Liverpool Internationals Update: Thiago and Diogo Jota Face Off

Liverpool players continue to ramp up their summer international duties. On Friday, five players represented their countries in two different games.

The Brazilians continued their 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. Alisson Becker played all 90 minutes in the match against Ecuador. He helped his team keep a clean sheet in their 2-0 victory. Goals by Neymar and Richarlison ensured their win. Roberto Firmino joined the game at the 75 minute mark, while Fabinho made a late appearance in the 90th minute.

This win means that Brazil maintains their perfect World Cup qualifying record, earning 15 points from the first five games of qualifying. They sit atop the group, with second place Argentina four points behind them. They’ll have one more qualifier this summer, against Paraguay on this Tuesday, before the Copa America is set to begin next Sunday in Brazil.

Whether the tournament will really happen amidst dangerously rising cases of Covid-19 in the country is a decision that is set to come down to the wire, and seems to depend on if the players agree to take part. Protests in Colombia pressured President Ivan Duque to pull out of co-hosting duties last month. This after original host country Argentina also had to back out due to pandemic concerns. This seems like the last, desperate attempt for CONMEBOL to hold this tournament, which, like the European Championship, was postponed from last summer.

Elsewhere in Madrid, Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota faced off in a Euro warm up between Spain and Portugal. Thiago put in 62 minutes while Jota stayed on for 70’. Neither was the difference-maker for their respective teams, however, as the match ended in a goalless draw.

More Liverpool players will be in action Sunday in another round of European friendlies.