Liverpool's Internationals: Preview and Schedule

The March international break wraps up with a mixture of decently important matches and ones that don't really count for anything, and Liverpool will have a number of players involved all across the board. And important or not, there's still the same worries about injuries and fitness, particularly with a number of the more recent first-team regulars involved in matches that actually have some sort of importance attached.

England U21 v. Austria U21
Monday, March 25th
7:45PM GMT/3:45PM EST

It's completely terrifying that Stuart Pearce has managed to get--or at least oversee--the best from Jordan Henderson, Jonjo Shelvey, and Raheem Sterling over the past few months, but heading into the summer the England U21s are probably among the most exciting sides going. Henderson's been terrific, Shelvey's looked a different player, and Sterling (who's finally gotten some rest) was very good against Romania on Friday.

Jack Robinson, who's currently on loan with Wolves, scored England's second at Adams Park on an assist from Shelvey and should have a part to play as well. The Liverpool contingent is enough for our interest, but the talent in the U21 squad overall is impressive, and so long as they keep playing the type of football we've seen over the past few months they're a side worth watching come summer.

Also, obligatory mention that Jordan Henderson should be starting every match for Liverpool until the end of time.

Slovakia v. Sweden
Tuesday, March 26th
7:15PM GMT/3:15PM EST

Slovakia's draw with Lithuania on Saturday didn't do them any favors, and now they'll have to wait until the summer to have another chance to climb the Group G table. Martin Skrtel will likely see more minutes as captain even though it's a friendly, as it's not a certainty that he'll get much time in central defense for Liverpool ahead of a summer that'll probably be filled with transfer speculation.

Denmark v. Bulgaria
Tuesday, March 26th
7:15PM GMT/3:15PM EST

The win at the Czech Republic could very well be a turning point for Daniel Agger's Denmark side--they're still four points off tomorrow's opposition, but it's with a game in hand and on the heels of their first win of qualifying. The 3-0 result on Saturday was a bit unexpected, and a win tomorrow is critical if they're to hope for any chance at qualification.

France v. Spain
Tuesday, March 26th
8:00PM GMT/4:00PM EST

So it looks like we're back to Pepe Reina is on the bench and can celebrate goals in an awfully exciting manner watch, as Victor Valdes started in the 1-1 draw with Finland over the weekend. There's nothing to indicate that Reina will start in what's turned out to be a decently important match for Spain, but there's hope and etcetera to rely on, as well as the fact that neither side will look particularly impressive.

Montenegro v. England
Tuesday, March 26th
8:00PM GMT/4:00PM EST

Ingrown toenails are the work of the devil, and that may or may not be the root of the problem that's haunting one of Glen Johnson's toes. If the problem has been exorcised, he might start over Kyle Walker against a side that England's not exactly been terrific against. Idiots everywhere will hope that Micah Richards will somehow enter the frame, but you know, idiots. Steven Gerrard was rested against San Marino and will probably make his way back into the starting eleven, and while Daniel Sturridge got his first senior goal at the weekend, he'll likely start on the bench.

Chile v. Uruguay
Tuesday, March 26th
11:30PM GMT/7:30PM EST

Uruguay is temporarily in an automatic qualifying spot, but tomorrow's match in Chile could see them fall back into a crowded position just outside the top four. They really should have had all three points locked up after a wonderful Luis Suarez volley on Saturday, but now they'll have to hope for some sort of constellation of results that'll leave them safe with only a few matches left to play.

Suarez is a given, while the likelihood that we'll see Sebastian Coates is very slim. No telling at the current moment if he's more likely to feature for club or country, but given the form he's displayed in the brief moments he's been afforded under Brendan Rodgers neither is justified.

We'll be keeping up with all of the club's internationals as the first few days of the week progress, and with a few of the qualifiers appealing enough, we'll have updates of the results entering into the midweek as well. Plenty of Liverpool-related action, which is nice enough, at least until everyone's knee ligaments start creaking and then it's panic drinking time, as usual.