By CAMERON WILSON
As many as 18 Liverpool players will be jetting off for international duty in the next two weeks – ahead of one the club’s biggest run-ins for many seasons.
As the Reds chase the quadruple, Jurgen Klopp will have everything crossed that his stars return injury-free.
Two of the biggest names – Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane – face each other yet again on the international stage.
Egypt take on Senegal on Friday in a World Cup qualifying tie over two legs, the second game scheduled for Tuesday March 29.
The strikers faced each other in the African Cup of Nations final last month.
Senegal secured the trophy after a 4-2 penalty shootout win.
On Thursday, Neco Williams who is on loan at Fulham can help Wales progress in their hunt for World Cup qualification against Austria.
On the same day, Diogo Jota will be playing for Portugal against Turkey as another nation fights for qualification.
Should Portugal progress, Italy could be the potential opponents for Jota and his team in a tie that would see a huge footballing nation miss out on the World Cup.
Just before midnight, Brazil take on Chile with midfield stalwart Fabinho and keeper Alisson Becker playing in South America.
The two then face Bolivia in the early hours next Wednesday.
Luis Diaz will be with Colombia after his electric start for Liverpool as they face Bolivia on Thursday night and then Venezuela on Wednesday.
Diaz helped Colombia finish third at last year’s Copa America, boasting an impressive four goals and completing the second-highest successful dribbles per match with 5.2.
Japan and Takumi Minamino face a tricky tie versus Australia on Thursday and then Vietnam the following Tuesday.
Both are crucial games for Minamino’s men as they sit one point behind Saudi Arabia in the qualification table.
The ‘Greek scouser’ Kostas Tsimikas will be with Greece as they face Romania on Friday and Montenegro next Monday as he hopes to get some more minutes under his belt.
Tsmikas registered an assist in Liverpool’s last fixture versus Nottingham Forest as he picked out Diogo Jota for the winning goal, continuing to be a fine backup for Andy Robertson.
England will use the international break to complete two friendlies against Switzerland on Saturday and Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will be the only player from Liverpool to feature since Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up a hamstring strain last week.
Surprisingly, Saturday’s game will be the first time England have played the Ivorians at senior level.
Harvey Elliot and Curtis Jones will feature in Lee Carsley’s U21’s squad as they play Andorra and Albania.
Robertson has been selected by Steve Clarke to play for Scotland however his position is in doubt after Jurgen Klopp confirmed he is currently unable to play due to illness.
Scotland play Poland on Thursday evening as Robertson’s game time remains uncertain.
Virgil Van Dijk has of course been selected to play for Netherlands in their friendlies versus Denmark and Germany on Saturday and Tuesday respectively.
Belgium will face Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday as Divock Origi looks to gain some more game time for his country.
The 26-year-old has featured scarcely for Liverpool this season and will relish the chance to collect more minutes.
This fixture will also see Carabao Cup winning goalkeeper Caoimhim Kelleher featuring.
However the youngster is currently overlooked as Portsmouth goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu continues to start.
Naby Keita will be with Guinea for their fixtures versus South Africa and Zambia.
Youngster Conor Bradley, who hasn’t featured since January 9 against Shrewsbury Town, has been picked to feature in Northern Ireland’s squad against Luxembourg and Hungary.
Bradley has not been training with the first team in recent weeks however Klopp insists that the 18-year-old is a “wonderfully talented young boy”.
