So all the Liverpool players are returning to club football after 10 days away with their international squads.
Rafa will have one full day tomorrow to get his players ready for the Fulham game on Saturday – our opinion on this is that it is pretty abysmal on not fair on the clubs. Why could the countries not have played last Wednesday and Saturday? Anyway..
In Spain, the reds were the heroes as the Spanish side came from a goal down away in the famous Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul to run out 2-1 winners. Xabi Alonso with the equaliser from the penalty spot, before Albert Riera did his international credentials no harm with a 90th minute winner. Torres got 85 minutes in before a tactical substition. Arbeloa and Reina were on the bench.
At Wembley, Steven Gerrard played the full game for England who also left it late to secure victory over Ukraine. Liverpool’s Andriy Voronin started for Ukraine but was replaced by Andriy Shevchenko.
Holland smashed Macedonia 4-0, and it was Dirk Kuyt who grabbed 2 goals for his country. Ryan Babel replaced Arjen Robben in the second half, as both players now play similar roles for their country as Rafa plays them for Liverpool.
Dossena played the last half hour for Italy in their 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland.
Disappointment for Argentina captain who saw the rest of Maradona’s men go down 6-1 to Bolivia in one of the shocks of the night – and Argentinian’s worst night in football for over half a century.
Daniel Agger played all 90 minutes for his country, as Denmark trounced Albania 3-0.
Martin Skrtel’s Slovakia beat the Czech Republic 2-1 but Skrtel scored an own goal in the game.
And for Israel, despite the injury problems Yossi Benayoun played most of the second half for his country but couldn’t stop Greece beating them 2-1.
You can watch some of the highlights and goals from yesterday here