Liverpool international break latest as three stars feature for the Netherlands against Germany, Kostas Tsimikas provided a key moment for Greece, while Lewis Koumas and Ronald Araujo starred for their nations.
Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands scores 1-1 during the UEFA Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff Arena
Cody Gakpo scored late for the Netherlands against Germany(Image: (Photo by ANP via Getty Images))
The international break may have come at an ideal time for Andoni Iraola, with the Liverpool boss now able to reflect on a busy start to the season so far.
The Reds remain unbeaten under the Spaniard, with plenty of positives to take from the early stages of his time with the club. There are also clear places for improvement, having picked up just two wins from five in the Premier League, while some performances have lacked an injection of creativity on the pitch.
Ahead of another busy run of fixtures, the manager now has three months on the training pitch with those who have stayed at Liverpool, while other players will be off featuring for their nations. The first set of matches have already been played, with the likes of Netherlands taking on Germany, Wales facing Portugal, Greece meeting Serbia, and Uruguay encountering Japan.
So, with that said, here's a look at how the Liverpool stars on international duty did in those clashes.
Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Jeremie Frimpong (Netherlands)
AMSTERDAM - (LR) Germany national coach Jürgen Klopp, Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on 24 September 2026 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. MAURICE VAN STEEN / ANP (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
Gakpo was warmly greeted by Klopp ahead of the game(Image: Getty Images)
The Netherlands took on Germany in the UEFA Nations League in a clash that had plenty of Liverpool subplot to it. The Oranje squad featured four Reds players and an international management bow for Xavi, while their opposition marked a return to management for Jurgen Klopp, only adding more interest and intrigue to a titanic clash.
A trio of Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk, and Ryan Gravenberch started for the Netherlands, while Jeremie Frimpong was an unused substitute.
Van Dijk thought he gave his side the lead early on, but a VAR check ultimately ruled the goal out, coming as a blow for the national team captain in the same week that he decided to continue his journey with them.
Germany struck first through Felix Nmecha just after the half-hour mark, before some late heroics from Gakpo saw him latch onto a cross, sticking the ball into the back of the net for a 92nd-minute equalizer.
It meant the Nations League points were shared, with the Liverpool reunion ending in a stalemate, only to be resumed in the encounter in November.
Florian Wirtz (Germany)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 29: Florian Wirtz #17 of Germany looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz is not in Jurgen Klopp's first Germany squad(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool fans will be hoping that Klopp can help unlock Florian Wirtz after a challenging first year at the club, but there will be a wait to see him do that.
The playmaker wasn't present for Germany's clash with the Netherlands, because the new head coach selected two different squads for the extended September and October break that has been combined. As a result, Wirtz isn't in the first group, and will instead feature in the second group for matches against Serbia and Greece.
Lewis Koumas (Wales)
Lewis Koumas of Wales (L) is challenged by Renato Veiga of Portugal (R) during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A4 League Phase match between Portugal and Wales
Lewis Koumas featured for Wales against Portugal(Image: (Photo by Luis Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images))
After an impressive start to the season with Liverpool, Lewis Koumas has joined up with the Wales national team squad once again, looking ahead to some challenging clashes.
It all started with a match against Portugal, where the 21-year-old was asked to lead the frontline once again, bringing energy and endeavour to his side.
Koumas played 77 minutes until he was replaced by Kieffer Moore, with Wales going on to lose 1-0, courtesy of a Joao Felix goal in the 22nd minute.
Kostas Tsimikas (Greece)
Greece's defender #21 Kostas Tsimikas and Serbia's midfielder #14 Andrija Zivkovic (R) fight for the ball during the UEFA Nations League phase group A2 football match between Serbia and Greece at the Rajko Mitic Stadium
Kostas Tsimikas got an assist for Greece against Serbia(Image: (Photo by Pedja Milosavljevic / AFP via Getty Images))
While Gakpo pulled out some heroics late on for the Netherlands to rescue a point, Kostas Tsimikas left it even later to land a victory for Greece against Serbia.
The side was a goal down early on, with Andrija Zivkovic giving Serbia the lead after just four minutes. A second half fight back was then started by Arsenal's Christos Tzolis, who took the ball well on the left, before firing an effort across goal and into the bottom right corner.
Then came the late intervention from Liverpool star Tsimikas. The left-back burst down the flank, crossing the ball in the air to Anastasios Douvikas, who nodded it into the back of the net. It was a 94th-minute winner for Greece, and a huge triumph for Tsimikas in the opener for the Nations League.
Ronald Araujo (Uruguay)
Ronald Araujo of Uruguay and Kuryu Matsuki of Japan com during the international friendly match between Japan and Uruguay at Q&A Stadium Miyagi
Ronald Araujo featured for Uruguay against Japan(Image: (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images))
Outside of European action, Uruguay took on Japan in an international friendly. Ronald Araujo started the clash as a centre-back and featured for 68 minutes.
It started in interesting fashion, as Kuryu Matsuki scored 11 minutes into the game, but that was cancelled out by Maxi Araujo's finish in the 42nd minute.
Liverpool loanee Araujo exited the match at 1-1, but goals in the 92nd minute and 96th minute from Kento Shiogai and Ayase Ueda handed Japan the win in a difficult end to the evening for Uruguay.