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 already seeing them knocked out the Carabao Cup against Manchester City on Dec. 22.
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
Will Liverpool World Cup players be available vs Aston Villa?
The Reds return to Premier League action against Aston Villa on December 26.
Van Dijk missed the defeat to Manchester City following his World Cup exertions and Alexander-Arnold was also absent due to illness.
Konate, who is currently in Dubai on holiday, considering his lengthy World Cup campaign, will return to training after the Villa match.
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 |