Henderson pulls out
Jordan Henderson has withdrawn from the England squad due to injury. Liverpool captain Henderson missed the Reds’ 4-1 win over West Ham United on Saturday because of a thigh problem and has today been ruled out of the Three Lions’ upcoming friendly matches against Germany and Brazil which will no doubt leave a hole in the England midfield that Southgate will hope to fill imminently.
Gomez speaks about call-up
Young Liverpool defender Joe Gomez recently spoke out about his first senior international call up to the England team. An impressive start to the season with the Reds earned Gomez a first call-up to England’s senior squad last week, with the 20-year-old available to Gareth Southgate for the Three Lions’ prestigious Wembley friendlies against Germany on Friday and Brazil four days later. Joe said the following about the opportunity: “This is my first call-up and it’s a great opportunity to play with the best players from all around the country and I’m looking forward to it. For me personally I just have to be confident with myself, I think. I think it’s a balance of knowing my ability but also trying to learn. I have to look ahead towards the future and I still understand that I’m a young player and I’ve got a lot to learn.” Gomez has made a total of 12 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool this season – nine of those games coming in the Premier League – with Klopp primarily fielding him at right-back. Having come through two injury-affected campaigns, the former Charlton Athletic youngster is understandably relishing the chance to play regularly in Klopp’s system.
Reds stars in international action
Sadio Mane and Dejan Lovren face make-or-break fixtures for their countries’ aspirations of reaching the 2018 World Cup in the next coming days. The Liverpool duo are two of 16 members of Jürgen Klopp’s current first-team squad who are away on international duty during this next two weeks. Mane’s Senegal require two points from their final two qualification fixtures against South Africa on Friday and next Tuesday to secure their place at the World Cup finals for the first time since 2002.
Lovren, meanwhile, is part of the Croatia set-up that must overcome Greece in a two-legged play-off – played on Thursday and Sunday – if they are to compete in Russia next year. Also Brazilian teammates Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho are in contention to face England next Tuesday at Wembley. German Midfielder Emre Can is also set to face the three lions when Germany meet England in an international ‘friendly’ once again at Wembley. Georginio Wijnaldum and Andy Robertson are set to meet when the Netherlands take on Scotland in Aberdeen on Thursday, with the Dutch also playing against Romania next week. Alberto Moreno is in line to win his first Spain cap since May 2014 after being recalled for their friendlies with Costa Rica and Russia, and welsh double-act Danny Ward and Ben Woodburn are with Wales for clashes with France and Panama. While Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominic Solanke earn call-ups for the England U-21’s.
Benfica name their price
In transfer news, Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool have been told by Portuguese giants Benfica that it will cost them over 40 million euros in order to secure the services of Spanish left-back Alejandro Grimaldo. The 22 year old currently starts for the Portuguese side and is highly rated across Europe.
