Liverpool: When do World Cup stars return?
By Max Parsons
Liverpool, despite their prestige and quality, didn't actually wave goodbye to that many players for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Just seven players left Anfield on international duty, leaving them in good stead for their first match back - an immediate return to Carabao Cup action against Manchester City on Thursday.
With the World Cup now done and dusted, when can we expect those Reds representatives to return for Jurgen Klopp's side?
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When do Liverpool's World Cup stars return?
Just one of the Liverpool representatives failed to make it through to the knockout stage; Darwin Nunez arrived back in England with plenty of time to spare before their clash with Man City after Uruguay's thrilling group-stage exit.
The quarter finals marked a mass slaying of Liverpool representation in Qatar, with five Reds being dumped out of the tournament at that stage. Virgil van Dijk's Netherlands were beaten by eventual winners Argentina, Fabinho and Allison were shocked as Brazil lost to Croatia, and France beat England 2-1 to spell the end of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson's time in Qatar.
While they will have come back to training for Liverpool, Thursday's heavyweight Carabao Cup clash might come too soon.
Meanwhile, it's pretty safe to assume that Ibrahima Konate, who collected a runner-up medal with France, will probably not be ready to return to action immediately.
When is Liverpool's next game?
As mentioned before, Liverpool will resume their season with a Carabao Cup round-of-16 match-up against the Cityzens on Thursday.
Those quarter-finalists and Ibrahima Konate in particular, however, can likely harbour more hope of making a return when Klopp and his men get their Premier League season back on track, travelling to Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
Liverpool will look to continue the good form they'd found prior to the World Cup. Before breaking up for the tournament, the Reds had won four consecutive games and now find themselves sixth in the Premier League table, four points behind fifth-placed Manchester United.