Liverpool’s November Internationals: Preview, Streaming, and Ways to Watch Spain vs. England and France vs. Germany

A slew of injuries and that neither Philippe Coutinho nor Roberto Firmino were called up to play for Brazil means there’s not a lot to get excited about if you’re a Liverpool fan looking to the internationals to tide you over until the return of club football. It also doesn’t help that, while there are a few playoff games left to go, Euro 2016 qualification has been wrapped up for all the involved Liverpool’s players bar backup goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, who is not expected to start for Hungary when they take on Norway on Thursday.

There isn’t much of an in for the neutral Liverpool fan, with backup goalkeeper Adam Bogdan expected on the bench for Norway, but it’s the only game with even a tenuous Liverpool connection on Thursday and one of the few at any point this week that actually matters. Norway and Hungary both wound up third in their groups and will be hopeful they can still make it to next summer’s Euros, but Hungary—who finished a disappointing third to Northern Ireland and Romania—are clear underdogs here. Norway meanwhile came within a point of second in a group led by Italy and Croatia.

The headlining game this week is also the one that’s likely to have the biggest Liverpool involvement, as Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne head to Alicante with England to take on Spain in a prestige friendly. And on form at least it’s England who might be slight favourites. The Three Lions romped through their group, winning all ten games and easily besting the Switzerland and Slovenia to top of Group E. Spain topped Group C in the end but stumbled against Slovakia while scoring fewer goals and having a smaller goal differential than England.

Meanwhile, if Spain and England aren’t your cup of tea, France vs. Germany offers another marquee pairing of Euro hopefuls. For Liverpool fans, though, the injury to Mamadou Sakho removes the main entry point into the match. Emre Can, though, is in the German squad—though their depth and his poor recent form would make it a surprise if he gets off the bench. Germany barely beat out Poland to top their qualification group. France, as hosts, weren’t involved in qualification.

Elsewhere, Martin Skrtel will as always captain Slovakia, who are set to take on Switzerland. Christian Benteke could start for Belgium, who are hosting Italy, now that he’s fit again. And last—and probably least for most neutral observers—Joe Allen and Wales will also be playing on Friday, as they host the Netherlands.

The England match will be carried live in the UK on ITV1 and via online streaming service ESPN3 in the USA. France vs. Germany is similarly available on ESPN3 in the USA but is not being made available to UK viewers. For full listings of Friday’s internationals, check out LiveSoccerTV.