If Jurgen Klopp watched England battle it out with Belgium on Tuesday night, he might have allowed himself a wry smile.
Never mind John Stones following the lead set by Kyle Walker against Brazil last Saturday and limping out of action early in the game, the Liverpool manager would have seen Manchester City ’s maverick talisman run himself into the ground for the second time in four days. This season, Phil Foden has, arguably, become as important to Pep Guardiola as Mohamed Salah is to Klopp.
City play Arsenal on Sunday and while Mikel Arteta ’s team sit top of the table, Klopp might still reckon that if Liverpool finish above the champions, they will win the Premier League. And while Guardiola must have endured an uncomfortable international break, Klopp will have few complaints.
Yes, Andy Robertson - who suffered a shoulder injury on Scotland duty that kept him out for three months earlier in the season - took another knock in his country’s surprise home defeat to Northern Ireland but the fact Salah and Darwin Nunez were able to put their feet up and have a rest for a good few days was already a boost to Liverpool as they prepare for the Premier League run-in.
Salah did not look quite up to speed at Old Trafford in the FA Cup but will be raring to go having been spared international duty. Ditto Darwin Nunez. Curtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota all used the break to work on their rehabilitation, although the latter might be lucky to make it back before the end of the season.
Jurgen Klopp's approach with Robert Lewandowski bodes well for Darwin Nunez
The seriousness of Robertson’s problem is yet to be determined but the Scotland-Northern Ireland game did provide another milestone for Conor Bradley, who scored his first international goal and was named Player of the Match. The emergence of Bradley is one of the stories of Liverpool’s season and his strike and performance for the Northern Irish will only give his confidence a further boost.
Joe Gomez was back in the England fold for the first time in over three years (Getty Images)After his display, Virgil van Dijk sent a congratulatory message, having had a busy break himself. The Liverpool skipper played two full games for the Netherlands - a 4-0 win over Scotland and a 2-1 defeat in Germany - but came through unscathed.
Stones’ injury meant that Van Dijk’s team-mate, Joe Gomez, saw more action than he might have anticipated for England and the defender acquitted himself well in his two, elongated sub’s appearances for Gareth Southgate ’s side. Gomez is in a good moment and being back in England action after being in the international wilderness for a good while will do him the power of good.
Conor Bradley (R) scored Northern Ireland's winner against Scotland (Getty Images)Luis Diaz also had a decent international spin in Colombia ’s 1-0 victory over Spain and in a 3-2 win against Romania, although his dad stole the headlines by suggesting the family were hoping for a move to Madrid at some point. But that is some way down the line and Klopp will be happy that Diaz is fit and firing for the remainder of the club season.
In common with every Premier League boss, Klopp was praying Liverpool would not suffer too many injury setbacks in the international fixtures and, Robertson apart, that appears to be the case. And if the break helps Salah re-engage top gear, then it will have been one of the better ones for Klopp and Liverpool.
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