Three Liverpool stars shine in international victories

International breaks can sometimes feel disruptive, however this recent round of World Cup qualifiers delivered a wave of positive stories for Liverpool supporters keeping an eye on their players across Europe.

Hugo Ekitike earned his first senior start for France and made an instant impression in a comfortable 3-0 win over Azerbaijan. The Liverpool forward registered an assist with a deft touch that released Kylian Mbappe for the opener, a moment that will live long in his memory. He came close to grabbing a goal of his own, striking the post before being replaced ten minutes from time. Ibrahima Konate had to settle for a watching brief as an unused substitute for Les Bleus.

Conor Bradley’s rise continues at an astonishing pace. The Liverpool full-back captained Northern Ireland in their 2-0 victory over Slovakia and featured until the final seconds of stoppage time. His leadership and consistency underline why he has become such a trusted figure for club and country. There is growing confidence that he will return to Liverpool even stronger.

Photo: IMAGO

Germany cruised to a 4-0 win over ten-man Luxembourg with Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz completing the full match. He came close to adding his name to the scoresheet, rattling the post from a second-half free-kick. His influence continues to grow at international level which bodes well for Liverpool heading into a demanding domestic schedule.

Alexander Isak also captained his side, playing the full 90 minutes for Sweden in their 2-0 defeat to Switzerland. Even in disappointment he proved his threat, striking the post in the first half. At under-21 level, goalkeeper Armin Pecsi completed the match for Hungary in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Ukraine.

There was also encouragement for another highly rated Liverpool youngster. Trent Kone-Doherty came off the bench for the Republic of Ireland U21s in a 2-2 draw with Slovakia, marking another step in his development.