Liverpool star pulls out of international duty as defensive duo face tests

Feargal Brennan

Liverpool star pulls out of international duty as defensive duo face tests image

16 members of Arne Slot's Liverpool squad will head off on international duty in the coming days.

The Reds have endured a tough start to October, with back-to-back Premier League defeats, and a first Champions League loss on the road at Galatasaray.

Slips against Crystal Palace and Chelsea - alongside that loss in Istanbul - has sharpened the focus on Slot expensively-assembled squad ahead of the FIFA break.

Slot's two £100m+ men are amongst those away as Alexander Isak heads to Sweden and Florian Wirtz links up with the Germany squad.

The lingering concern over players picking up injuries whilst away from Merseyside is a concern for Slot and midfielder Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the Japan squad.

Japan have already booked their spot at the 2026 World Cup next summer, but Endo was due to captain them in two friendly games, against Paraguay and Brazil on home soil on October 10th and 14th.

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Endo picked up a knock in the final seconds of the weekend loss at Stamford Bridge - after being substituted on after 86 minutes - and he will remain in Liverpool to work on his recovery.

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate was forced after 56 minutes of that game, and Slot confirmed a thigh issue for the defender at full-time, but no decision will be made on his place until further tests are conducted in the France camp.

Les Bleus will offer an update over his availability in the next 48 hours with Didier Deschamps' team up against Azerbaijan and Iceland in qualifying.

Andrew Robertson limped off the pitch after Endo, but he will also be checked over by Scotland's medics, before a call is made on his fitness to lead the Tartan Army against Greece and Belarus.

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Feargal Brennan

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.