The World Cup is now upon us. Hosts Mexico kick off the tournament tonight (Thu, June 11) against 2010's hosts, South Africa and despite more of the off-the-field issues that have plagued the last three World Cups, the tournament promises to be a much-needed break from club football for Liverpool supporters.
Eleven Liverpool players were called up to represent their countries this summer, but with the departures of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate that number has dwindled to eight.
Given 48 teams will compete for the World Cup in the largest edition to date, new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola must be counting his lucky stars that such a large contingent will remain on Merseyside for his first pre-season in charge.
But what of those who will feature in Canada, Mexico and the United States? We've previewed the tournament for every Liverpool player and brought together all the fixtures here so you can follow the Reds' representatives in every game.
Alexis Mac Allister - Argentina
Mac Allister could have a favourable run to the latter stages if Argentina can top their group. Alexis Mac Allister is expected to play an integral role in Argentina's defence of their World Cup title. Forming a midfield with Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul, Argentina will look to the Premier League duo to stitch together their experienced defence and exciting forward line.
Mac Allister endured a poor season for Liverpool and will be desperate to prove his value, whether with a view to re-establishing himself as the heartbeat of Liverpool's midfield or to drum up interest for a potential summer move to another top club.
The reigning world champions have one of the kinder groups to navigate, facing off against Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J. Should they win that group, Argentina will face the second-placed team from Group H, most likely setting up an all-South American clash with Uruguay.
A win in that game would set up a round of 16 tie against the winner of the match between the second-placed teams from Groups D and G which could realistically be the USA, Turkiye, Paraguay, Egypt or Iran - thereby giving Argentina a favourable run to the latter stages.
Argentina are one of the strongest teams in the competition and arguably have a better squad than they had when they won in Qatar, but England, Brazil and Portugal - who are likely to end up on their side of the draw - would pose tough assignments en route to the final.
Fixtures:
- Algeria - Wed, June 17, 2am, Kansas City (ITV)
- Austria - Mon, June 22, 6pm, Dallas (BBC)
- Jordan - Sat, June 28, 3am, Dallas (BBC)
Alisson - Brazil
Liverpool supporters will hope for an injury-free tournament for Alisson. Brazil go into this tournament a very different beast from the side that have disappointed at the last five tournaments. During the years since Ronaldo fired them to glory in 2002, though, the Selecao have made at least the quarter-finals in every World Cup and should never be underestimated.
This version of Brazil is a Premier League-heavy side with plenty of experience in defence and an embarrassment of riches on the flanks, posing a more direct threat than at previous tournaments with plenty of set-piece threat - Gabriel, Casemiro - to go with their midfield creatives like Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta.
In a landscape where international teams are expected to embrace the man-marking tactics that led PSG and Arsenal to the Champions League final last season, Brazil's more expressive jogo bonito heritage could be the ace up Carlo Ancelotti's sleeve.
Alisson will start in goal for his country - probably for his final World Cup - ahead of former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, and the only thing that could prevent him playing every meaningful minute is his own patchy fitness record, but Ali remains one of the world's best goalkeepers and will no doubt play an important role if Brazil go on to glory.
Their closest challengers in Group C are likely to be Morocco, who reached the semi-final stage at the last tournament, while Andy Robertson and Scotland will be eager to spoil the carnival at their first World Cup since 1998.
If Brazil win their group, Alisson will almost certainly face one of his Liverpool teammates in the round of 32, with the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden competing alongside Tunisia in Group F.
A win in the round of 16 would put Brazil on a collision course with England in the quarter-finals if both can progress that far as winners of their respective groups.
Fixtures:
- Morocco - Sat, June 13, 11pm, New York (BBC)
- Haiti - Sat, June 20, 1:30am, Philadelphia (ITV)
- Scotland - Wed, June 24, 11pm, Miami (BBC)
Florian Wirtz - Germany
A strong World Cup could kickstart Florian Wirtz's Liverpool career. Florian Wirtz is Germany's talisman and a disappointing first season at Anfield hasn't had an impact on his ability to win games for the national team.
A cracking free kick against Northern Ireland helped Die Mannschaft on their way to qualification for the tournament, and Wirtz will be expected to provide goal threat during the World Cup in a side that lacks a prolific striker.
Germany are still not the force they were in 2014, when they crushed hosts Brazil 7-1 on the way to lifting the trophy, but theirs is a solid squad with a good blend of senior statesmen - Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rudiger, Joshua Kimmich - and potential breakout stars like Nathaniel Brown, Aleksandar Pavolvic and Assan Ouedraogo.
From a Liverpool perspective, a strong World Cup from Wirtz could see him bounce into next season on a wave of much-needed confidence - but Germany will not have it easy.
Liverpool target Yan Diomande and Ivory Coast will likely serve as their biggest challengers in Group E, while Ecuador will feel confident of reaching the knockout stages themselves for just the second time.
If Germany emerge as winners from their group, they will face one of the eight best third-placed teams in the round of 32, potentially easing their route to the latter stages, though they could face hot favourites France as early as the round of 16.
Pleasingly for UK viewers, all of their group stage kick-offs are relatively early, so there'll be no need to stay up until the early hours to see Wirtz in action.
Fixtures:
- Curacao - Sun, June 14, 6pm, Houston (ITV)
- Ivory Coast - Sat, June 20, 9pm, Toronto (ITV)
- Ecuador - Thu, June 25, 9pm, New York (BBC)
Wataru Endo - Japan
Wataru Endo's return to the Japan fold ahead of the World Cup has perhaps not received the recognition it deserves after the 33-year-old suffered a grisly ankle injury against Sunderland back in February.
Endo initially played on through the pain to help protect Liverpool's slender lead, but the makeshift right-back was forced to withdraw with many fearing his heroic actions had aggravated what already appeared a bad injury.
Endo's warrior mentality makes him a natural captain for Japan. He returned to the Liverpool squad for the final day's action against Brentford, but with no appearances for his club since his injury it was a surprise to many that he made the cut over Sporting CP's Hidemasa Morita, who could move to Premier League club Leeds this summer.
Japan's FIFA ranking has increased steadily since the late 2010s, peaking at 15 in 2024 and currently ranked 18th in the world. The Samurai Blue defeated Spain and Germany in the group stage of the last World Cup, contributing to the latter's exit, but were eliminated in the round of 16 by Croatia.
They became the first Asian side to beat England back in March, and were the first non-host nation to qualify for this year's World Cup. Discount Japan at your peril.
All the same, they have their work cut out against the Netherlands and Sweden in Group F, with a clash against Brazil offering an opportunity for another giant-killing if Japan finish second and the Selecao top their group.
For Endo, this is likely to be his last World Cup, so he will hope to be fit and available for as much of the tournament as possible ahead of a possible Liverpool exit as he heads into the final year of his contract.
Fixtures:
- Netherlands - Sun, June 14, 9pm, Dallas (ITV)
- Tunisia - Sun, June 21, 5am, Monterrey (BBC)
- Sweden - Fri, June 26, midnight, Dallas (BBC)
Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil van Dijk - Netherlands
The Liverpool trio of Gakpo, Gravenberch and van Dijk will be key to the Netherlands' hopes. By far the best-represented team for Liverpool at this summer's World Cup, the Netherlands are a curious side. The very real quality the Oranje possess could make them a genuine dark horse, but it is up front where they look light.
Cody Gakpo will be required to put a grim season at Liverpool behind him to lead the charge from the left flank with Donyell Malen and Memphis Depay's potential impact uncertain, despite the latter having slowly racked up enough goals to become his country's all-time top scorer.
Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, will patrol a strong midfield alongside Frenkie de Jong, with Teun Koopmeiners and Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders offering other options.
Virgil van Dijk will captain the Netherlands at a World Cup for the second time, marshalling a strong defence including the likes of Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven in front of Bart Verbruggen in goal.
Of all four teams in Group F, the Oranje will be most confident of emerging on top, but either a first-placed or second-placed finish will likely set them up for a difficult round of 32 tie against Brazil or Morocco.
It will be a tough run to the latter stages if they are to make it through, but if the Netherlands can make it to the round of 16 they will do so with fierce momentum having already got past some of the competition's stronger sides.
Fixtures:
- Japan - Sun, June 14, 9pm, Dallas (ITV)
- Sweden - Sat, June 20, 6pm, Houston (BBC)
- Tunisia - Fri, June 26, midnight, Kansas City (BBC)
Alexander Isak - Sweden
A fit and firing Isak is Sweden's best hope of progression from Group F. Of all of Liverpool's players at the World Cup, none are in more need of a strong tournament than Alexander Isak. Crippled by injuries and poor fitness throughout his first season at Anfield, Isak scored just four goals after his record move from Newcastle and turning 27 in September, the No. 9 needs to put that campaign behind him as quickly as possible.
Sweden manager Graham Potter is in the unfamiliar position of boasting two top centre-forwards in Isak and Viktor Gyokeres (though Isak is on another level at his best) but far less quality behind and around them.
Young Premier League midfield pair Yasin Ayari and Lucas Bergvall will need to be at their best if Sweden have any hopes of progressing past the first knockout stage, while Anthony Elanga can be a difference-maker if he can shake off the cobwebs of a woeful debut season at Newcastle.
Sweden will need a result against one of Japan or the Netherlands to progress as one of the top two. A third-place finish could be fatal even if Sweden qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams, bringing a chance of facing likely group I winners France in the round of 32.
Liverpool supporters will hope for a short but productive World Cup for Isak. The first part of that equation is, sadly, likely to take care of itself - the second part is entirely at the feet of Isak himself.
If his tremendous goal in Sweden's 3-1 warmup defeat to Norway is anything to go by, there's no reason Isak can't deliver on that.
Fixtures:
- Tunisia - Mon, June 15, 3am, Monterrey (ITV)
- Netherlands - Sat, June 20, 6pm, Houston (BBC)
- Japan - Fri, June 26, midnight, Dallas (BBC)
