DOHA, QATAR - Saturday, December 3, 2022: Netherlands and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk lines-up before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USA at the Khalifa International Stadium. Netherlands won 3-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
DOHA, QATAR - Saturday, December 3, 2022: Netherlands and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk lines-up before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USA at the Khalifa International Stadium. Netherlands won 3-1. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Virgil van Dijk has extended his international career after considering retirement from Netherlands duty, with Jeremie Frimpong also part of Xavi’s inaugural squad.
Van Dijk had mulled over retiring from international football following the Netherlands’ exit from the World Cup at the round-of-32 stage.
But following talks with Xavi, the 35-year-old has been named as part of the new head coach’s first squad for UEFA Nations League clashes with Germany, Serbia and Greece.
Frimpong, who was cut from Ronald Koeman’s squad for the World Cup, has been recalled despite ongoing concerns over his form for Liverpool.
It means there are four Liverpool players on Netherlands duty, with Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo remaining key for the senior side.
Van Dijk and Co. to play four times in 11 days
Jeremie Frimpong, Netherlands pictured (Joris Verwijst/PA)
Jeremie Frimpong, Netherlands pictured (Joris Verwijst/PA)
The Netherlands will play four times in the extended three-week break, with clashes against Germany (Sep 24), Serbia (Sep 27), Greece (Oct 1) and Serbia again (Oct 4).
Unlike Germany manager Jurgen Klopp, Xavi has opted against naming a bigger squad to contend with those four games, only calling up 26 players.
Liverpool’s Dutch quartet are therefore expected to feature heavily over a period which, despite the longer break, sees the Netherlands play all of their games over just 11 days.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk arrives before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk arrives before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Fortunately, Van Dijk has already been rested once this season, sitting out entirely as the Reds beat Tottenham 3-1 in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Andoni Iraola is likely to take a more cautious approach with his captain whenever possible, boosted by the arrival of Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo as genuine first-team options.
Araujo partnered the returning Joe Gomez at centre-back in midweek, while Jacquet came off the bench to replace the latter at half-time.
Giovanni Leoni is also stepping up his recovery from an ACL injury which has kept him out for a year, with the Italian likely to be available in the near future.
Alisson one of few Liverpool players not on duty
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The majority of Iraola’s squad will be in action during the international break, though Alisson has been left out by Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Alisson remains firmly in Ancelotti’s plans but will be given the opportunity to rest between Liverpool’s clashes with Bournemouth (Sep 20) and Man City (Oct 11).
Gomez and Wataru Endo are among those also not on duty, along with the injured Leoni, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Federico Chiesa and Vitezslav Jaros.
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