I’ll be honest, I’m starting to get a little annoyed about this international break.
Not because Liverpool players are representing their countries. I’ll always be happy to see them doing that.
It’s the timing.
Liverpool return to Premier League action on October 11 when Manchester City come to Anfield, and some of our most important players are facing some seriously demanding schedules before then.
Then you add the concerns over Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak, and suddenly Liverpool’s preparation for one of the biggest games of the season doesn’t look quite so straightforward.
Big Ron could have a ridiculous journey
Ronald Araújo is the one that really catches my eye.
He could clock up around 17,000 miles of international travel during this window, with Uruguay playing in Japan, South Korea and India. The schedule has already seen him start against Japan and South Korea, with India still to come on October 6.
That is a huge amount of travelling for any footballer.
And Araújo isn’t exactly some fringe player Liverpool can afford to forget about for a week.
He has become one of the most important parts of Iraola’s defence, particularly at right-back, where his physicality and defensive ability have made such a difference.
So the last thing Liverpool need is for him to return from Uruguay completely shattered just days before City arrive.
Mac Allister faces his own workload
Alexis Mac Allister has a different problem.
Argentina are playing three friendlies in six days — Bolivia on September 30, Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6.
Mac Allister already played 73 minutes against Bolivia, providing an assist in Argentina’s 4-0 win, before featuring again in the 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso.
There is still the Benin game to come.
That’s a lot of football in a very short period for a player Liverpool increasingly need to control matches from midfield.
And unlike Araújo, Mac Allister has been playing a really important role for Iraola in the centre of the pitch.
Then there’s the bit that really worries me
Liverpool aren’t going into this period with a completely healthy squad.
Gakpo is already injured.
He picked up an ankle problem after just 17 minutes of the Netherlands’ game against Serbia and returned to Liverpool for assessment.
Then Isak withdrew from Sweden duty with a minor injury and is also being assessed by Liverpool.
The Times reports that Liverpool are hopeful Isak can recover in time for the City game, although his availability remains something to monitor.
So we’ve got Araújo potentially travelling halfway around the world, Mac Allister facing three games in six days, and two important attackers already carrying injury concerns.
It’s hardly the perfect way to prepare for Manchester City.
And this is where I get frustrated
I know these South American fixtures are friendlies.
I know international football matters.
I know players want to represent their countries.
But when you look at the schedule from Liverpool’s perspective, it’s difficult not to think that this could have been easier on the players.
Araújo goes Japan, South Korea and India.
Mac Allister has three games in South America.
Then they have to get back to Liverpool and recover before Iraola can properly prepare for City.
Meanwhile, Gakpo and Isak are being assessed.
That’s a lot for a manager to deal with before such an important fixture.
City won’t care
Of course, Manchester City aren’t going to feel sorry for us.
They’ll have their own internationals, their own travelling players and their own injury concerns.
When October 11 arrives, none of that will matter.
It will simply be Liverpool against Manchester City.
And that’s why I hope Iraola doesn’t take any unnecessary chances with his returning players.
If Araújo needs extra recovery time, give it to him.
If Mac Allister needs his workload managed, manage it.
We’ve got a squad for a reason.
And this is exactly when that squad needs to prove its value.
This could be a big test for Iraola
Liverpool have started the season unbeaten and have already shown signs that Iraola is getting more from the team.
The defence is looking considerably more reliable, Araújo has been excellent at right-back and players like Mac Allister are beginning to look more comfortable.
Now comes one of the biggest tests.
Manchester City at Anfield.
And I want Liverpool going into that game with as many of their best players fit, fresh and available as possible.
That’s why this international break is annoying me.
Not because the players are away.
Because they are coming back from completely different workloads, with some potentially travelling thousands of miles, while Liverpool are already dealing with injuries to key attackers.
So for now, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Get Araújo home safely.
Get Mac Allister home safely.
Give Isak every chance to recover.
And hopefully Gakpo’s injury isn’t as bad as feared.
Then let Iraola get to work.
Because Manchester City are coming to Anfield.
And I really don’t want Liverpool giving them any advantage before the first whistle is even blown.
By Jamie (The Kopite View)
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