Seven Liverpool stars could miss the first game of the season as the Premier League fixture list is set to be announced. New boss Andoni Iraola may be without several key players for his first match in charge due to World Cup commitments.
World Cup Impact on Liverpool's Squad
The World Cup is currently taking centre stage, and the tournament could have a knock-on effect if Liverpool stars progress to the latter stages. The start of the Premier League campaign has been pushed back to the weekend of Saturday, August 22, ensuring a month's gap between the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19.
New boss Andoni Iraola will hope to start his reign with a victory after replacing Arne Slot in the dugout. However, the Spanish coach may be forced to rest players for the opening game if members of his squad reach the World Cup final, which would likely lead to an extended holiday and a shorter pre-season following their success at international level.
Netherlands Trio at Risk
The Netherlands reaching the World Cup final would have the greatest potential impact on Iraola's side, as their squad includes three Liverpool players. Virgil van Dijk is among the Liverpool contingent and the captain has already made his mark on the tournament by scoring against Japan in his country's opening game.
Fellow Reds Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo started the draw with Japan and are key players in Ronald Koeman's team, who are also competing with Sweden and Tunisia in Group F. All three Liverpool players will be heavily relied upon if the Netherlands do go all the way, which could result in the trio being gradually eased into the new Premier League season.
Other International Stars
Florian Wirtz is part of the Germany squad striving for a fifth World Cup win. The Liverpool attacker provided the assist for his side's opening goal in their 7-1 victory over Curacao as Julian Nagelsmann's side look to advance from a group that also contains Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
Alexis Mac Allister will hope he can be part of another World Cup triumph with Argentina. The 27-year-old had yet to join Liverpool when he lifted the iconic trophy in 2022. The midfielder has been linked with a move away from Anfield but is under contract with the Reds until 2028. Argentina will have hopes of retaining the World Cup after starting their campaign with a 3-0 win over Algeria, courtesy of a Lionel Messi hat-trick.
Alisson Becker will hope Brazil can bounce back from their draw with Morocco. The experienced goalkeeper returned to fitness in time to secure his place in Carlo Ancelotti's side. He is first-choice for his country and will play a crucial role at the tournament. As record five-time World Cup winners and with a coach of Ancelotti's calibre, Brazil remain among the top contenders for the trophy.
Alexander Isak produced a statement performance for Sweden, scoring and registering two assists against Tunisia. While Sweden reaching the final is unlikely, the striker's disjointed start to his Liverpool career last year emphasises how match fitness can be impacted during the summer break.
