EPL

Liverpool duo Fabinho and Alisson expected to miss Watford clash due to Brazil game

By Sports Desk October 14, 2021

Fabinho revealed he and Alisson are set to miss Liverpool's Premier League clash with Watford due to international commitments with Brazil.

The Reds duo were part of Tite's squad for October's World Cup qualifying fixtures against Venezuela, Colombia and Uruguay, the latter of which will be played in the early hours of Friday morning in United Kingdom time.

Fabinho believes they will not have time to return from South America in time for Saturday when Liverpool face the Hornets in the league for the first time since losing 3-0 in February 2020, a result that ended their 44-game unbeaten run in the top flight.

"I believe that this first match against Watford, it will be very hard for us," he told reporters in Brazil. "I don't think we'll play. Neither Alisson nor myself.

"The match against Uruguay will be Friday overnight there [in the UK] and the match against Watford is at 12:30pm [BST on Saturday].

"With all of what is involved with travel, I don't know how much time we'll have between one game and the other. I believe that we won't be playing."

Fortunately for manager Jurgen Klopp, Tite opted to leave Roberto Firmino out of the Selecao squad, meaning he will be available for the trip to Vicarage Road as Liverpool look to make it 18 league games unbeaten.

Fabinho also revealed the club are considering flying him, along with Alisson, straight to Spain for their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday to avoid the 10-day quarantine on their return to England.

"We will also need to quarantine, but the club is still studying whether it is better to go straight to Spain to play against Atletico and quarantine there, without staying in a hotel in England," he continued.

Similar issues occurred in the previous international break, with Brazil calling for a domestic ban for their absent players when Premier League clubs agreed not to let them travel for matches amid concerns about the need to quarantine when they returned.

However, FIFA eventually confirmed South American stars could feature following September's internationals.

Related items

  • Ronaldo becomes most-capped men's international footballer Ronaldo becomes most-capped men's international footballer

    Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has become the most-capped men's international footballer of all time.

    The Al Nassr forward won his 197th cap in Thursday's opening Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein, moving him one clear of Kuwait forward Bader Al-Mutawa.

    Malaysia's Soh Chin Ann (195 caps) is third on the list, with Ahmed Hassan (184) and Ahmed Mubarak (183) of Egypt and Oman respectively completing the top five.

    Ronaldo had equalled Al-Mutawa's record when featuring for Portugal in their World Cup quarter-final defeat to Morocco in December.

    Speaking ahead of the meeting with Liechtenstein at Estadio Jose Alvalade, Ronaldo revealed he contemplated retiring from international football after that defeat.

    But he was named in new head coach Roberto Martinez's first squad and made more history when appearing against minnows Liechtenstein in Lisbon.

    Ronaldo, who also holds the record for most men's international goals (118), earned his first cap in 2003 when replacing Luis Figo in a friendly against Kazakhstan.

    The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who won Euro 2016 with Portugal, has played against Luxembourg (10 games) more times than any other nation, followed by Spain (nine).

    Luxembourg are also the country Ronaldo has scored against the most, finding the net nine times, while he has scored seven times against Lithuania and Sweden.

    He has played 47 times for Portugal at major tournaments – 25 times at the European Championships and 22 at the World Cup – and is hopeful of featuring at Euro 2024.

    "My biggest wish is to be able to take Portugal as high as possible," Ronaldo said on Wednesday. "I will always play my part when needed.

    "Earning records is always a positive thing and it motivated me. I like to break records and will now break another special one. It makes me very proud.

    "But beyond [Thursday] I still have plenty of games left. Let's see if the coach still wants to count on me to be available."

  • Kluivert urges Barca to sign Goncalo Ramos or Firmino Kluivert urges Barca to sign Goncalo Ramos or Firmino

    Patrick Kluivert has urged Barcelona to sign either Goncalo Ramos or Roberto Firmino at the end of the season.

    Barca are on course to be crowned LaLiga champions after a big recruitment drive that saw them bring in the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.

    Lewandowski has scored 25 goals in his first season with the Blaugrana, leading the line superbly and demonstrating the sort of clinical finishing that has made him one of the best strikers in the world.

    Former Barca striker Kluivert wants the Catalan giants to add more firepower by landing Benfica striker Ramos or long-serving Liverpool frontman Firmino, who will leave Anfield when his contract expires at the end of the season.

    The ex-Netherlands international told the Barca Blaugranes portal: "Financial Fair Play is something you have to take into account, but who is on my wish list? It definitely has to be a striker.

    "Because after Lewandowski you need to have a centre-forward. I like Goncalo Ramos a lot. I like that one player and he has done a very good job for the Portugal team and also at Benfica.

    "I think Firmino would also be a very interesting player in Barcelona. A striker is what is needed to strengthen Barcelona. The rest would be fine if everyone stayed."

  • 'We are waiting for you there!' – Rodrygo would welcome Ancelotti appointment as Brazil boss 'We are waiting for you there!' – Rodrygo would welcome Ancelotti appointment as Brazil boss

    Rodrygo joked Brazil's Real Madrid contingent are all eagerly awaiting Carlo Ancelotti to take over as the Selecao's new head coach.

    Madrid boss Ancelotti has been strongly linked with the job, despite still having another year to run on his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    Rodrygo is one of three Madrid players in the Brazil squad, along with Eder Militao and Vinicius Junior, and he would welcome the appointment of Ancelotti as Tite's successor.

    "We joke with him: 'Wow, coach, we're waiting for you there'," Rodrygo told Globo. "He jokes that we'll make the squad list together, the four of us in the same room.

    "We talk in a joking tone, but every joke has a bit of truth. The situation is difficult because it means he'd have to leave Madrid.

    "That way I can't say anything beforehand, but of course it would be an honour to have him here."

    The Brazilian Football Confederation last month denied an agreement had been reached with Ancelotti to replace Tite, who left after Brazil's World Cup quarter-final elimination to Croatia.

    Ancelotti has won 25 trophies across his 28-year managerial career, including four Champions League titles – two with Milan and two in separate spells with Madrid.

    Speaking earlier this week, goalkeeper Ederson suggested "there is a big possibility" Ancelotti will take charge of the five-time world champions.

    "Just look at his CV. We will know shortly whether he will be here or not," Ederson said. "I hope we can have a new coach quickly.

    "I feel the anticipation too because there's too much speculation. Is it a Brazilian or a foreign coach? We are also living that phase of anxiety."

    Under-20 coach Ramon Menezes will oversee Brazil's friendly with Morocco in Tangier on Saturday.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.