Liverpool's Internationals Matchday: England Look to Punch Their Ticket

In UEFA and CONMEBOL qualification today, there are three games that actually matter where Liverpool players are involved. Sure, Belgium can wrap up Group A with a draw against Croatia (5PM BST/Noon EST), but Simon Mignolet will be on the bench behind Thibaut Courtois.

Then there are the games that really don't mean a thing: Martin Skrtel will captain Slovakia against Greece (7:45PM BST/2:45 EST), and Harry Wilson could get an unlikely debut for Wales when they face Macedonia (7:45PM BST/2:45 EST). Three games, though, do count for something. England, Denmark, and Uruguay do matter.

Full previews for all today's action from a Liverpool point of view can be found here.

One point back of Bulgaria for second place and with a far easier final qualification match on Tuesday, Denmark might just about be able to keep their hopes alive with a draw against an Italian side already secure in top spot. Three points, though, will be the goal as Daniel Agger captain the Danes, and Liverpool fans will want to at least try to catch the first half, even if England loyalties will pull many away after that.

On paper it doesn't look the sort of match that should be all that important, but thanks to drawing against Montenegro the last time the two countries faced, England still aren't guaranteed a top two finish. Victory at Wembley today with Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge in the starting lineup would at least secure that—and almost certainly all but mathematically secure first in the group and automatic advancement, too.

When the whistle blows at Wembley, it's time to head to Ecuador to see if Luis Suarez and Uruguay can leapfrog CONMEBOL's fourth place side and just maybe avoid an intercontinental playoff against Jordan. Fairly secure in fifth isn't where Uruguay want to be, but after spending much of the past year with their qualification hopes in very real danger, things are at least moving in the right direction—and a win tonight would be another step towards finding just maybe finding something like their best form at the right time.