Liverpool suffer major new injury concern as defender axed from squad

Liverpool boss Arne Slot was handed a major injury headache but avoided another during a busy night of international action. A number of Reds players were in action for their respective countries on Thursday and experienced mixed fortunes.

The most prominent news regarded Alisson Becker, who was forced off 12 minutes from time for Brazil in their 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Colombia after suffering a suspected concussion when colliding with former Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez.

Alisson is now a doubt for Brazil's match in Argentina in the early hours of next Wednesday UK time, although Liverpool are not in action again until the Premier League visit of Everton on April 2.

Reds team-mate Luis Diaz bagged an equaliser for Colombia only for Vinicius Jnr to strike a winner nine minutes into injury time. Both Brazil and Colombia remain on course to qualify for the finals next summer.

Already having booked his place is Wataru Endo, who earlier in the day helped Japan to a 2-0 win over Bahrain to become the first team after hosts United States, Canada and Mexico to qualify for the

The concentration in Europe was on the UEFA Nations League, and Liverpool were given a scare when Ibrahima Konate failed to appear for the second half of France's 2-0 quarter-final first leg defeat in Croatia. However, it later emerged France head coach Didier Deschamps had made the change for tactical reasons. He said: “I know it's tough, but I saw him struggling, not at his best, so I preferred to substitute him.”

Cody Gakpo scored as a Holland side skippered by Virgil van Dijk were held 2-2 at home by Spain. "The way we don't win it, that's very annoying," said Van Dijk afterwards. "They dominated more in possession, but we were good defensively and gave little away. We have the qualities to make it difficult for everyone. Today we took a good step and now the task is to continue this."

Ryan Gravenberch had been released back to Merseyside for assessment the previous day having picked up an injury during the League Cup final defeat to Newcastle United last weekend.

Andy Robertson captained Scotland to a 1-0 win over Greece and Kostas Tsimikas in Piraeus in their League A/B play-off first leg, while Dominik Szoboszlai was part of the Hungary team that lost 3-1 in Turkey at the same stage. And in a League B/C play-off first leg, Caoimhin Kelleher was in goal for the Republic of Ireland as they came from behind to win 2-1 in Bulgaria.

Jarell Quansah, though, won't be involved for England in their opening World Cup qualifier against Albania on Friday evening having been cut from the squad of new national team boss Thomas Tuchel.

At Academy level, teenage forward Josh Sonni-Lambie came off the bench in the second half of England under-18s’ 2-2 friendly draw with Czechia.