Liverpool international break news as Alexander Isak gets major boost amid new injury blow

With the international break drawing to a close, Liverpool's players will be returning to the club over the next few days, with Alexander Isak having now learned his World Cup fate

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak(Image: Getty Images)

It was a bumper Tuesday for Liverpool's stars as the international break drew to a close, with six players starting as more eyed up some minutes before returning to Merseyside.

And, although they weren't involved themselves, there were places at the World Cup on the line for Alexander Isak and Federico Chiesa, with Sweden and Italy both in action in the European play-offs to reach this summer's tournament.

Players will now be heading back to Liverpool ahead of the return to action on Saturday against Manchester City in the FA Cup, with a huge couple of months lying ahead now for Arne Slot's side.

Here is the latest news on the international front for Liverpool's players after Tuesday's games...

Alexander Isak

Isak could only watch on from afar as Sweden took on Poland for a spot at this summer's World Cup. Thankfully for the striker, he can celebrate his country booking their place at the tournament

Viktor Gyokeres was once again the hero after his hat-trick against Ukraine on Thursday as he scored a late winner, with Sweden winning 3-2 in Stockholm.

Isak will now be hoping he can prove his fitness in time to get his spot on the plane. The striker is expected to return to action soon for Liverpool, with Slot having pinpointed the Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain as his target.

Federico Chiesa

Like Isak, Chiesa had to watch on as Italy faced Bosnia and Herzegovina in their play-off - although the winger could have perhaps been involved had he not decided to pull out of Gennaro Gattuso's squad.

Moise Kean broke the deadlock early on for the visitors, but Alessandro Bastoni's red card raised tensions just before half-time. Italy couldn't hold onto its lead, and Haris Tabakovic's equalizer sent the game into extra time.

Nothing could separate them during the subsequent 30 minutes as the tie went to penalties, with Italy going down 4-1 as it misses out on a place at the World Cup for the third tournament in a row, with Chiesa now facing a quiet summer amid doubts over his future at Anfield.

Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso during his side's World Cup play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina(Image: Getty Images)

Milos Kerkez, Dominik Szoboszlai and Kostas Tsimikas

It wasn't the most thrilling end to the international break for Milos Kerkez and Dominik Szoboszlai both started for Hungary in a goalless draw with Greece.

Rather frustratingly for Slot, the pair both played the full 90 minutes before heading back to Merseyside, having also played the majority of Saturday's win over Slovenia - not the ideal build-up ahead of Saturday's clash with Manchester City.

There was another - slightly forgotten - Liverpool face in action, with Kostas Tsimikas starting for Greece. The left-back will be due to return to Anfield in the summer following his loan spell at Roma.

Andy Robertson

Andy Robertson once again captained his country as Scotland took on Ivory Coast in the slightly strange surroundings of Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe scored the only goal of the game early on the first half as the Scots fell to defeat ahead of their first appearance at a World Cup since 1998. Robertson played the whole 90 minutes, which, again, Slot might not be best pleased with.

Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo

Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo both started for the Netherlands in the friendly against Ecuador, while Jeremie Frimpong and Ryan Gravenberch were named on the bench.

The Dutch made the perfect start as Willian Pacho's own goal gave them the lead after just three minutes. Things soon went south for the hosts though as they were reduced to 10 men, with Denzel Dumfries seeing red before Mark Flekken gave away a penalty, from which Enner Valencia brought Ecuador back level.

Jeremie Frimpong has given Liverpool a fresh injury scare(Image: Getty Images)

Frimpong replaced his Liverpool teammate Gakpo at the break, but could only last 13 minutes before being brought back off, raising another injury worry for the Reds. Van Dijk, meanwhile, also came off at half-time, while Gravenberch remained on the bench as the 10-man Netherlands held on for a draw.

Lewis Koumas and Kieran Morrison

It's fair to say no one in Wales or Northern Ireland would have wanted to play this game, with both nations having been beaten in the play-offs for the World Cup last week.

The game in Cardiff though did give Lewis Koumas the chance to make his second start for Wales, and impress those back at Anfield more amid his loan at Hull City. The 20-year-old played just over an hour, and could be back in action on Friday as Hull travels to Oxford United in the Championship.

Having missed out on a place in Northern Ireland's squad against Italy, academy winger Kieran Morrison was named on the bench for his country for the first time, although he will have to wait a little while longer for his debut.