appearance off the bench in the 2-0 victory - although at least he'll be raring to go for Liverpool this weekend.

Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton

Monday's international action began with starts for Liverpool youngsters Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton in England Under-21s' 4-1 friendly victory over Austria at Luton's Kenilworth Road, with the duo managing 82 minutes and 72 minutes, respectively.

Quansah grabbed his second consecutive start having put in a man-of-the-match display against Northern Ireland just a few days before, while Morton grabbed his first minutes of the international break having been left out of that Belfast affair.

Wataru Endo

Forgotten man Wataru Endo got his international break off to a flier with a goal in Japan's 7-0 victory over China on Thursday and continued his good form with another solid display against Bahrain on Tuesday.

Although he couldn't add to his goal tally, Endo captained his side to a 5-0 win in its latest World Cup qualifier and lasted the full 90 minutes of the contest, ensuring he's got plenty of minutes into his legs ahead of any potential recall to Slot's starting XI.

Mohamed Salah

Like Endo, Mohamed Salah helped his nation to another thumping win as Egypt defeated Botswana 4-0 on Tuesday in its Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The Liverpool winger grabbed an assist in the last game against Cape Verde but this time managed to find the back of the net.

And it was a spectacular goal at that, with Salah grabbing his side's third in the 56th minute with a first-time finish from a delightful cross. The Egyptian was then taken off after 74 minutes, much to the delight of Reds fans who will want him back fit and firing for Saturday.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold retained his place at right-back for England's second Nations League clash with Finland on Tuesday and made it back-to-back clean sheets as the Three Lions recorded another 2-0 win.

In fact, the 25-year-old went one better this time around by also grabbing an assist, setting up Harry Kane's opener by playing the ball into the striker's feet for him to turn and shoot into the back of the net for his 67th England goal on his 100th appearance.

Caoimhin Kelleher

Caoimhin Kelleher once again found himself on the end of a 2-0 defeat as Ireland lost to Greece at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Tuesday - three days after the exact same result against England.

The Liverpool goalkeeper had managed to keep the opposition out until the 50th minute, before the Greeks then doubled their lead just a few minutes from time to further dampen Kelleher's misery on his return to international action.

Kostas Tsimikas

One player who definitely enjoyed Ireland's defeat to Greece was Kostas Tsimikas, who found himself on the winning side having once again started the game at left-back for the visitors, making it two wins from two to start their Nations League campaign.

Tsimikas managed the full 90 minutes of the contest and although there was a second-half booking, produced a solid performance to earn his second clean sheet of the international break, ensuring Greece top England in the group standings.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Hungary and Dominik Szoboszlai were still licking their wounds from Saturday's 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Germany by the time they faced Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday, but it was a much more assured performance from the Magyars as they held out for a 0-0 draw.

It did, however, mean a second blank for Szoboszlai, who captained his nation once more, although he did last the full 90 minutes as he continues to build his fitness in this early part of the season.

Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool's Dutch trio were once again named in the starting XI for the Netherlands on Tuesday, playing the full 90 minutes of their 2-2 draw with Germany in Amsterdam.

While there was no clean sheet for Virgil van Dijk or a goal for Cody Gakpo, there was an assist for Ryan Gravenberch as he set up Tijjani Reijnders for the opener after just two minutes. They will all now hope to return to Liverpool having picked up no issues in their two games.

Alexis Mac Allister

Reds midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was withdrawn from Argentina's previous fixture against Chile after sustaining an adductor injury during the match, later causing him to sit out preparations for Tuesday's clash with Colombia.

However, the 25-year-old eased an injury fears with a second-half appearance at the Metropolitano Stadium in Barranquilla, although could do nothing to prevent his side from falling to a 2-1 defeat.

Luis Diaz

On the winning side of Argentina's 2-1 defeat, however, was Colombia star Luis Diaz, who managed the full 90 minutes against the World Cup holders.

Diaz couldn't add to his goal against Peru in the previous game, yet played an important role to maintain his nation's unbeaten start to World Cup qualifying.

Alisson

The last of Liverpool's stars to feature in the final round of games in the international break, Alisson featured for 90 minutes as Brazil lost 1-0 to Paraguay.

The Reds No. 1 conceded a 20th minute goal to dent his the Selecao's hopes of World Cup qualification, having now lost four of their eight games to leave them eight points behind Argentina.